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After Michael Vick, The Battle To Stop Dogfighting

Fresh Air
Published September 24, 2009 at 12:15 PM EDT
Animal rights activists turned out at Michael Vick's sentencing hearing to protest the abuse of dogs. Frankie, pictured above, was among them, wearing a sign that says, "Dogfighters use dogs like me for bait!"
Jonathan Ernst
/
Getty Images
Animal rights activists turned out at Michael Vick's sentencing hearing to protest the abuse of dogs. Frankie, pictured above, was among them, wearing a sign that says, "Dogfighters use dogs like me for bait!"

The hidden world of illegal dogfighting burst into the spotlight with the exposure and eventual conviction of NFL football star Michael Vick, who ran an interstate dogfighting ring on his rural Virginia property.

Vick and three of his associates pleaded guilty in 2007 to charges resulting from their roles in the business. After serving a 23-month prison sentence, Vick has been signed to a new contract by the Philadelphia Eagles, and he has pledged to join the Humane Society's fight against organized animal abuse.

Fresh Air contributor Dave Davies talks with John Goodwin, Humane Society manager of animal-fighting issues, and Sean Moore, a Chicago-based former dogfighter who works in that city on the Humane Society's efforts campaign to end dogfighting in Chicago.

Copyright 2022 Fresh Air. To see more, visit Fresh Air.

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SOMOS CONNECTICUT es una iniciativa de Connecticut Public, la emisora local de NPR y PBS del estado, que busca elevar nuestras historias latinas y expandir programación que alza y informa nuestras comunidades latinas locales. Visita CTPublic.org/latino para más reportajes y recursos. Para noticias, suscríbase a nuestro boletín informativo en ctpublic.org/newsletters.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.

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