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Dakstang · 05-21-2007, 11:04 PM

Portis defends Vick, dog fighting

SMITHFIELD, Va. (AP) - Authorities had nothing new to report Monday in the Michael Vick dog fighting investigation, but Clinton Portis gave the saga a new wrinkle.

Michael Vick hosting dog fights at his home doesn't bother Clinton Portis, who says, "if that's what he wants to do, then do it."

"It's his property," Portis told WAVY TV 10 in Virginia. "It's his dog. If that's what he wants to do, do it."

When reminded that dog fighting is a felony in Virginia, Portis was not deterred.

"It can't be too bad of a crime," Portis said. "There's lots of stuff that's (a crime). There's killers on the loose...You want to hunt down Michael Vick over fighting some dogs, you know, I think people should mind their business."

The case began April 25 when police conducting a drug investigation raided the house Vick owned in rural Surry County and found dozens of dogs. They also found items associated with dog fighting, including a "pry bar" used to pry apart a dog's jaws.

Portis added during his comments that he believes the problem goes well beyond Vick's backyard.

"It's prevalent in life...I know a lot of back roads that got some dog fighting, if you want to go see it," he said. But they're not bothering (anybody)...I'm sure some police got dogs and fight them, some judges got dogs and everything else."

Authorities investigating evidence that suggested a home owned by the Falcons quarterback was involved in a dog fighting operation met to compare information on Monday.

"At this time, the investigation continues. We have no further comment," said a statement distributed to reporters after the nearly 2-hour meeting said.

The meeting at the Surry County government office involved Commonwealth's Attorney Gerald Poindexter, Sheriff Harold Brown, the county's animal control officer, two special agents from the Virginia State Police and an investigator with the U.S. Department of Agriculture also representing the U.S. Office of the Inspector General.

No charges have been filed in the case, but Poindexter last week told The Associated Press as many as six to 10 people could be involved.

Vick is a registered dog breeder.

He has blamed relatives for taking advantage of his generosity and insisted he's rarely at the house — even though he's the owner.

The Daily Press of Newport News has reported Vick has since sold the home.

Poindexter said the county seized some 60 dogs from the house. Several dogs had old scars, but mostly the dogs appeared to be well-cared for, he said.

Vick has said he let a cousin, Davon Boddie, live at the house, and that he didn't know a large kennel on the property could be involved in a criminal activity.

Vick, the former Virginia Tech quarterback, in recent weeks has been sternly warned against misbehavior by Falcons owner Arthur Blank, and summoned to New York to meet with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.

A California congressman has joined the cause against Vick on Friday, firing off a letter that urged Goodell to "act swiftly and forcefully" if the quarterback was involved in dog fighting on his former property.

That is completely deplorable. It is a felony and I hope he get's jail time for it.