Michael Vick's Dog-Fighting Drama Kicks Off New Animal Planet Series ANIMAL WITNESS,...

Michael Vick's Dog-Fighting Drama Kicks Off New Animal Planet Series ANIMAL
WITNESS, Where Crime Stories Unfold from a Different Point of View
-- New Special Reveals a Prominent Subculture in the Urban South --

SILVER SPRING, Md., Aug. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Michael Vick was a marvel and a
new prototype of quarterback when he entered the NFL in 2001. He was the
number one NFL draft pick out of Virginia Tech and signed one of the richest
contracts in NFL history, a 10-year deal for $130 million with the Atlanta
Falcons, making him one of the NFL's highest paid players. His sponsors
included Nike, Coca-Cola and Kraft. He had it all until it was revealed that
Vick trained, fought and killed pit bulls in an illegal dog fighting circuit
he financed.
In the kickoff to a brand new series ANIMAL WITNESS, Animal Planet
presents THE MICHAEL VICK CASE, premiering Sunday, August 24, at 10 PM, a
one-hour special that tells the full, wrenching story of the Michael Vick
case. The investigative report gives an in-depth report on Michael Vick, the
law enforcement officers who broke the case and the dogs who were traumatized
in the horrific dog fighting scenario and their miraculous recovery.
In this special, Animal Planet exposes the brutal sport of dog fighting
and spotlights the incredible rehabilitation of Vick's dogs under the care of
some very dedicated dog lovers. Viewers will witness rare underground dog
fighting videos and also see interviews with two of Vick's boyhood mentors.
ANIMAL WITNESS: THE MICHAEL VICK CASE challenges the misconceptions about pit
bulls and shows viewers that vicious, fighting dogs can be transformed into
lovable family pets.
"It's imperative to bring viewers compelling TV that exposes a horrific
issue like the Michael Vick case and highlights the aftermath of its
investigation," says Marjorie Kaplan, general manager of Animal Planet Media.
"Bringing to the forefront the entire case with firsthand accounts and rarely
seen footage, Animal Planet hopes that this eye-opener has a strong impact on
our audience and on dogs' lives."
In April 2007, what began as a routine drug investigation brought police
to Michael Vick'sVirginia home. When officers arrived on the scene, they
found few drugs. Instead, the backyard was littered with stacks of dog cages,
staked chains lying on the ground and 66 barking, snarling, angry canines.
What ensued was an investigation and subsequent media frenzy centered on the
Atlanta Falcons quarterback. It was soon revealed that the NFL's highest paid
star, a role model for children and hero to his fans was actively involved in
the gruesome blood sport of dog fighting, a felony in all 50 states.
ANIMAL WITNESS: THE MICHAEL VICK CASE follows the trail of lead
investigator Bill Brinkman and the obstacles he faced in exposing one of
America's biggest stars. For the first time on national television, Brinkman
reveals an intimate account of the inner workings of the investigation.
Coverage of Vick's response to the charges and his eventual fate illuminates
the unprecedented flood of controversy that came with this case. Testimony
ranging from Vick's hometown mentor to PETA representatives presents the
widest perspective of the case ever documented.
The pit bulls abused by Vick and his associates for the cruel sport of dog
fighting are central to ANIMAL WITNESS: THE MICHAEL VICK CASE. These dogs
were trained to attack -- their true loving nature twisted and warped for
vicious, illegal entertainment. Undercover work and investigative reporting
reveal the hidden world of dog fighting, how it is managed and how it is able
to escape the attention of state and federal authorities.
"Dog fighting really is an underground world. The professional fighters
are very sophisticated, and they take great care to make sure law enforcement
doesn't find out about it," says Annemarie Lucas, ASPCA investigator on the
case and personality on Animal Planet's ANIMAL PRECINCT.
ANIMAL WITNESS: THE MICHAEL VICK CASE also showcases the volunteers who
rescued and rehabilitated the dogs recovered from Vick's home. These people
showed these down- and- out dogs so much care and love that many now live as
pets. Some even are able to work as therapy dogs, providing companionship for
the sick and elderly.
ANIMAL WITNESS: THE MICHAEL VICK CASE is a production of Towers
Productions for Animal Planet. Jonathan Towers is the executive producer for
Towers, and Dawn Sinsel is the executive producer for Animal Planet.
Animal Planet Media (APM), a multi-media business unit of Discovery
Communications, is the world's only entertainment brand that immerses viewers
in the full range of life in the animal kingdom with rich, deep content via
multiple platforms and offers animal lovers and pet owners access to a
centralized online, television and mobile community for immersive, engaging,
high-quality entertainment, information and enrichment. APM consists of the
Animal Planet television network, available in more than 93 million homes in
the US; online assets http://www.animalplanet.com, the ultimate online
destination for all things animal; the 24/7 broadband channel, Animal Planet
Beyond; Petfinder.com, the #1 pet-related Web property globally that
facilitates pet adoption; and other media platforms including a robust
Video-on-Demand (VOD) service; mobile content; and merchandising extensions.
SOURCE Animal Planet

Brian Eley for Animal Planet, +1-212-548-5153, Brian.Eley@discovery.com