Activist criticizes Eagles’ anti-dogfighting efforts
October 5, 2009
By: MIKE SIELSKI
Burlington County Times
Despite the Philadelphia Eagles’ public pledge, in the wake of signing Michael Vick, that they would become a leader in combating dogfighting, an area activist formally accused the Eagles’ organization Sunday of having “no intention or plan to partner with the humane organizations in this region in a focused effort to confront the brutal enterprise of dogfighting.”
In an e-mail obtained by Calkins Media to Pamela Browner Crawley, the Eagles’ vice president of public affairs and government relations, Tom Hickey Sr. of DogPAC said that the primary focus of the Eagles’ anti-dogfighting efforts “may unfortunately be an attempt to conduct a public relations campaign focused on the Eagles (sic) image rather than the dogs that need immediate help.”
Hickey has been involved in negotiations and discussions with members of the Eagles’ organization since the team signed Vick, who spent 18 months in prison for his extensive role in a dogfighting operation, in mid August.
“The Eagles plan + appears to revolve around the creation of some sort of mobile medical van, the creation of football cards depicting players and their dogs, and the use of players and cheerleaders for potential fund-raising activities for organizations willing to participate,” Hickey wrote to Browner Crawley. “Of course many have repeatedly stated that we are struggling to see where driving a van around the city possibly performing spay/neuter procedures, and handing out football cards will help even one dog that is currently, or has been, maimed, tortured, abused or killed.
“As we have stated before it is our opinion that those involved in dogfighting will most likely not use the services you may offer since their goal will be to breed, torture and kill dogs. And most concerning to me is most of the activities appear to center on ensuring that the Eagles brand is the primary driver in each activity.”
Browner Crawley did not return an e-mail requesting comment.
In an Aug. 14 press conference, one day after the Eagles signed Vick, team owner Jeffrey Lurie said that his only criterion for judging the success of Vick’s acquisition “will be 100 percent, is he able to create social change in this horrendous arena of animal cruelty? Whether he is successful with us on the field, sure I hope he is. But his legend and whether we are giving him a second chance will be successful if he can diminish the level of animal cruelty. That’s it. If he is not proactive he won’t be on the team because that’s part of the agreement.”
Read this article at PhillyBurbs.com
Philadelphia’s dog-kill-dog world
September 15, 2009
Michael Vick’s arrival has shed light on local dogfighting. It’s a brutal subculture
By DAVE DAVIES
Philadelphia Daily News
MICHAEL Vick is just beginning to fulfill his promise to fight animal abuse, but experts say that he already has had a powerful effect on the world of dogfighting, both positive and negative.
When agents raided his rural Virginia property in 2007 and discovered his Bad Newz Kennels, a largely invisible world was pulled into public view.
It was a world where someone in the know could get you one of a dozen trade publications, like “Scratch Back” magazine, which offered advice on feeding your fighter (”raw meat cut into strips three or four times a week”) and whether to use steroids (”you can burn up a dog’s liver and kidneys if you don’t know what you’re doing.”)
It was a world where tens of thousands of self-described “dogmen” bred and raised dogs to maul each other in refereed matches conducted with strictly enforced rules.
In the “Sporting Dog Journal,” the dominant trade magazine, you could find ads for Hellz Comin Kennels, and read results of dozens of dog matches throughout the country.
It was a world where an unwanted dog might be dispatched by attaching one terminal of a live battery cable to his lip and another to his hindquarter. One former dogfighter said electrocution was considered relatively humane, since “it stops the heart quicker” than hanging.
And it was a world where less well-organized dogfighters were proliferating in cities like Philadelphia, raising pit bulls in basement kennels and fighting their dogs in empty lots, garages and abandoned buildings.
Read more
Watch the PSPCA’s New PSA about the victims of dog fighting
September 12, 2009
Click below to watch the Pennsylvania SPCA’s new public service announcement detailing the horrible abuse suffered by the victims of dog fighting.
What about Vick’s victims?
August 28, 2009
Those caring for some of the animals rescued from his dogfighting ring still wonder about the quarterback’s sincerity.
By Francis Battista
Opinion, Philadelphia Inquirer
Twenty-two dogs rescued from Michael Vick’s dogfighting operation were brought to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary last year. They arrived at our Utah facility in various states of trauma. While we’ve had many breakthroughs with the dogs, some have yet to recover. And some may never recover from the abuse and neglect they suffered in Vick’s care.
To our knowledge, neither Vick, his handlers, nor the NFL has called to ask how the dogs are doing. And these very real, living victims of the crime are nowhere to be found in the continuing debate about Vick’s rehabilitation.
Vick’s handlers had shopped him around to various national animal organizations, including Best Friends Animal Society, while he was still in prison. We were interested, but we did not want to involve Vick in our work and effectively give him our endorsement unless he actually demonstrated his remorse by taking on some unheralded volunteer work. Perhaps it would be spending six months or a year doing helpful chores at some animal shelter, or visiting community centers to talk to kids without any fanfare or expectation of personal gain.
