Atlanta doesn't need Michael Vick

The Humane Society

Michael Vick, former NFL star turned poster boy of illegal dogfighting, currently struggles through bankruptcy hearings as he attempts to repair his tarnished moral standing and tries to rebuild his wrecked football career. He has apparently reformed his evil ways; his recent good behavior and work with Boys & Girls Clubs in Virginia has even earned him an invitation to play minor league football. Whether Vick has truly repented or will ever play in the NFL again remains to be seen, but the poor decision he made to involve himself in dogfighting sheds light on a continuing problem for Georgia.

Dogfighting rings continue to operate within Georgia. Until last year, Georgia was the only state where it was legal to both own dogs for the purpose of fighting and to attend fights. This changed in May of 2008 when state officials, in cooperation with The Humane Society, increased pressure on these illegal operations with some much needed new legislation. However, despite making it a felony to be part of a dogfighting operation and offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to an arrest, police continue to find dogfighting rings, including one in Rome as recently as one month ago. The Humane Society urges anyone with information to call their tip line 877-TIP-HSUS.

Be warned! Gambling on dog fights in Georgia is a felony and merely witnessing a dog fight is an arrestable offense!

Last season, rookie quarterback Matt Ryan guided the Atlanta Falcons into the playoffs for the first time since 2004. While Ryan has helped Falcons fans forget about their football woes, the specter of Vick and dogfighting still looms over the state. Want to wager on creatures locked in bloody combat? One could argue the NFL serves this exact purpose. Let’s all watch fights where the contestants have a choice whether they participate or not.

For More Info:

The Humane Society Animal Cruelty and Fighting Campaign www.hsus.org/acf/