Investigators said many of the dogs were injured or neglected. They are now being held and cared for at undisclosed locations across the area. At least three of them are at the Chesapeake Animal Control Bureau, nursing facial wounds and too timid to walk on a leash.

“These are dogs that have been bred and trained for the purpose of fighting and killing other dogs,” said Goodwin, who is the society’s deputy manager of animal fighting issues. “We recommend that any dog put through this not be adopted out but be euthanized. The blame for every one of these dog deaths lies squarely on the shoulders of the people who breed them for these illegal purposes

Senator Robert Byrd also was visibly agitated by the thought of dogfighting, and spoke passionately about what happens in a dog fight, punctuating his speech with shouts of “SHAME! SHAME!” How inhuman! How dastardly! … God created the dog to be man’s companion,” Byrd cried. “Who are the real animals? Who are the real animals? The creatures inside the ring? Or the creatures outside the ring?”

Meanwhile, Mediacurves conducted a survey polling the American people on what they thought about Clinton Portis’ comments on Michael Vick and his alleged ties to dog fighting.