Willie Nelson aids state's dogfighting legislation

Nelson (AP)

State lawmakers have found the face they need to rally support for anti-dogfighting legislation: Willie Nelson.

The country music legend and animal lover has filmed a public service announcement that could appear on television and radio soon. It supports a state Senate bill that would make it a felony for anyone to sell, trade or transport dogs for the purpose of dogfighting.

Dogfighting. (AP)

In the spot, over the strains of "Georgia on My Mind," Nelson looks into the camera and makes his appeal for the bill.

"Dogfighting is against the law in Georgia, but the laws are so weak, the beautiful state of Georgia has become a haven for dogfighters from around the country," he says.

The singer was asked to shoot the PSA by the Utah-based Best Friends Animal Society, a national animal welfare organization that produced the piece. State Sen. Chip Rogers -a Woodstock Republican who wrote the legislation long before Vick's involvement in dogfighting became public - hopes to get the spot on TV and radio around the time of the Dec. 10 sentencing for suspended Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick.

Vick pleaded guilty in August to a federal dogfighting conspiracy charge after his three co-defendants pleaded guilty and agreed to cooperate with authorities. Police say he bankrolled a dogfighting ring out of his Virginia mansion.

The Georgia bill passed unanimously in the Senate last session. It will go before a House committee in January.

"What we want to do is create awareness of how bad the laws are in Georgia to protect dogs," Rogers said. "I think this will go a long way to help people be aware of that."

Columbus animal shelter mascot was victimized by dog fighters, who cut his ears off, according to officials. (Dave Bender)

Click here for more GPB coverage about dogfighting and Vick.

North Georgia dogfighting operation busted

Authorities raided a suspected dogfighting operation in north Georgia Thursday. A U.S. Humane Society regional official says the 22 pit bulls discovered at the site in Blue Ridge were thin and had scars consistent with dogfighting. Authorities found three dogfighting pits and paraphernalia consistent with dogfighting. The owner of the property, Albert Glenn White, was arrested on a felony charge.

Dogfighting ring busted in north Georgia

Two men in north Georgia have been arrested on dogfighting charges. Investigators are linking Randall Thaxton of Canton, and Ellijay resident Ray Beavers to the same "significant pit bull breeding operation". The lead investigator in the case says 30 pit bulls were recovered, all with scars consistent with dogfighting. Since May, eight dogfighting operations have been raided by law enforcement officials. That’s when a new Georgia law went into effect making it a felony to own, possess, train, transport or sell any dog for the purpose of dogfighting.

State lawmaker updates push for new dogfighting laws

A day after Michael Vick was sentenced to prison for dogfighting, a state senator called a news conference for an update on legislation against the activity in Georgia.

Republican Chip Rogers from Woodstock says he hopes the Vick media focus will push his dogfighting bill over the top in January’s legislative session.

Rogers’ bill would make it a felony to stage, promote, bet on, or watch fights in Georgia. It would also raise the financial penalty. Currently, someone has to be caught at a fight to face prosecution. And the penalty Rogers says, is too low.

"If you’re only going to fine the person, if caught and convicted 5-thousand, and they could potentially win 20 or 30-thousand…as you can see, it may be a good risk on the person involved in this type of activity to go ahead and do it. We want to take that risk away, and we want the penalty to be severe".

Rogers wants a fine of 20-thousand dollars and prison time for a 1st offense.

He says Georgia’s current dogfighting laws are some of the weakest in the nation.

Governor to sign dogfighting legislation

Governor Sonny Perdue Tuesday afternoon is expected to sign into law a bill that toughens penalties for dogfighting in the state. The new legislation would make it a crime to attend dog fights and to breed animals for the purpose of fighting. Coming into the recently completed General Assembly, Georgia’s dogfighting laws were called among the weakest in the nation by animal rights groups. The issue gained a spotlight in the wake of the case against Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick and his eventual guilty plea for dogfighting.

Launch of anti-dogfighting program

A group of religious leaders is taking on the crime of dogfighting. Today the Humane Society of the United States launched the "End Dogfighting in Atlanta" program. A contingent of Atlanta religious leaders will denounce the violence of dogfighting and sign a pledge to help combat the crime. It will focus on youth anti-violence intervention, dog training classes, community outreach and law enforcement partnerships.

(Associated Press)

Vick date set to face Virginia dogfighting charges

Suspended NFL quarterback Michael Vick has a trial date set to face state dogfighting charges in Virginia.

