Note the date......
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News & Issues
Animal Legal Defense Fund Calls on NFL Players to Blow the Whistle on Dog Fighting Operations
05-22-2007
Washington, D.C. – The Animal Legal Defense Fund sent a letter to Washington Redskins players Clinton Portis and Chris Samuels today, urging them to cooperate with local officials investigating crimes involving dog fighting, which are punishable by up to three years in jail. The letter came on the heels of widely-reported statements in which the two NFL players defended Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick, who is currently under investigation in Virginia for involvement in a large dog fighting operation.
In a television interview reported on by the Associated Press, Portis was quoted as saying about Vick, "I don't know if he was fighting dogs or not. But it's his property; it's his dogs. If that's what he wants to do, do it." He added, "I know a lot of back roads that got a dog fight if you want to go see it. But they're not bothering those people because those people are not big names. I'm sure there's some police got some dogs that are fighting them, some judges got dogs and everything else." ALDF is asking the players to provide local authorities with any information they may have about dog fighting activities and operations.
A copy of ALDF’s letter to the Redskins players follows:
May 22, 2007
Mr. Clinton Portis and Mr. Chris Samuels
Washington Redskins
c/o Washington Football, Inc.
21300 Redskin Park Dr
Ashburn, VA 20147
Dear Mr. Portis and Mr. Samuels:
On behalf of the national non-profit Animal Legal Defense Fund’s more than hundred thousand members, please allow me to clarify any of the now widely-publicized confusion you may have about the issue of dog fighting.
Recent statements made to the press suggest you may be unaware that dog fighting is, in fact, a serious crime and is regarded by our criminal justice system as such. Less than three weeks ago, in fact, President Bush signed a law giving felony status to activities that promote or encourage animal fighting. Dog fighting is banned throughout the United States, and perpetrators violating the new federal law may face up to three years in prison.
In publicly defending Michael Vick, who is under investigation for involvement in dog fighting, Mr. Portis alluded to the dog fighting activity in the rural back roads of his home state of Mississippi. We see you have now posted clarification on the Redskins website stating that you do not, in fact, condone the organized animal cruelty of watching dogs kill each other for sport. In order to truly demonstrate for football fans, animal lovers, and everyday law-abiding citizens alike your newly-stated distaste for the crime of dog fighting, why not take this opportunity to step forward and cooperate with Mississippi law enforcement so that they can fully investigate the dog fighting activity you refer to, allowing perpetrators to be punished to the fullest extent of the law?
As you stated, Mr. Portis, dogs are, according to the law, our “property.” This does not, however, give us the legal right to abuse them for cheap thrills—our law is crystal clear about that fact. Please demonstrate your respect for the law, the National Football League, and your many fans who are appalled by criminal animal cruelty and come forth with any information you may have about ongoing dog fighting activities.
Sincerely,
Scott Heiser, Director
Criminal Justice Program
cc: Mr. Roger Goodell, NFL Commissioner
aldf.org
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What you can do:
1) Contact the commissioner of the NFL and urge the league to suspend Vick.
National Football League, Inc.
Commissioner: Roger Goodell
280 Park Ave.
New York, NY 10017
Phone: 212-450-2000
Fax: 212-681-7599
2) Contact the owner of the Atlanta Falcons and urge him to direct his coaching staff to exclude Vick from all team activities (including workouts and practices) regardless of what the NFL does.
Atlanta Falcons Football Club
Owner and CEO: Arthur M. Blank
President and General Manager: Richard McKay
4400 Falcon Pkwy.
Flowery Branch, GA 30542
Phone: 770-965-3115
Fax: 770-965-2766
3) Contact the NFL Players Association, which works to promote the image of the players, to denounce Vick's alleged involvement with dogfighting.
National Football League Players Association
Executive Director: Gene Upshaw
President: Troy Vincent
2021 L St. NW
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-463-2200
Fax: 202-296-3486
Toll Free: 800-372-2000
4) Contact Nike and urge them to drop their endorsement contract with Vick. Although Nike has already suspended the release of a Vick shoe (and this is certainly a step in the right direction), let Nike know there is no glamour in being associated with someone who uses and abuses animals, regardless of their prowess on the football field.
Nike
Chairperson: Philip H. Knight
President, CEO, and Director: Mark G. Parker
1 Bowerman Dr.,
Beaverton, OR 97005-6453
Phone: 503-671-6453
Fax: 503-671-6300
Toll Free: 800-344-6543 |
