Eagles fans are putting their hard-earned tickets where their mouths are on Craig's List today. Word was barely out about Michael Vick signing a two-year deal with the Eagles when Philadelphia Craig's List started buzzing with angry fans seeking to rid themselves of tarnished tickets.

Writes one Eagles fan trying to unload season tickets: "The last thing my son & I want to see is Michael Vick in an Eagles jersey. We made up our mind to sell the tickets. Lower Level, 2 seats, side by side, 24 rows off the field. Great seats. $3000 cash gets the tickets. Any info feel free to ask, serious buyers only, I want the deal done fast."

Another disgruntled fan writes: If the Eagles are going to sell out, then so am I. 2 tickets to 7 regular season games in section 237 row 13 for $2000.00. I already donated the Tampa Bay tickets for a charity

Still another post urges fans to donate some of the proceeds from their ticket sales to charity.

Of course, Craig's list was awash with other posters looking to "help" fans who wanted to shed their tickets. Wrote one: "Vick haters look no further $100. I will take your tickets from you!!!!"

Anger over the Eagles surprise decision to hire convicted dog abuser Michael Vick spread like a bolt of lightning through the animal welfare community last night. Our sports desk asked me to seek their reaction for today's paper and I scrambled to put together this story on deadline. No sooner had I filed then the shock in dogland turned to anger and protest. There was talk of a billboard campaign. Turning in of season tickets. Boycotting the Eagles and Eagles paraphernalia. Some readers sent emails this morning saying Vick should be given a second chance. My colleague, sports columnist Phil Sheridan, thinks so too, only as he put, "not here."

Animal activists boo Eagles' signing of Vick
By Amy Worden

Inquirer Staff Writer

News that the Eagles had signed quarterback Michael Vick, a convicted animal abuser, was met with swift outrage last night by members of Philadelphia's animal-welfare community.

Many said they were concerned that the move would cast a pall over a state in which animal advocates - led by Gov. Rendell, who has three rescue dogs - have fought to improve conditions for dogs, particularly those who suffer in substandard commercial kennels.

"Over the last three years, Pennsylvania has made historic strides in bringing attention to the abuse and neglect that so many dogs suffer in this state and throughout the country," said Tom Hickey of Drexel Hill, a member of the governor's Dog Law Advisory Board. "For the Philadelphia Eagles, knowing the heinous crimes committed by this man, to sign him is unconscionable."

The initial reaction, which included the launching of a Twitter feed called "Boycott the Eagles," is a likely indication of the angry response to come.

"Michael Vick is coming to a city with some of the strongest and most outspoken animal advocates," said Bill Smith, founder of Main Line Animal Rescue in Chester Springs. "In a city where thousands of pit bulls are destroyed every year because we don't have the resources to rehabilitate them, it's shameful that we are willing to rehabilitate Michael Vick."

Vick, who played with the Atlanta Falcons, pleaded guilty to federal dogfighting charges in 2007, admitting that he participated in the destruction of dogs that did not perform, including drowning, hanging, and slamming them to the ground.

He spent 18 months of a 23-month sentence in federal prison, during which time he admitted "using bad judgment and making bad decisions," and vowed to redeem himself.

Since his release from house arrest last month, Vick has participated in events in Atlanta and Chicago with the Humane Society of the United States, where he spoke to inner-city young people about the cruelty of dogfighting.

Jen Utley, a board member of the Pennsylvania SPCA and the wife of Phillies second baseman Chase Utley, declined to comment last night specifically on the Vick signing, saying the PSPCA board would release a unified statement today.

"My goal has always been and always will be to prevent cruelty against animals in the city," said Utley, who adopted a rescue dog and who, together with her husband, has raised thousands to support PSPCA activities.

In a statement last night, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals expressed disappointment that the Eagles had signed a man who had committed such brutal acts against animals.

"What kind of message does this send to young fans who care about animals and don't want to see them be harmed?" the statement asked.

The Philadelphia Basset hound case got Terrierman, aka Patrick Burns, thinking about municipal pet limits.

