Vick Joins Humane Society and LAPD to Censure Dogfighting App

Michael Vick, the quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles, who has been convicted and served time in Federal prison for his involvement in dogfighting, has come out publicly to condemn an Android dogfighting app.

Vick now finds himself on the side of the Humane Society and the LAPD in their criticism of the game, “Dog Wars”.

In a statement issued jointly with the Humane Society of the United States, Vick called the game “a step backward”:

I’ve come to learn the hard way that dogfighting is a dead-end street. Now, I am on the right side of this issue, and I think it’s important to send the smart message to kids, and not glorify this form of animal cruelty, even in an Android app.

Paul Weber, head of the Los Angeles Police Protective League, called the game “…sickening, absolutely sickening”, and added, “They should take it down immediately. These animals are defenseless. It’s absolutely the wrong message to send to our children.”

Developer’s Response?

Kage Games, the developer of the app, insists that not only are they not encouraging animal cruelty, but that the game is actually intended to educate the public about its evils. They further invoke their First Amendment rights, and promise to donate proceeds from the game to charities. Their sincerity loses some credibility though, due to the game’s motto: “Raise Your Dog to Beat the Best”, game features which include weapons to stave off police raids, and the fact that their anonymous statement was signed by [email protected].

Wayne Pacelle, President and CEO of the Humane Society, points out that “Because “Dog Wars” actually instructs players on how to condition a dog using methods that are standard in organized dogfighting, this game may be a virtual training ground for would-be dogfighters. Its timing and message are all wrong.”

At time of writing, the app could no longer be found in the Android Market, and their website was inaccessible, save for the graphically bloody promise to return seen below.

Source: Los Angeles Times, Humane Society