In a hearing in Sussex County-Virginia Tuesday morning, the date of April 2nd was scheduled. Vick was not present for the five minute session, in which his lawyer requested a jury trial.

The suspended Atlanta Falcons quarterback has been in prison since last week. He's getting a jump on serving time for federal dogfighting charges. Vick faces up to five years behind bars when he is sentenced on December 10th.

Vick’s three fellow co-defendants will also face state charges. Purnell Peace and Quanis Phillips have a trial date of March 5--Tony Taylor is scheduled for May 7. Peace and Phillips receive their federal sentencing this Friday.

Vick and the three are charged with state counts of beating or killing dogs, and engaging in a dogfighting operation.

House gets tough on dogfighting spectators

The Georgia House approved a bill yesterday making it illegal to attend a dogfight in Georgia. The legislation allows prosecutors to charge spectators of dogfights with a misdemeanor. The penalty can be up to a year in jail and a maximum fine of five-thousand dollars. The bill also permits prosecutors to charge people who host the fights or train their canines for dogfighting with a felony.

A similar bill was passed by the Senate last year but failed to reach a vote. Dogfighting is illegal in Georgia already, but the current law only allows people caught in the act to be charged with a misdemeanor.

Bill would make dogfighting a felony

Today a legislative committee approved a measure making it a felony to host dog fights or train canines for dogfighting. A first offense would carry a prison term of up to five years, a minimum $5,000 fine or both. It would also allow prosecutors to charge dog fight spectators with a misdemeanor. Dogfighting is already illegal in Georgia, but it’s hard to prosecute people because current law allows only people caught in the act to be charged with a misdemeanor.

Famous vets takes on Vick dogfighting allegations

A north Georgia veterinarian is helping investigate Michael Vick’s alleged dogfighting case. Doctor Melinda Merck -- of Canton -- is considered one of the nation's leading forensic veterinarians. Federal investigators are trying to figure out whether Atlanta Falcon’s quarterback Vick is tied to evidence of dogfighting found on a property he owns in Virginia.

Michael Vick To Work Against Dogfighting

The Humane Society of the United States says Michael Vick wants to work with the group on a program aimed at eradicating dogfighting among urban teens. Society president Wayne Pacelle tells The Associated Press that he met with Vick at the federal prison in Leavenworth, Kan., and that the meeting came after Vick's legal team approached the animal-rights group. Vick was convicted of financing a dogfighting ring and participating in the executions of poorly performing pit bulls and has spent the past 19 months in federal prison. He's due to be released to home confinement this week.

( Associated Press)

Vick back in court today

Former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick will be back in court today to answer to more dogfighting charges. Vick will be in a Surry County, Virginia Circuit courtroom, expected to plead guilty to state dogfighting charges. The plea is seen as necessary to make Vick eligible for early release from federal prison to a halfway house.

Vick is currently serving a 23-month sentence for a federal dogfighting conviction. His scheduled release is July 2009. The plea agreement on state charges would call for Vick to receive a suspended sentence and one year probation.

Vick gets 23 months for dogfighting

Suspended NFL quarterback Michael Vick today was sentenced to 23 months in prison for his bankroll and involvement in a dogfighting operation.

Vick could have received the maximum of five years behind bars from U.S District Court judge Henry Hudson. Federal sentencing guidelines recommended a term of 12-18 months. Last week, two of Vick’s co-defendants were sentenced to terms of 18 and 21 months respectively.

Vick appeared in Richmond-Virginia federal court dressed in a black and white prison jumpsuit. In the 90-minute hearing, he acknowledged using "poor judgement" and that he was willing to "deal with the consequences".

Vick in August admitted guilt to financing the dogfighting operation, and executing some dogs who didn’t perform up to expectations.

Vick’s legal troubles are not over. He and his three fellow co-defendants face state charges next year. Vick also is being sued by two banks for repayment of loans and lines of credit. His team, the Atlanta Falcons, is seeking repayment of bonus money from his 130-millioin dollar contract.

Sheriffs to offer dog fighting rewards

The Georgia Sheriff's Association will offer rewards for people who supply information about dogfighting. The GSA plans to hand out up to $2,500 for information leading to a conviction on dogfighting charges. One major figure behind the idea is Gwinnett County Sheriff Butch Conway, who offered $10,000 of his money in July for information about dogfighting. He said he acted in response to news reports about the Michael Vick case. The Atlanta Falcons quarterback has pleaded guilty to dog fighting charges and has been suspended indefinitely from the NFL.