The Pennsylvania SPCA charged a Roxborough kennel owner this week with keeping her dogs in filthy conditions and failing to provide veterinary care. But agents also found she had almost double the 12-dog-limit allowed under Philadelphia's two-decade old dog ordinance. Owner Wendy Willard wouldn't discuss the allegations with Daily News reporter Gloria Campisi (she did not respond to this reporter's phone or email messages), but said she considered the dogs "my family."

Nevertheless, she surrendered 11 dogs to the PSPCA, which said it placed them with a rescue that they declined to identify.

So how many big cities besides Philadelphia have pet limits? Burns asked his blog readers to help him find out which cities among the top 52 have pet limits. And he decided to see if he could identify any trends. Did the size of the city matter? Did liberal/conservative politics play a role? What other strategies are cities using along with limits or in place of limits to control pet overpopulation and animal abuse?

Here's Burns analysis (see Aug. 12 entry) and here's the data he and his blog fans ferreted out.

The top 52 cities and their ordinances:

Albuquerque, N.M. - 4 dogs

Arlington, Texas - No limit

Atlanta, Ga. - 10 dogs

Austin, Tex. - No limit

Baltimore, Md. - 3 dogs w/o variance and permit

Boston, Mass. - No limit

Charlotte, N.C. - 3 dogs w/o permit

Chicago, Ill. - No limit, but considering 5-dog limit

Cleveland, Ohio - No limit

Colorado Springs, Colo. - 4 dogs

Columbus, Ohio - No limit

Dallas, Tex. - 6 dogs up to 1/2 acre of land, 8 dogs if over an acre

Denver, Colo. - No limit, but mandatory sterilization with exceptions

Detroit, Mich. - 4 dogs

El Paso, Tex. - No limit

Fort Worth, Tex. - No limit

Fresno, Calif. - 4 dogs

Honolulu, Hawaii - 10 dogs

Houston, Tex. - No limit

Indianapolis, Ind. - No limit

Jacksonville, Fla. - No Limit

Kansas City, Mo. - 4 dogs w/o variance. Up to 10 with.

Las Vegas, Nev. - 3 dogs

Long Beach, Calif. - No limit

Los Angeles, Calif. - No limit, but mandatory sterilization except for registered breeders

Louisville/Jefferson County, Ky. 3 dogs if under 1/2 acre, up to 7 dogs if 1/2 acre to 2 acres.

Memphis, Tenn. - No limit

Mesa, Ariz. - 5 dogs w/o kennel license

Miami, Fla. - 4, 6, or 8 dogs depending on property size (<1/2 acre =" 4," acres =" 6," acres =" 8)

Milwaukee, Wis. - No limit

Minneapolis, Minn. - 3 dogs

Nashville-Davidson, Tenn. - No limit

New Orleans, La. - No limit

New York, N.Y. - No Limit

Oakland, Calif. - 3 dogs

Oklahoma City, Okla. - 4 dogs

Omaha, Nebr. - 3 dogs. May apply for permit for up to 5

Philadelphia, Pa. - 12 dogs

Phoenix, Ariz. - No limit

Portland, Ore. - 5 dogs

Sacramento, Calif. - 3 dogs

St. Louis, Mo. - 4 dogs

San Antonio, Tex. - 5 dogs

San Diego, Calif. - 6 dogs

San Francisco, Calif. - No Limit

San Jose, Calif. - 3 dogs

Seattle, Wash. - 3 dogs on lots of less than 20,000 sq. ft. , 5 dogs for 20,000 to 35,000 sq. ft., with an additional 2 per acre for lots over 35,000 sq. ft. to a maximum of 20, unless a special permit is granted.

Tucson, Ariz. - No limit

Tulsa, Okla. - 5 dogs

Virginia Beach, Va. - 4 dogs w/o kennel license

Washington, DC - 5 dogs

Wichita, Kans. - 4 dogs w/o kennel license

Legislation that will outlaw do-it-yourself surgical procedures on dogs appears to have turned the corner and should be heading toward Gov. Rendell's desk soon.

The bill, sponsored by Rep. Tom Caltagirone (D., Berks), bars anyone but a veterinarian from performing ear cropping, tail docking, debarking or Cesarian sections.

The bill, which passed the House without opposition in February, had been holed up in the Senate for five months. It must now return to the House for a final vote because it was amended in the Senate. Stripped out was language to allow dog wardens to enforce cruelty in the two counties where there is no humane police officer, while technical language was added to allow vets to perform tail docking between the ages of five days and twelve weeks if it is medically necessary. 

