Inside The Dog Fighting Underworld

Michael Vick's Indictment Turns Spotlight On A Seedy, Abusive But Lucrative Blood Sport

(CBS)  The indictment of Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick has turned the spotlight on the seamy, disturbing, yet fast-growing underworld of dog fighting.

Once hidden in the rural South, this blood sport with pit bulls and gambling now can be found in every state, attracting urban professionals, gang-bangers, even teenagers — 40,000 fans by some estimates, CBS News correspondent Bill Whitaker reports.

"They're everybody," said Dave Havard of the Los Angeles SPCA. "They’re not locked into a certain type of culture or a certain type of neighborhood. A lot of people get involved because of the money — a lot are in it for the entertainment."

Though it's illegal in every state and a felony in 48, there's a surge in dog fighting — organized professional or amateur backyard bouts with bets of a few dollars to thousands.

A champion dog can cost as much as $30,000 but earn as much as $100,000 in winnings. The winner lives to fight another day, the loser often dies in the ring.

"They've got incredible stamina; they've got incredible power; they've got incredible speed," said Wayne Pacelle of the Humane Society. "The fights can last anywhere from 10 minutes to three hours, and the dogs typically die from blood loss or shock."

Dog trainers insist the pit bulls aren't nasty by nature; they say the owners are — they bully and train the dogs to be hyper-aggressive … eager to fight any place, any time, anyone.

"There's dog fighting activities occurring somewhere every moment in this country," Pacelle said.

A sign if the times: Congress recently made it a federal crime to transport fighting dogs across state lines, which might end up pushing this vicious crime further underground.

All for a death match between Vick and Fedor Emelianenko all say I? If this is the trend of the future , why fight it. Lets "get her done".

Isn't the solution very simple? Everyone now knows that Vick enjoys fighting to the death and that he likes betting on fights. So a logical avenue is since this is the way that things are going to be, why fight it? Let Vick have it his way. Organize a death match piting Vick against the current MMA champion Fedor Emelianenko. The fight will be held within a country of secrecy and the death match will be televised pay perview. Of course a percentage of the proceeds will go to help the abused dogs that Vick has used for satisfing his own cheap thrills. Lets see just how game Vick really is? He can bet all he likes but alas my money is on him being a closet cure punk and will tuck tail and run from anything that has to do with him doing anything close to what he has forced these dogs to do. Additionally, when he is convicted and has to enter the prison population I bet that he tucks tail again and opts to be separated from population. Any takers? He is the biggest cure punk imaginable and now everyone knows it. I would not even want to be in the same stadium as him. period. Anyone else that is inplicated in this sort of thing needs to have their names televised as such so the public can at least have the choice to even deal with such vermin.

[swwils]

If this dude is dog fighting he needs punished same as I would be I just don't have an NFL contract.It is cruel to the animals I have seen then down in El Salvador while in the military,and they are nasty.They destroy the loser if the other dog don;t finish the job.They are mostly to the death.Once those pits lock on the throat its over,they either sufficate the other animal or tear their throat apart,so yeah I see why they are against the law.If these owners of these teams would do back ground checks on their potential players they might not get a bunch of thugs playing for them.You can take the wanna be gangsta out of the hood but ya can't take ths hood out of the gangsta,the money only increases their game!

[jmhobday]

well, I have tried to make a comment, but it appears some folks would rather see their own opions written over and over and over. Another form of bad behavior.

[jmhobday]

so if its in mr vicks realm of believe that losing dogs lose their lives by every cruel way possible, others may very well think the same of him, if he plays and loses. Something for him to think about next time he cashes one of his big fat checks. The game of football is a rough sport and it appears he has become immune to pain. Either that or he is one of those who are labeled ***, for their love of pain caused to others. A human person cannot look into the eyes of a dog that trusts you and cause it pain as punishment for losing a "sport" that has nothing of sport to it. Plain and simple it is some peoples way of enlarging their feeling of importance to those who look up to them. It's a real shame that this man earns a paycheck most only dream of, then for entertainment involves in more bloodlust. He should be banned from all sports for life.

