Clock Ticking For Michael Vick's Dogs

More than 50 pit bulls seized from Michael Vick's property face a Thursday deadline to be claimed. If no one comes forward, they could be euthanized.

Federal prosecutors filed court documents last month to condemn 53 pit bulls seized in April as part of the investigation into dogfighting on the Vick's property. No one has claimed any of the dogs, which are being held at several unspecified shelters in eastern Virginia, the U.S. Attorney's office said Wednesday.

The civil complaint filed by federal prosecutors does not name the Atlanta Falcons quarterback and is separate from the criminal case against him. But it does state the pit bulls were part of the dogfighting operation known as "Bad Newz Kennels," which Vick and three cohorts are accused of operating.

Also included in the document are detailed allegations about the nature of the animals' training regimen and the dogfights occurring at Vick's property at 1915 Moonlight Road in Surry County.

The government filed three public civil forfeiture notices in a Richmond newspaper to publicize the dogs' confiscation, and the deadline for claims is 30 days after the appearance of the final notice, filed July 24.

Federal prosecutors declined to comment Wednesday on the seized dogs. Typically, when confiscated property goes unclaimed, the government asks the court to have the items declared forfeited. In this case, U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson will make the final decision on the dogs' fate.

"There's no dispute over who owns the dogs," said Daphna Nachminovitch, a spokeswoman for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. "Obviously this is not going to be a process where someone steps forward and says, 'This is my dog, can I have her back, please?'"

Though Hudson, who also is handling Vick's criminal case, will determine what becomes of the pit bulls, Nachminovitch said that it's likely that they will be euthanized because they're not adoptable as pets.

"These dogs are a ticking time bomb," she said. "Rehabilitating fighting dogs is not in the cards. It's widely accepted that euthanasia is the most humane thing for them."

Vick, 27, said through a lawyer this week that he will plead guilty to a federal charge of conspiracy to travel in interstate commerce in aid of unlawful activities and conspiracy to sponsor a dog in an animal fighting venture. He is scheduled to enter his plea agreement Monday and could face up to five years in prison.

Three Vick associates have pleaded guilty to the conspiracy charge and agreed to testify against him if the case went to trial. They said Vick provided virtually all the gambling and operating funds for the Bad Newz Kennels enterprise. Two of them also said Vick participated in executing at least eight underperforming dogs by various means, including drowning and hanging.

The locations of the shelters holding the dogs haven't been disclosed out of concern that the animals could be stolen, Nachminovitch said.

"They are a hot commodity in the world of dogfighting," she said.

[nothappyatall]

"I forgot to mention that I have owned 2 pit bulls... I lost one of them 2 weeks ago to cancer,
wolftotem"

I''m sorry to hear of your loss, cancer is a horrible disease, and far too common in dogs.

[azmka]

I agree with wolftotem.

I personally am a boxer lover but have friends w/pit bulls. When they are treated with love and kindness they act accordingly. Children who are treated with love and kindness usually grow up to be kind and loving adults. I know that there are exceptions to everything but generally that seems to be the case.

[gkc99]

"Pitbulls cannot be judged as a group, that all are "killers" or "ticking time bombs". The dogs respond to how they are treated and raised. Raise them with love, and they respond with the same."--Posted by wolftotem

Pit bulls are like fully automatic machine guns. They don''t go off by themselves. But society has judged that fully automatic machines guns are too dangerous to allow the average citizen to have one. It''s the same with pit bulls. Anyone who wants to own a pit bull should have to go through a full background check, be required to purchase $1 million in liablity insurance, have their containment arrangements inspected by authorities, and be liable for criminal prosecution the first time one of their little darlings rips out a child''s throat, as happened to a 7-year old boy last week in his own basement due to one of these "sweet" animals.

There are plenty of dogs without the vicious instinctive traits of pit bulls that people can keep. People keep pit bulls to show how tough they (the owners) are. Time to pass a law.

[adian1-2009]

There is no link between what this guy had been doing and his race. Vick is simply a despicable criminal. There are criminals of all races. Just that this guy is a monster. A person who hangs dogs to death supposedly because they did not perform to his satisfaction deserves the harshest punishment allowed by law.

[wolftotem-2009]

I forgot to mention that I have owned 2 pit bulls... I lost one of them 2 weeks ago to cancer, after having gone through surgery and treatment in an attempt to save her life. I still have the other one.

They both have shown loyalty and gentleness. They were raised in an environment of kindness and gentleness, raised with cats/kittens, pygmy goats, poultry, and other small animals, with no problems. I also have a 3 year old grandson.

I am permanently disabled due to MS. Both dogs have alerted me to impending flare ups of my condition, and are very attentive and helpful on days that I''m not doing as well.

Pitbulls cannot be judged as a group, that all are "killers" or "ticking time bombs". The dogs respond to how they are treated and raised. Raise them with love, and they respond with the same.

[brianbwb-2009]

So the dogs that weren''t killed in the ring, or by their owners will now be killed by the SPCA, who will then charge to Vick the state''s marked up expenses, thereby making money from the death of the dogs, just like Vick was doing.

Ironic, no?

Maybe the deaths should be publicly monitored, to make sure the SPCA folks don''t stage their own dogfights with the animals.

[wolftotem-2009]

Kudos simpleguy234 - I can''t agree with you more! Amazing at how selective some people want to be with their memory of history!

I, too, am white, my son-in-law is African American. I raised my daughter to judge people on their character, not their color.

How many people would support Mr. Vick if these acts had been committed against children, rather than dogs? There aren''t many differences between the two - both are helpless and totally dependent on their "caregivers" for their well being, food, shelter, etc. If someone would harm, torture, kill an animal, they would do the same to a child.

There is no sport here - sports competitions do not end in the death of one of the competitors, at least not since the days of the gladiators in the colliseum.

He made a choice - a lot more benefit than was given to the dogs. He should now have to face the maximum consequences of his choice, much as the dogs had to face the consequences of his choices.

[simpleguy234]

It would be advisable to know the facts before posting comments that make you look like an idiot. In regards to the comment that white people kidnapped blacks and drug them across the ocean, if you knew what you were talking about, then you would know that blacks sold blacks to the white folk...kidnapping was not involved. Second, you claim that America has never apologized for years of slavery. I dont know how many more apologies I can take. From my heart I say "I am so sorry that this happened". NO joke. It was a horrible time in my history that I as a white dude am not proud of. I am truly, deeply sorry that this happened. NEWS FLASH: I cant do a *** thing about it!!!!!!! You want my job now because I''m white? Hmmm...look who is the biggot now.... And WHY? Why am I being looked at as a racist because I think dog fighting is wrong and people should be punished for it? It is my skin color isn''t it......the racists show themselves. (By the way, my wife is African American and I love her deeply. My daughter is 17 and I have told her from day one that all people are equal. I really wish for once that people would stop blaming my skin color for all of the problems in this world. Sounds familiar doesnt it...)

[sgtrds]

I have been told that the result of a human, pitbull union is an ''''Agnim''''. I cannot deny this as I am not sure what an ''''Agnim'''' looks like. But nothing surprises me anymore.

Posted by ToolMangler at 07:49 PM : Aug 23, 2007

Really? I would have thought human and squirrel or maybe a weasel?

[imjustsayin-2009]

By the way, I hope that by the time America, the NFL,and the court system gets done with Mr. Vick, he looks just like the poor dog on that sign. I''ve heard Atlanta stands behind him no matter what--they can keep him.