The House is expected to reconvene next week, but it was unclear when the bill would be considered. The bill will take effect 60 days after it is signed by the governor.

Meanwhile, in North Carolina the American Kennel Club and the National Rifle Association are celebrating the derailment of legislation aimed at curbing abuse in puppy mills. The "commercial breeder regulation" bill was pulled by its sponsor late Monday after narrowly passing the state Senate. It would have required any breeder with more 15 intact females or 30 puppies to be licensed by the state and established basic health requirements, such as veterinary care for breeding dogs, and exercise.

Opponents - which also included the American Veterinary Medical Association - said the bill was "anti-breeder" and "anti-hunting" and argued that existing animal welfare laws were adequate.

Advocates say it would have helped clean up conditions in substandard kennels in North Carolina, like the one raided in February. The kennel - whose owner is scheduled to appear in court today on 12 counts of animal cruelty - housed some 300 dogs in filthy, cold, cramped cages without access to exercise, adequate veterinary care, or human contact. Rescuers said many of the dogs were covered with fecal-encrusted mats and suffered from severe skin and eye infections. Some had chain collars embedded in their necks.

Supporters also point to language in the bill that would have excluded hunting, showing and boarding kennels.

The bill can be reintroduced in the 2010 session.

Disgraced ex-NFL star Michael Vick has embarked on his controversial community service project with the Humane Society of the United States. His mission? To deliver the message to inner city children that dog-fighting is cruel.

Last weekend Vick made his first brief appearance at a private forum for at-risk youths in Atlanta. Today he appeared with HSUS president Wayne Pacelle in a troubled neighborhood in Chicago.

Says Pacelle: We spoke with dozens of young people, and Michael shared his story, expressed remorse for his actions, urged the community to stand up to dogfighting, and asked them to help with the campaign.

I was heartened to see these kids sitting on the edge of their seats as they listened to speakers convey that dogfighting is wrong. This practice is inhumane, and it is a dead end street for anyone who takes it up as a hobby or livelihood. Our program already deploys former dogfighters, and they have demonstrated a special ability to relate to at-risk kids and steer them in our direction. We also have dog experts in the program who work with the young men and their dogs and show them that there are alternatives to fighting, such as behavior work and agility training.

Pacelle said Vick asked to get involved with HSUS anti-dog fighting effort to make amends for the brutal dogfighting operation he ran that led to his 23-month federal prison sentence.

Meanwhile, Vick returns to primetime with a no-holes barred interview Sunday on CBS News's "60 Minutes."  Baltimore Sun television critic David Zurawik raises a number of questions about the interview in his blog, from the selection of James Brown, who's never before reported for 60 Minutes, as the interviewer, to the national exposure for Vick and the boost to the NFL which has a contract with CBS to televise games.

Zurawick asks:

To what extent will "60 Minutes" include the gruesome and horrific nature of Vick's crimes in its piece Sunday night? Will "60 Minutes" think "balance" simply means having a spokesperson from the Humane Society of the United States on as a talking head?

I have no doubt as pro football fever starts to build that "60 Minutes" will have a huge audience. I hope many media critics will be in that audience with me trying to assess what price 60 Minutes did or didn't pay in credibility to get it.

In the latest Disney blockbuster G-Force, guinea pig commandos suit up to save the world. Will a flood of children begging for guinea pigs be far behind? While some recommend guinea pigs as a good starter pet for youngsters (cute, cuddly and sturdier than hamsters), others disagree and are concerned about the rush to buy the next "it" pet that could lead to a glut of homeless GPs flooding shelters (Think "101 Dalmatians"). Either way, hit the Internet and check with your vet or others with experience caring for these animals for advice before buying or rescuing a guinea pig.

Make a senior citizen or disabled cat or dog happy with a cozy place beside your hearth. Petfinder.com is launching Adopt-a-Less-Adoptable Pet awareness drive today among its network of more than 12,600 shelters and rescue groups. Petfinder.com members across North America will be encouraged to actively promote their adoptable animals who don’t normally top everyone’s “most wanted” list. Every day thousands of shelter animals are overlooked because of their age, size, color or other circumstances beyond their control. And that can lead to lengthy shelter stays. Petfinder is urging potential adopters to give these dogs and cats a second look.

