Michael Vick

On April 27, 2007, Americans were shocked to discover on Michael Vick’s property dog fighting. The ghastly spectacle of animal malnourishment and injury turned stomachs of the Virginia State police. Michael Vick is the Atlanta Falcons’ quarterback, and looked up to by kids.

Consequently, Michael Vick’s career and life were turned inside out and upside down. Do you feel that Vicks was treated unfairly? Some people feel that he was made an example to show that Americans loathe dog fighting.

However, Vicks is not the only professional athlete charged with animal cruelty. Nate Newton, a former offensive lineman on the Dallas Cowboy, was arrested at a dog fight in 1991. The Huston Oiler Todd McNair was arrested in 1996 for his involvement in dog fighting. And LeShon Johnson was charged multiple times and served five years probation for animal cruelty. Chicago Bears player "Tank" Johnson's home was visited by Animal Control authorities six times in 2006 for suspicion of animal cruelty.

Michael Vicks was sentenced to 23 months at Leavenworth. It only goes to show that famous, professional athletes are not above the law. Since Vick’s sentence, there have been no cases of dog fighting. Michael Vick was released from Leavenworth in July 2009.