Michael Vick is Indicted for Dog Fighting

Michael Vick and three other men were officially indicted for dog fighting activities on Tuesday, July 17th. The operation was referred to as "Bad Newz Kennels" and involved dogs being brought over state lines, including New York and Texas. There have been more than 60 dogs taken into federal custody, most which have been pit bulls, a breed known for their aggressive behavior and commonly used in dog fighting circles.

Vick is alleged to have started the dog fighting ring in 2001, the year he was drafted #1 overall by the Atlanta Falcons. Since that time, he has used the Surry County, Virginia residence to house the dogs and equipment for the operation. The fights themselves are believed to have taken place in the early morning and included wagers of anywhere from hundreds to thousands of dollars on any given match. The dogs were prepared for the fights by being chained to cars or other objects, with the chain length being long enough to get close to the other dogs, but not touch. Some dogs were even withheld food to increase their aggression and anger towards their opponent. The dogs' coats were washed down to prevent any drugs or chemicals that could potentially harm the opponent from being present. If the fight didn't result in the losing dog's death, they were commonly killed by electrocution, drowning, being shot or hanged.

In April prior to a raid of the house with suspicion of drug possession, Vick said that he was unaware of the activities going on at the house he owned, claiming he was never there and family and friends lived there on a regular basis. Promptly after the allegations began, Vick tried to sell the house in one day by agreeing to a price close to half of its market value. The sale is on hold because of the investigations by the FBI on the premises.