Celebrate the dog (and cat) days of  August with a new friend at Buzzy's Bow Wow Meow. The pet store is opening its doors to adoptable animals from area shelters in the coming weeks. On Aug. 15 Francisvale Home for Smaller Animals will be on site with wonderful dogs for adoption from 11 AM to 1 PM. On Aug. 29 the Pennsylvania SPCA will be hand with dogs and cats looking for new homes. Buzzy's Bow Wow Meow is located at 701 Montgomery Ave, Narberth, PA. www.buzzysbowwowmeow.com or call 610-617-3300.

Bucks County resident Maryann King-Hasbrouck is the winner of the 2009 Heart and Soul Award, presented by United Animal Nations to an individual who demonstrates an outstanding commitment to UAN’s programs and a personal devotion to animals. King-Hasbrouck, of Levittown, is the Pennsylvania State Coordinator with UAN’s Emergency Animal Rescue Service (EARS), which provides temporary, emergency shelter for animals displaced by natural disasters or rescued during criminal seizures. Since 1998, she has led local disaster response teams, helped in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and educated people about the need for animal disaster preparedness. She also has helped reunited pets with their families by organizing low-cost microchip events. King-Hasbrouck is also coordinator for the Bucks County Animal Response Team (Bucks CART) and Pennsylvania State Animal Response Team.

Crime and punishment - A kitten is fighting for its life after being thrown from a car in Brookhaven, Delaware County. The six-week old kitten suffered head trauma and injury to its chin and throat after reportedly being tossed from a moving vehicle yesterday on Edgemont Avenue. A witness found the crying kitten lying in the road around 8:00 a.m. and brought it to the auto shop. A co-worker placed her in a box and called Animal Control. Veterinarian Elizabeth Bukowski of the Old Marple Veterinary Clinic, says the next few days are critical to the kitten's survival. An official with the Delaware County SPCA said today the kitten was in stable condition, but doctors have been unable to operate on the large gash running from the chin to the esophagus because the kitten is still too fragile to withstand the surgery. If you witnessed the incident or know who may have owned the kitten call the Delaware County SPCA at 610-566-1370.

Dog wardens have shut down a kennel in Waynesboro, west of Harrisburg, that was operating without a license. Wardens and officers with the Washington Township Police Department went to the property last week and removed all 29 live dogs and one dead dog from the premises. Acting on information provided by a visitor to the kennel, dog wardens and police officers secured search warrants to investigate potential kennel and cruelty violations. The agents found dogs and other animals living in filthy conditions, including cages stacked four-high and filled with feces, maggots and moldy food. The dogs—Papillons, Yorkies and Poodle mixes—as well as several cats and birds, were immediately removed by the Antietam Humane Society in Waynesboro. The dogs were matted and dirty, and several appeared to have eye and ear infections. The animals will all be examined and receive veterinary care. The Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement plans to file charges against the owner, Donna Cook, for operating an unlicensed kennel. Any charges for animal cruelty will be issued by the police department. Cook was cited in 2001 for cruelty and operating a kennel without a license.

The American Kennel Club has suspended privileges for a Pennsylvania kennel operator convicted of multiple dog law violations. In May, Freya Grover, owner of Candy Heart Retrievers in Greentown, Pike County pleaded guilty to charges of "failing to keep kennel in sanitary and humane condition." The plea followed unsatisfactory inspections in February where wardens found too many dogs for the number of outdoor shelters (14 dogs and only seven shelters) and no bedding in the shelters despite 18 degree temperatures. Wardens also reported frozen water bowls and excessive amounts of feces in the enclosures.  Grover, who raises Golden Retrievers and Labrador Retrievers, pleaded guilty to similar charges in 2007.  Under her suspension, Grover may not register litters with the AKC, nor may she compete in AKC events. Puppy buyers may call the AKC customer service at 918-233-9767 or email info@akc.org to verify whether a breeder is in good standing if they have concerns about paperwork or AKC affiliation.

