Michael Vick's Dogfighting Problem

State and Federal officials load coolers of evidence into a truck as they search the grounds behind a home owned by Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick in Smithfield, Va., Friday, July 6, 2007. The officials were looking for evidence in a possible dog fighting investigation. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)

Animal-lover or not, one has to be sickened by the "sport" of dogfighting. Whether Michael Vick willingly participated in this is subject to question, but the fact it allegedly took place on his property cannot have been a mystery to him.

Vick property alleged dogfight area

SURRY, Va. -- A property owned by Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick was used as the "main staging area for housing and training the pit bulls involved" in an alleged dogfighting operation, according to court documents.

The papers, filed by federal authorities, give details for the first time about what authorities contend was a long-running dogfighting venture. Vick is not named in the documents.

Yesterday, federal agents searched the property for a second time, using a backhoe to dig in an area about 10 feet by 20 feet. They finished their work at about 4:30 p.m. and declined to answer reporters' questions as they left.

Not only do I consider this a sadistic activity, but the details to follow should sicken any decent human being.

According to the documents, dogfights have been sponsored by "Bad Newz Kennels" at the property since at least 2002. For the events, participants and dogs traveled from South Carolina, North Carolina, Maryland, New York, Texas, and other states.

Members of the venture also knowingly transported, delivered, and received dogs for animal fighting, the documents state.

Fifty-four pit bulls were recovered from the property during searches in April, along with a "rape stand" used to hold dogs in place for mating; an electric treadmill modified for dogs; and a bloodied piece of carpeting, the documents said.

Fights would end when one dog died or with the surrender of the losing dog, which was sometimes put to death by drowning, strangulation, hanging, gunshot, electrocution, or some other method, according to the documents.

During a June search of the property, investigators uncovered the graves of seven pit bulls that were killed by members of "Bad Newz Kennels" following sessions to test whether the dogs would be good fighters, the documents said.

On Vick's website, he lists his birthplace as Newport News, Va., "a.k.a. BadNews."