20,000 Pledge Support of Humane Plea to Professional Sports Organizations for Formal Policies against Dog Fighting

(Kanab, UT) - 06/28/2007 Less than two weeks after circulating a petition, Best Friends Animal Society today announced that more than 20,000 individuals from across the United States have pledged their support by calling for professional sports leagues to adopt strong official policies against dog fighting.

Best Friends, one of the nation's foremost animal rescue organizations, created the petition June 14, the result of an ongoing investigation into the possible involvement in dog fighting of National Football League (NFL) star quarterback Michael Vick. Following a search of a home owned by Vick in Surrey County, Virginia, law enforcement authorities seized 66 dogs and equipment associated with dog fighting.

"We hope that the NFL and other sports leagues will take note of the strong response to our petition," said Julie Castle, director of community programs and services for Best Friends Animal Society. "In a very short period of time, people from all walks of life are making it known that they want professional sports leagues to adopt a zero tolerance policy when it comes to athletes and dog fighting."

One of the National Football League's highest-paid stars, Vick has been ranked by Forbes Magazine as one of America's most influential entertainment celebrities. He has a 10-year, $130 million contract, as well as numerous product endorsement relationships with high profile companies.

While he has not been charged with any violation, humane organizations throughout the United States have launched public appeals, one of which called for Nike to drop Vick as a product endorser. Castle said Best Friends will consider expanding its outreach to consumers of products endorsed by any athlete found to be involved in dog fighting.

"Not only is it illegal in all 50 states, the sordid nature of dog fighting harms society as a whole," Castle said. "Dog fighting seems to be gaining popularity in urban areas where it has been associated with gangs, drugs, weapons, and other illegal activities. Perhaps the most disturbing aspect is that young children are exposed to the violence because many dog fights are staged in urban residential areas."

Best Friends, which was prominently in the news when its rapid response team saved 6,000 dogs and cats in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, is the first organization to challenge all pro sports leagues to adopt formal policies that condemn dog fighting.

"We hope that the sports leagues will step up on this issue and eventually become partners with Best Friends and other humane groups so that dog fighting can be eradicated," Castle said. "There could be no more inspiring message than if well-known sports heroes could carry the message to children and the general public that cruelty to animals - in the name of competition - is just not a cool thing to do."

Titled "Best Friends: It's Not Cool to be Cruel," the petition asks that professional sports leagues take the following actions:

• Announce no tolerance policies that condemn dog fighting as a cruel, illegal activity that will not be tolerated
• Aggressively investigate allegations of participation in dog fighting by athletes
• Educate athletes about the illegality and cruelty of dog fighting
• Establish public service campaigns that inform the public about dog fighting and how harmful it can be to communities

Results of the petition, which can be viewed at Best Friends Petition, will be forwarded to the offices of Major League Baseball, the National Basketball Association, the National Hockey League, and Major League Soccer, as well as the National Football League.

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About Best Friends Animal Society

Located on 33,000 acres in Kanab, Utah, Best Friends Animal Society operates the country's largest sanctuary for homeless animals and is home, on any given day, to about 1,500 dogs, cats, horses, rabbits, birds and other animals. Best Friends works globally with animal shelters and rescue groups to bring about a time when there will be no more homeless pets. Best Friends advances initiatives nationwide that promote community approaches to make the world a better place through kindness to animals, including adoption, spay/neuter, and humane education programs.

"Kindness to animals builds a better world for all of us."