Animal Witness

The ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) announced that its experts will be featured in the August 24 premiere episode of a new program on Animal Planet called Animal Witness: the
Michael Vick Case. The hour-long special which will feature interviews with Dr. Melinda Merck, senior director of Veterinary Forensics for the ASPCA and Annemarie Lucas, Supervisory Special Investigator for the ASPCA’s Humane Law Enforcement team will focus on one of the most talked-about stories of 2007 the Michael Vick case.

“The involvement of an extremely high-profile celebrity in the horrific sport of dogfighting prompted universal public outrage and condemnation,” said ASPCA President & CEO Ed Sayres. “The ASPCA is proud to have provided its expert resources not only to the investigation of this serious case but to the evaluation and rehabilitation of the animal victims. This case will forever remain a pivotal point in the history of animal welfare in this country and the world.”

The ASPCA worked closely with federal authorities at every step of the case, first assisting in the investigation itself through the forensic examinations by Dr. Merck, and later when Dr. Stephen Zawistowski, C.A.A.B. and executive vice president of ASPCA Programs, led a team of several Certified Applied Animal Behaviorists (trained animal behavior experts who have been certified by the Animal Behavior Society) in the behavior evaluations of the seized dogs.

The episode is scheduled to air Sunday, August 24 at 10 p.m. local time. For more information on the ASPCA’s fight against animal cruelty, please visit www.fightcruelty.org.