Michael Vick, humane society team up over 'dog wars' app
Professional football player Michael Vick has joined with the Humane Society to condemn a new cell phone application featuring fighting dogs.
The "Dog Wars" app, designed to run on Google's Inc.'s Android software, allows players to condition, train and fight virtual dogs.
Vick, a Philadelphia Eagles quarterback, was given an 18-month sentence in 2007 for involvement in a dog-fighting ring. Since his release, Vick has helped an anti-dogfighting campaign run by The Humane Society of the United States.
"I've come to learn the hard way that dog fighting is a dead-end street," Vick said in a joint statement with the Humane Society issued on Monday.
"Now I am on the right side of the issue, and I think it's important to send the smart message to kids, and not glorify this form of animal cruelty, even in an Android app," he said.
Wayne Pacelle, Humane Society president, said on Tuesday that pressure can be brought on the company to cancel the app's introduction.
"I am confident it will not survive the public onslaught," he said.
Kage Games, developers of the app, said the game is a satire showing the "ridiculousness of dog fighting."
"We agree that in real life dog fighting is disgraceful," the company said in an email response to a query. "We also believe murder is unacceptable, but there are plenty of murder-based games available in the Google Android market."
Kage said it has received "real and extremely violent threats from animal activists."
Pacelle argued that the app could be seen as glamorizing or promoting dog fighting.
"Because 'Dog Wars' actually instructs players on how to condition a dog using methods that are standard in organized dog fighting, this game may be a virtual training ground for would-be dog fighters," Pacelle said. "Its timing and message are all wrong."
The company's web site touts the new game, which has not yet been released, by saying: "Dog wars ... Raise your dog to beat the best."
Google, which markets the Android system, did not respond to requests for comment.
Source:Reuters
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