[maxsmom124]

MIKE VICK IS AN INSULT TO THE HUMAN RACE. DOG FIGHTING, HE COULDN'T HAVE PUT HIS ENERGY INTO THE SPORT HE IS BEING PAID TO PLAY. HE AND THE "MEN" WHO ARE INVOLVED IN THIS SHOULD HAVE TO TURN OVER ALL OF THEIR FINANCIAL ASSETS TO THE HUMANE SOCIETY AND THEY SHOULD HAVE TO ACTUALLY GO TO WORK BUILDING AND MAINTAINING SHELTERS(OF COURSE NOT CARING FOR THE BEAUTIFUL ANIMALS BUT CLEANING UP AFTER THEM.THAT IS ALL THEY ARE GOOD FOR PICKING UP THE POOP. TO USE THESE LOVING CARING LIVING ANIMALS TO FIGHT TO THE DEATH AND THEN KILL THEM WHEN YOU ARE DONE WITH THEM IS THE MOST INHUMANE ACT I CAN IMAGINE. ANYONE WHO COULD ABUSE AN ANIMAL AND ANYONE WHO PARTICIPATES IN THIS TYPE OF ACTIVITY OBVIOUSLY SUB HUMAN. MIKE VICKS CAREER BETTER BE OVER AND HE BETTER LOSE EVERYTHING HE HAS. HE AND HIS COHORTS ARE THE LOWEST FORM OF LIFE I CAN THINK OF. I WILL BE PRAYING THAT THE GOVERMENT WAKES UP AND STOPS THIS FROM EVER HAPPENING AGAIN.

[a-ji]

I'd say DEATH PENALTY to those who engage in dog fighting.

[plainjean]

This whole sordid dog fighting scandal involving a "role model" for thousands of young males is a symptom of a much greater problem in America. I love sports as much as the next guy, but who is going to have a more positive influence on American society? A celebrity athlete, like Vick, or that second grade teacher toiling away in an inner city school teaching children. American society is a sick society where money and celebrity now dictate right and wrong. Justice will only be served if Vick is suspended for life from playing in the NFL in addition to paying a hefty fine and doing hard-time in a federal prison. Dog fighting is gangsterism pure and simple and we as a people should not tolerate it irregardless of the inconvenience of being deprived of a athletic talent like Vick!

[missut2]

If anyone knows who I can contact to make a difference, I would appreciate the information.

Posted by Delco289 at 08:00 PM : Jul 18,2007

_______________

I only we all could help, we could bring about change. I belong to the Humane Society of the US, ASCPA, and The Animal Defense League which do all they can to combat animal cruelty on all fronts. Another thing we all can do is to contact our Congressmen and our Senators and demand that they pass legislation to protect animals. Also, pay close attention to the votes of those that represent you. Try contacting one of these groups that work tirelessly for animals.
www.hsus.org - Humane society of US
www.aspca.org - American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
www.animaldefenseleague.org - Animal Defense League
WE CAN ALL MAKE A DIFFERENCE IF WE WILL ONLY TAKE A STAND AND SAY "NO MORE"...

[doglvr1126]

Please contact a pitbull shelter/rescue and donate if you can. These dogs are always abused and tortured and the rescues are overloaded with starving, malnourished and abused dogs---many like Vick's that have been fought and saved by animal care and control.

Please do what you can to help. These dogs do NOT deserve to be treated like this.

Thank you.

[emhawks]

DOG & *** FIGHTING ARE BOTH SADISTIC, CRUEL BLOODSPORTS. ANYONE WHO PARTICIPATES IN OR ENJOYS WATCHING SOMETHING LIKE THIS IS SUB-HUMAN.
I PRAY MIKE VICKS CARREER IS RUINED & THAT HE WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE & SEVERELY PUNISHED. I ALSO PRAY FOR THE HELPLESS ANINMALS WHO ARE THE VICTIMS OF THIS.
THE HUMANE SOCIETY WEBSITE HAS ALOT OF INFO. ABOUT THIS DISGRACEFUL SITUATION.
MIKE VICK IS CRUEL, SADISTIC MONSTER.

