Lantos urges NFL to condemn Vick over dog fighting

Rep. Tom Lantos (D-Calif.) urged National Football League (NFL) Commissioner Roger Goodell late Friday to act “swiftly and forcefully” in condemning Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick for allegations of dog fighting on his property.

“I am outraged that one of the National Football League’s superstars is affiliated with such a heinous enterprise as dog fighting,” Lantos wrote in a letter to Goodell. “Your strong rebuke of dog fighting – and those who promote it – will send the message that this all-too-prevalent practice has no place in a civilized society.  I will view anything less than the strongest repudiation of Mr. Vick’s involvement as tacit support for this atrocious activity.”

{mosads}Lantos, a co-chair of the Congressional Friends of Animals Caucus, said that unless Goodell “means to condone animal exploitation and the criminal element that follows this nefarious practice,” he suggests Goodell “keep a tight leash on his players.”

Police found evidence of dog fighting in Vick’s house in Surry County, Va. during a drug raid in late April. The police seized 60 dogs from the property as well as equipment customarily used in dog fights.

Prosecutors have since said they have found blood marks in the garage of the property that would indicate dog fights occurred. No charges have been filed, however, and Vick has denied any personal involvement in conducting dog fighting on the property.

The Oversight and Government Reform Committee has taken an increased role in monitoring the behavior of professional sports because, as Lantos said, “professional athletes are, in fact, role models.” In 2005, the Committee investigated the use of performance enhancing drugs in the NFL.

“The level of cruelty involved in exploiting animals to the point that 60 malnourished and injured dogs were removed from Mr. Vick’s property is mind boggling,” Lantos added in his letter to Goodell. “I know you do not believe there is any place for this criminal element in the NFL.”