Informant: Vick a "heavyweight" in dogfighting

A confidential police informant who appeared Sunday on the sports network ESPN said Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick is a "heavyweight" among dogfighters. The informant said Vick has fought dogs, funded, and gambled on the illegal activity as recently as last year. The informant also said he witnessed Vick gamble and bring dogs to fights as far back as 2000, when Vick was at Virginia Tech.

Officials in Virginia continue their investigation into possible dogfighting activity at a home which Vick owns in the state. Investigators have, or plan to speak with those who have witnessed dogfighting. No charges have yet been filed in the case.

Atlanta police find dogfighting evidence

Atlanta Police on Friday arrested a 31-year-old man at his home after officers found 15 live pit bulls and the bodies of several others.

A police spokesman says evidence, including fight charts and the remains of several dogs, show that a dogfighting operation was more extensive than they’d initially thought.

Atlanta Police spokesman Officer James Polite says that police investigators, a forensic veterinarian and an assistant district attorney searched the home of Ossia Phillips on Saturday. The veterinarian is now testing the remains to determine the number of dogs and their cause of death.

Investigators also seized several handguns and rifles, along with documents detailing the extent of the operation.

Polite says investigators are still trying to determine how long the ring was operating and how many members were involved. He says more arrests are possible.

Phillips is being held without bond at the Fulton County Jail on charges of dog fighting and animal cruelty.

The new evidence is in addition to a "contraption" found in the woods behind a home where investigators believe dogs were fought.

Click here for more GPB News coverage of dogfighting incidents statewide.

(The Associated Press)

Whoopi on Vick: the South made him do it

Michael Vick has a defender in Whoopi Goldberg, who started her first day as a talk show host with controversial comments. Speaking on The View, Goldberg compared dogfighting in the south to cockfighting in Puerto Rico. Goldberg said dogfighting shouldn't be considered unusual for the Falcons quarterback because Vick is from the south, where for some, dogs are sport. Goldberg's co-hosts appeared outraged by her comments which she defended, saying there are things that are tied to certain parts of the country. She said had Vick grown up in New York, she'd feel differently about his actions. Michael Vick has been suspended indefinitely by the NFL and will be sentenced on the dogfighting charges in December. Last week Vick apologized for his actions and asked for forgiveness during a plea hearing in a Virginia federal court.

Columbus man charged with dogfighting

Columbus police charged a city resident with dogfighting and cruelty to animals on Sunday. The 32-year-old was jailed without bond.

A neighbor called police after she saw two dogs fighting in the individual's yard, according to the report.

The suspect is to go before a Recorder's Court judge today.

Petrino quits as Falcons' head coach

In a season of unprecedented adversity for the Atlanta Falcons, the team sustained another blow early Tuesday evening--its rookie head coach quit after 13 games. The team has confirmed Bobby Petrino resigned his post. Reports indicate that he will return to the college gridiron to coach the University of Arkansas.

The abrupt move by Petrino comes only a day after the team's once-star quarterback, Michael Vick, was sentenced to 23 months in federal prison for his involvement in a dogfighting operation. Monday night, the Falcons lost for the 10th time in 13 games this season--a 34-14 loss to the New Orleans Saints.

Petrino in January signed a 5-year, 24.5 million dollar contract to leave his college job at Louisville and coach the Falcons. Soon after, troubles out of his control began--mainly revolving around Vick. On January 17th airport officials in Miami seized a water bottle from Vick with a hidden compartment. Later tests revealed there was no illegal substance, with Vick cleared of wrongdoing. But in April an investigation of Vick's Virginia residence turned-up evidence of a dogfighting operation. Vick's major legal troubles grew from there, resulting in his prison sentence Monday. The absence of Vick and dark cloud over the team from off-the-field distractions has been a factor in the Falcons' dismal on-field performance.

Some Falcon players at different times this season have had vocal issues with how Petrino has handled the team.

Before Monday night's game, Petrino reportedly was asked by team owner Arthur Blank whether he intended to be with the Falcons in 2008. Petrino told Blank he definitely would return as coach. That changed late Tuesday afternoon.

The Falcons have called a 2pm Wednesday news conference to address their coaching situation.

NW Georgia Dogfighting Ring Busted

A suspected dogfighting operation has been busted in Rome. Two men were charged with cruelty to animals, and 15 adult pit bulls and six puppies were impounded after a raid on a residence in NW Ga. Floyd County authorities say the dogs had been tethered to the ground with logging chains attached to car axles. They say many of the dogs were scarred. A police official says one of the dogs bore scars consistent with dog fighting.