[doglvr1126]

Let's bring back the MANDATORY MILITARY DRAFT. If you're 17 and not going to college, you are going into the military. If drugs and gangs are creating environments like this, let's get them off the streets and into the military where they can use their bloodthirsty and inhumane tendencies to go fight ENEMIES.... and not DOGS. Leave the dogs out of it. BRING BACK THE MANDATORY DRAFT!!!!

[sun56x]

Very sad indeed. Despicable.

The thing is that Pit Bulls are actually super sweet dogs and it is no more likely for a Pit Bull to be a bad dog than any other breed.

The people are the problem.

Yes Pit Bulls tend to attact a bad element because they are tough....but just because a dog is a pit bull does not make it a bad dog.

Unfortunately, this only adds to the Pit Bull's bad reputation...so sad

[szinla]

We can all combat this appalling abuse of power and prestige with the most fearsome weapon available in a capitalist society - we can simply stop buying the products endorsed by people like this, stop buying anything at all from the companies that sponsor them, and let those companies hear from us - what we are doing and why we are doing it. The whole sports industry is driven by marketing and endorsements - let's pull the plug on them if they continue to associate their brands with this kind of monster.

[suspsy312me]

Vick: classic example for the thrill of violence. No money needed here, just the thrill to abuse the vulnerable. Dogs-our domesticated friends who are so eager to please. Do you make so much money that you've lost the ability to feel? Are thrills harder and harder to come by like shopping, *** with the most beautiful, travel, family and friends?

How many other bullies in the world do we have to conquer to rid the world of hate against the weak?

But Vick,
You will survive. Just like all the pedophiles who prey on the vulnerable. No I am not a radical but I speak the truth that I see it like everyone else-the majority who continue to let the advertisers and endorsers of people like Vick dictate our values, morals,love for children to be educated, love of animals whether domestic or wild, creativity, and love for America and why we fought for our freedom.

I love the advertisers, agents, and endorsers of our fantastic jail birds, druggies, alchoholics, dui'ers, animal abusers, rapists, wife and children abusers...Welcome to the wonderful world of the American Rich and famous.

We set a wonderful example for you-World!

[lisa77777]

It has been proven, time and time again, that people who are cruel and abusive to animals go on to abuse people (mainly women and children). So, my feeling is this, if this type of violence is within an individual, there is NO HOPE of redemption for them. Let's simply end the violence by killing the criminal who perpetuates animal cruelty. In the long run, we will be doing another human being justice by possibly saving their life. KILL THE NI**ER! Whether they be white or black skinned!

[sickovit]

Another "poor" misunderstood community member who will have his pals sticking to him like lockjaw. I really, really want to move back to my homeland.

[cresler28]

I would like to know what other associates (specifically professional athletes) have participated in this sickness. What kind of morons get off on watching two animals kill themselves. Obviously, them must not regard life as important. Maybe they to are not worth anything.

[dogband]

The lowest form of humanity participates and promotes this stuff.

Anyone who does this should be sterilized and their offspring steralized so that their pathetic genes do not reproduce.

Even better, just euthanize them and cure the problem.

GD scum of the earth, useless pieces of ***.

[hillarykb]

I am very sad.

Grown adults, yet again, abusing their position in an already gluttonous and violent existence. I am not just talking about Michael Vick and his barbaric animal-abusing underlings.

The moment Roger Goodell and other top NFL officials and stakeholders made the decision to allow Michael Vick to continue to play, they let the world down and reinforced the heightened masculinzation and violence of professional sports.

Perhaps my discontent ultimately stems from the tensililty of due process...

I find it so sad and disheartening that professional athletes such as Michael Vick, who as far as I can tell have done nothing to make the world more livable, can still perform in the public eye. A continual public glorification...

I am glad that Arthur Blank of the Falcons is %u201Cdistressed%u201D by the indictment. He should be.

Wouldn%u2019t it be striking if a sense of ethics was a prerequisite to making millions of dollars, igniting a %u201Cfan base,%u201D and calling oneself a role model? But if it were, where would the profit come from?