Eagles reach out to animal groups
August 25, 2009
By Matt Gelb
Philadelphia Inquirer Staff Writer
When the Eagles signed Michael Vick, owner Jeffrey Lurie said the quarterback would be measured not by his success on the field but by his contributions to the community.
By bringing Vick to Philadelphia, the Eagles have been forced to deal with social issues beyond football, mostly the lingering problem of animal cruelty. That prompted a scene such as yesterday at the NovaCare Complex, where the Eagles invited about 20 animal-welfare groups for a two-hour roundtable discussion.
“You want to take this terrible case and squeeze what good you can out of it,” said Wayne Pacelle, CEO of the Humane Society of the United States. “I’m encouraged that the Eagles say they want to help address this problem. That’s another ally in our fight against animal cruelty.”
Eagles president Joe Banner and senior vice president for public affairs Pamela Browner Crawley represented the team at the meeting. Crawley called the meeting a first step to determine how the Eagles can use their resources to help.
Vick, who served 18 months in prison for running a dogfighting ring, has agreed with the Humane Society to participate in two events a month across the nation. The Eagles organization believed it was important to take local action in addition to Vick’s work, Crawley said.
“We absolutely intend to partner with organizations here in Philadelphia,” Crawley said.
Watch DogPAC Chairman Tom Hickey on CN8’s “It’s Your Call With Lynn Doyle”
August 23, 2009
Tonight, Tom Hickey was a guest on CN8’s “It’s Your Call With Lynn Doyle.” Tom was on to talk about the Eagles’ signing of Michael Vick and his letter to Jeff Lurie suggesting the Eagles match Vick’s salary with donations to dog rescues and shelters. Please watch the three segments of the show below:
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Eagles to host meeting with Philly animal welfare groups
August 22, 2009
The Philadelphia Eagles have called for a meeting with area animal welfare groups Monday to discuss dogfighting in the wake of their signing Michael Vick.
When asked about the format, the Eagles said they would “just listen,” said Gail Luciani, spokeswoman for the Pennsylvania SPCA.
She said the Eagles were going to invite a lot of animal welfare groups, seeking to be inclusive, including the Chester County SPCA, Delaware County SPCA and Main Line Animal Rescue.
Michael Vick will not attend the meeting, Luciani said.
The Humane Society of the United States - with whom Vick is working to combat fighting across the country - also is participating in the meeting.
“It’s really the Eagles’ meeting and not HSUS’s,” said president Wayne Pacelle. “It’s really the Eagles meeting and not HSUS’s. Our trajectory is clear. We want to get Vick in front of at-risk kids, and do so in Philadelphia and in other urban centers around the country.”
Tom Hickey, founder of DogPac political advocacy group and a member of the state Dog Law Advisory Board, said he hopes the meeting will produce “an action plan” to help victims of dog fighting.
“We need a plan to address the issue in Philadelphia and surrounding area,” he said. “I hope the Eagles get involved and help dogs caught up in this horrible enterprise.”
The meeting is set for 5 p.m. at the NovaCare complex.
Read this post on the Philly Dawg Blog
Animal advocates call on Eagles to match Vick’s salary in shelter donations
August 19, 2009
Click here to send your own email to Jeffrey Lurie now
Amy Worden
Philly.com’s Philly Dawg Blog
A Philadelphia-based animal welfare group is asking the Eagles to put their money where their mouth is.
DogPac, a political action committee and advocacy group, sent a letter to Eagles owner Jeff Lurie today asking him to match every dollar he pays Michael Vick with a donation to area animal shelter.
That means a total of $6.6 million over two years.
“The Philadelphia Eagles have repeatedly stated that they believe in giving second chances,” said Tom Hickey Sr., chairman of DogPAC and a member of the state Dog Law Advisory Board. ”I believe this is a way for the Eagles to clearly demonstrate that they are willing to invest equally in giving a second chance to the dogs that are the victims of this brutal illegal activity.”
In addition to the letter to Lurie, Hickey sent an email to the 23,000 people on the DogPAC list urging them to send emails to the Eagles and show their support for the donation request. As of noon 925 letters had been sent to Lurie, Hickey said.
Another Chance for Vick’s Dogs
August 16, 2009
Animal activists boo Eagles’ signing of Vick
August 14, 2009
News that the Eagles had signed quarterback Michael Vick, a convicted animal abuser, was met with swift outrage last night by members of Philadelphia’s animal-welfare community.
Many said they were concerned that the move would cast a pall over a state in which animal advocates - led by Gov. Rendell, who has three rescue dogs - have fought to improve conditions for dogs, particularly those who suffer in substandard commercial kennels.
“Over the last three years, Pennsylvania has made historic strides in bringing attention to the abuse and neglect that so many dogs suffer in this state and throughout the country,” said Tom Hickey of Drexel Hill, a member of the governor’s Dog Law Advisory Board. “For the Philadelphia Eagles, knowing the heinous crimes committed by this man, to sign him is unconscionable.”
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