Georgetown dogfight opponents target Vick during protest at fairgrounds

As a stranger's hand approached, Zena's eyes took on a worried look, and she seemed to brace herself. Would this be a pat or a strike?

As she realized it was going to be a pat, the 7-year-old pit bull's eyes lit up with happiness, and she lifted her face to accept the loving gesture.

Zena - who was mother to a litter before age 1 and later was adopted by a loving family in Georgetown - was standing outside the main gate of the Topsfield Fairgrounds last weekend to represent her breed during a demonstration against Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick.

It was a brutally hot day as Zena's owner, Jean Murray, and other members of the Georgetown-based group Abolishers of Animal Fighting held their signs along Route 1.

"Stick it to Vick - Jail time," "Sack Vick," "Dog fighting is barbaric," "No slaps on the wrist for animal abusers" - the signs and banners stretched out along Route 1 in a protest two weeks in the planning. Georgetown Police Officer Dennis Sullivan, who founded the group in 2002, was given permission for the demonstration by Topsfield Police Chief Evan Haglund.

Following an investigation that began in May, Vick, the Falcons' star quarterback, was indicted at the end of July for allegedly conducting a dog fighting enterprise on his property in Virginia. The Humane Society of the United States called on NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to suspend him.

The local demonstration was planned for last Saturday to coincide with the Animal Planet Expo and drew the attention of an estimated 12,000 animal lovers as they entered the fairgrounds. The crushing 90-degree heat did not deter the demonstrators, mostly Georgetown residents, who took turns holding signs during their three-hour vigil. Fortunately, they found a large patch of shade and a bit of a breeze as 40 of them came and went during the protest.

Reaction to the sight of the demonstration was overwhelmingly positive, greeted by honking horns, thumbs up gestures, yells, waves and whoops. The demonstrators counted only three dissenting voices during the entire three hours they stood holding their signs. Shouts of approval came from the line of bumper-to-bumper traffic on Route 1. Many of the drivers and motorcyclists called out phrases like "Put Vick in jail!" and "Hope he goes to jail!"

Stephen Cecere, 13, came from Woburn with his father, Stephen. The youngster was wearing a red Vick shirt bearing the player's No. 7. It had been altered with a circle with a bar across it, drawn on it by Stephen. Once a prized Christmas gift, the shirt had become a symbol of one young fan's disappointment with his sports hero.

"I was going to throw it on a fire," Stephen said. "No one should do that to a dog."

Now Stephen was walking mascot-for-the-day Zena up and down the side of Route 1 and making sure her water bowl was filled. Sullivan explained that the Ceceres were out camping when Stephen took off his Vick shirt and approached the campfire. His father told him to keep it, because it would be useful for Saturday's demonstration. They were planning to burn it after the demonstration.

Zena and the other demonstrators are experienced at peaceful protest rallies. The dog was one of several pit bulls demonstrating with Abolishers of Animal Fighting members at a New Hampshire courthouse during the 2002 sentencing hearings for Christopher DeVito of Newton, who was convicted of training more than 40 pit bulls to fight.

During the DeVito trial and sentencing hearings, the Abolishers group lined up outside the courthouse every day carrying signs protesting animal abuse. They gathered more than 3,500 signatures on a petition calling for a stiff sentence for DeVito. When Judge Gillian Abramson sentenced DeVito to the maximum five years allowed under the law, she commended the Georgetown group for their dedicated efforts.

Ending the barbarity

The brutal spectacle of dog fighting takes place in abandoned buildings under cover of darkness and is unspeakably cruel. The pit bulls will die from their injuries, or they will be shot, drowned or electrocuted by their owners if they fail to perform well during training or in a fight. A lot of money changing hands, and the underground crime syndicate operates all over the United States.

Haverhill resident Bob Watson is one of the original members of Abolishers, the former Harbormaster of Newbury, and the proud owner of Angel, a pit bull. As an admirer of the pit bull breed, he is disgusted with Vick.

"He's supposed to be a role model for children," Watson said.

David Bornstein of Georgetown, another group member, claimed the NFL hadn't planned to punish Vick until an outraged public forced its hand.

"It's disgusting," Bornstein said. "He shouldn't be allowed to play. He's not a good role model for kids."

Jenna Nichols, 6, of Georgetown, was the youngest demonstrator, there with her brother Addison and her mom, Jan. Other Georgetown residents holding signs during the day were group cofounder Annemarie Sullivan, Michele Gray, John Crosby, George Comiskey, Anne Bonazoli, Eric Paolucci, Anthony and Mary Pruszenski, and Allyson Sweikata. They all know and admire the breed, and wanted to see an end to the blood sport that preys on these dogs.

Animal rights activist Denise Muccioli had driven down from Nashua, N.H. to join the demonstration.

Robin Frans, another demonstrator, works to rescue small dogs.