The Nassau County DA's office has indicted two men on felony animal cruelty charges for allegedly operating a dog fighting ring. Marlon Bernier, 25, and Ricardo Louis, 22, are charged with rearing pit bulls, "training the dogs to fight, pitting them against one another, and breeding the strongest dogs." CBS reports they then sold the dogs through their website, BlueMagicPitz.com for around $700 apiece. Authorities seized nine dogs in a raid from a home in Elmont, "many with fresh wounds from recent fights," and two of the animals required urgent medical treatment. more ›

According to the Post, some Prospect Park-goers are on the "lookout for signs of dogfighting...The Brooklyn DA's Office has asked for their help after receiving two complaints. One Park Slope resident contacted authorities after spotting what looked like dogfight training at about 7:30 a.m. last Sunday. The dog owner, who asked not to be named, said she saw four pit bulls tied to trees near the picnic house and a man baiting another pit bull into attacking a second man holding a cushion." Which sounds horrible. The Parks Department received an anonymous call last summer "about pit-bull training near the Parade Ground." more ›

A Bronx jury has convicted two men involved in a dog fighting ring, and animal rights groups couldn't be happier. Alexander Estephane and Juan Toledo were busted in 2008, when a police raid turned up 16 fighting dogs and 2 roosters in a cramped basement in the borough. Now they have both been found guilty of felony charges and face up to four years behind bars, according to the Daily News; their sentencing is later this month. more ›

Yesterday, the Philadelphia Eagles signed controversial quarterback Michael Vick to a one-year deal. Vick was suspended from the NFL after being convicted on federal dogfighting charges in 2007; he served 18 months and was conditionally reinstated to the NFL this summer (NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell will decide whether to reinstate him as early as week 1 or as late as week 6). The Eagles will introduce Vick at a 10:30 a.m. press conference; his "surprise" deal is worth $1.6 million in 2009, with an option for $5.2 million. Recently, Vick was spotted in Chicago, working with the Humane Society to advocate against dog fighting. Vick's interview with 60 Minutes will air this Sunday—he told NFL Today's James Brown that dogfighting is "wrong …I feel, you know, some tremendous hurt behind what happened. And, you know, I should of took the initiative to stop it all…I didn't - I didn't step up. I wasn't a leader." The Giants are scheduled to play the Eagles on Nov.1 in Philly and on Dec. 13 at the Meadowlands. Update, 11:02 a.m.: The press conference just started and is streaming live at the Eagles website. more ›

Police broke up an alleged dogfighting operation in the Tremont section of the Bronx last night, arresting seven men on charges of gambling and animal cruelty. 17 dogs were also removed from the building on 179th St. and they all showed signs of abuse. The bust comes approximately eight months after an investigation by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) alleged that NYC was practically the dogfighting capital of the world. more ›

While an 11-year-old boy remain in critical condition after being shot in the face, Suffolk Country police believe his father was the real target. Newsday reports that Jeffrey Langhorn's father had apparently "fought with" a group of men "before one of them fired three shots." more ›