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Congratulations to U.S. Attorney Chuck Rosenberg

September 9, 2007

©Ariana Huemer/The HSUS

The Michael Vick case put dogfighters on notice that the penalties for their crime can be severe.

By Ariana Huemer

If there is one case that brought animal welfare into the headlines this year, it is the conviction of NFL star quarterback Michael Vick on federal felony dogfighting charges. When U.S. Attorney Chuck Rosenberg obtained convictions for Vick's despicable dogfighting operation in August 2007, he won a victory not only for the dogs who suffered at Vick's hands, but also for the untold thousands of other canine victims of this bloody "sport" across the U.S.

While federal criminal cases are notorious for their ability to drag on in court for months and even years, the office of U.S. Attorney Chuck Rosenberg secured a conviction in the case against Vick and his three co-defendants in under three months.

Speedy Service of Justice

In June 2007, after months of apparent foot-dragging by state authorities, federal authorities took over the case and served a search warrant on Vick's Surry County property; by July, the U.S. Attorney's office had indicted Vick and his cohorts based on extensive evidence of illegal dogfighting.

"Good Job, Guys!"

More than 140,000 people signed an online thank-you card to the U.S. Attorney's office in the Vick case.

Just one month later, the U.S. Attorney's office had secured convictions of all four defendants.

In this high-profile case, U.S. Attorney Rosenberg was able to obtain arguably the most important conviction of the year under 18 U.S.C. §391, "Conspiracy to Travel in Interstate Commerce in Aid of Unlawful Activities and to Sponsor a Dog in an Animal Fighting Venture."

This swift delivery of justice sent a clear message to the public that dogfighting is a serious crime from which no one is immune from prosecution. The serious, felony-level penalties that come with killing and fighting dogs make it clear that dogfighting can risk a person's reputation, finances, career and even freedom.

Although humane organizations have been trying to push this message for years, it is because of U.S. Attorney Chuck Rosenberg's office that we have been able to advance the goal of eradicating cruel dogfighting from all corners of the country.

Gratitude is Due

And for this, the animal protection community—and thousands of dogs—owe U.S. Attorney Chuck Rosenberg and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mike Gill and Brian Whisler endless thanks.

It seems a huge chunk of the American population agrees. More than 140,000 visitors to The HSUS's website have signed an online thank-you letter to the U.S. Attorney's office expressing gratitute for his prompt, decisive action in the Vick case.

Ariana Huemer is cruelty case manager for The Humane Society of the United States.