Miscellaneous

Good Newz for Animals

By Anne Skove, Esq.

The Michael Vick case, which unfolded in what was then our backyard, shocked the country. As the case progressed, we learned more than we ever wanted to know about cruelty to animals by the dogfighting subculture. Sick, sicker, sickest.

A few unexpected happy endings resulted, too. The most important and surprising was that most of the animals were saved and rehabilitated to some extent. See Gone to the Dogs, court-o-rama (July 21, 2008).

Another was that the law enforcement and legal communities, like the rest of the world, got a better look under the rock where dogfighters live. Large rings of dogfighters are being sniffed out and prosecuted around the country. See, e.g., Lansing Man Found Guilty for Running Dogfighting Ring, Kevin Grasha (who we think went to grade school with us), Lansing State Journal (September 11, 2008); Rape Suspect Charged in Dogfighting, Terri Sanginiti, News Journal (September 4, 2008); Animal Crimes Unit Now Part of Gang Investigations, Angela Rozas, Chicago Tribune (August 28, 2008); and Dogfighting Firefighter Davis Resigns, Jon Seidel, Post-Tribune (August 21, 2008), to name but a few.

An upcoming ABA seminar, Prosecuting and Representing Animal Abusers and Caring for the Victims -- The Michael Vick Case and Its Impact on Cruelty Cases, passes on knowledge about these cases. Featured speakers include Professor Rebecca Huss of Valparaiso, who was appointed special master/guardian of the dogs in the Vick case; Dr. Melinda Merck of the ASPCA; defense counsel Claire Caldwell; and others.

The program occurs Friday, September 19, at DePaul University, Chicago.

Not sure whether Surry County Commonwealth's Attorney (sooooo glad we didn't sign up for that job!) will be on hand to discuss how to cope when a county of 7000 is overrun by reporters (honestly, you couldn't buy coffee and a Krispy Kreme at Zoom's without being interrogated by that lady from the Daily Press!), how to react when you come back from vacation to find that the feds have taken over your case, or how to answer when racially polarized citizens accuse you of reverse racism. Oh, and add a dry-witted sheriff, deputies with a history of bungling search warrants, and a grapevine faster and more fraught with rumor than an Internet chat room. Bless your hearts, we miss you! What a beautiful spot.

See Ex-Surry Deputy Says He Had Uphill Fight in Vick Case, Dave Forster, Virginian-Pilot (April 29, 2008); Small Town, Big Case for Vick and Dogs, Hank Kurz, Jr., AP/Herald-Courier (June 5, 2007); Poindexter's Motives, Methods on Vick Indictment Questioned, Linda McNatt, Virginian-Pilot (October 1, 2007); Historic Change in Surry Gets the Green Light -- Literally, Kerry Dougherty, Virginian-Pilot (October 9, 2007); and November 6, 2007, General Election Official Results, Virginia State Board of Elections.

Full post as published by court-o-rama.org on September 11, 2008 (boomark / email).