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Last Chance for Animals (LCA), the Sole Advisory Group to Michael Vick Investigation, Says "Throw the Book at Vick"
Urges Judge to Focus on the Victims and the Crimes
| Source: Last Chance for Animals
LOS ANGELES, CA--(Marketwire - August 21, 2007) - Called on for their 23 years experience in
investigating dog fighting, Last Chance for Animals (LCA) was the only
animal group that worked on the Michael Vick investigation in an advisory
capacity. The logical source for consultants, this national non-profit
organization of over 100,000 members today urged Judge Henry Hudson to
ignore Michael Vick's celebrity status, and sentence him based on the most
important elements of the case: the seriousness of the crimes and the
tortured and dead victims.
LCA noted that, if the facts alleged in the July 17th indictment are true,
Mr. Vick not only participated in dogfights, but also actually staged them
on his property, purchased especially for that purpose. The indictment
states that as recently as April 2007, Vick personally "executed" eight
dogs "by various means including hanging, drowning, and slamming at least
one dog's body to the ground."
LCA President Chris DeRose stated: "These are not the type of crimes that
one can simply apologize away. Despite legislative attempts to crack down
on dog fighting, it flourishes nationwide. Civilized society has decided
through the legislature to stop dog fighting, and now it falls upon the
judicial branch to enforce the will of the people."
DeRose went on to note that even the maximum sentence of five years in
prison under the current charges would be a lucky break for Vick: "Vick, or
any other dog fight ringleader, would face much longer prison time under
either Virginia's state laws or the new federal dog fighting law which will
guide prosecutions from 2007 forward," DeRose said. "Ironically, Vick got a
break by being busted this year instead of in 2008, when the stricter
Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act of 2007 will apply."
Last Chance for Animals encourages animal supporters to contact Judge
Hudson's office and urge him to impose the maximum fine and five year
prison term. In addition, Vick should serve at least two years educating
the public (i.e. school lectures, interviews) on the horrors of dog
fighting and animal cruelty. This would not only save the animals but
countless youth who emulate and look up to Vick.
Last Chance for Animals (LCA), a national animal rights organization based
in Los Angeles, has been active for more than two decades. Founded and led
by animal expert, author, and actor, Chris DeRose, LCA fights for the
rights of animals by conducting investigations that expose animal cruelty.
For more information, visit www.LCAnimal.org