A Bucks County man has been charged with setting a fire to his own home that killed two cats and destroyed the residence. Investigators told CBS-TV that Thomas Matsinger was divorcing his wife and wanted to keep his home on East End Avenue in Bensalem, but then set fire to the home on July 27. The cats were his wife's pets and they died in the fire. Matsinger was taken into custody and charged with two counts of arson, two counts of cruelty to animals and three counts of Recklessly Endanger Another Person. Bail was set at $750,000 cash.

A Philadelphia woman, whose illegal kennel was the subject of a raid last month, has been charged with failing to provide vet care and for poor sanitation.

Wendy Willard, owner of Murder Hollow Bassets in Roxborough, was issued 22 citations during a follow up inspection on Friday, according to the Pennsylvania SPCA.

Willard, who competed her hounds at prestigious sporting dog events around Philadelphia and in Virginia's fox hunting region, surrendered 11 dogs to humane officers on July 27. The officers found filthy kennel conditions and dogs covered in feces and infested with parasites, the PSPCA said. The agency removed the animals because there were 23 dogs on the property, 11 more than are allowed under the city's animal ordinance.

Willard was given two weeks to make improvements and get vet care for the remaining animals, but the PSPCA said in press release that when the officers returned last week "overall living conditions remained poor."

Willard was issued 11 citations for unsanitary conditions, 11 citations for lack of veterinary care and two tickets for barking. Graphic photos of the dogs detailing their condition and their housing have been turned over to the district attorney’s office. Efforts to reach Willard were unsuccessful.

Agents first went to the property on July 21 in response to neighbor complaints about noise and order. When they found no one at home they left a card telling the owner to contact them. When Willard failed to contact them, they returned on July 27 to inspect the property. Willard refused and threw stones at the officers' vehicles as they left, said George Bengal, the PSPCA director of law enforcement. They returned later that day with a warrant to search the property.

The dogs were turned over to Basset hound rescue groups, the PSPCA said.

The following are some of the recent cases investigated by the Pennsylvania SPCA. Headquartered at 350 E. Erie Avenue in Philadelphia, the PSPCA operates five branches throughout the state. For more information, call 215-426-6300 or visit www.pspca.org. To report animal cruelty call 1-866-601-SPCA.

Germantown Avenue, 4600 block, August 5. The Pennsylvania SPCA is investigating an abuse case involving five animals in a trash-strewn house. Two kittens were found in plastic containers with no ventilation. Two pit bulls were found in small crates amidst piles of feces. An elderly Labrador Retriever, in poor condition, was found in another room. The animals were removed from the property and are now being treated at the PSPCA. An elderly woman living in the trash-ridden home was transported to a mental health facility. The building is being condemned by the city for unsanitary conditions.

Richmond Street, 4700 block, July 27. The Pennsylvania SPCA was called to investigate an Akita with a hole in its head. Upon arrival, the officers interviewed the owner and found the dog had a nickel sized lesion on his forehead. The owner said he was unaware of what happened but had first noticed the lesion after the dog had returned from being out in the yard. He said he had attempted to treat with peroxide. The owner surrendered the dog to the PSPCA, where it is receiving veterinary care.

North Lee Street, 3400 block, July 26. Pennsylvania SPCA officers responded to a complaint of a dog abandoned inside a property. Officers posted a warning and, after 24 hours without contact from the owners, the dog was removed with a search warrant. Officers are currently trying to contact the owners regarding the animal.

June Avenue, 2700 Block, July 24. Pennsylvania SPCA officers entered a property with Bensalem Township Police to perform an eviction. The officers found horrid, unsanitary conditions with trash and debris stacked over five feet high. PSPCA agents had to tunnel through trash to rescue two caged cats and three loose cats. The mummified remains of a cat were also removed. The two human residents were transferred to Lower Bucks hospital for evaluation. The five surviving cats, Mischief, Sprinkles, Sugar Cone, Clover and Diamond are now at the PSPCA under veterinary care and are available for adoption.

The Philadelphia-born researcher who first ranked dogs on the basis of intelligence, now concludes that our canine friends are smarter than we think.

Stanley Coren, a psychology professor at the University of the British Columbia, says dogs can count, understand more than 150 words (Is Tweeting far behind?), and intentionally deceive other dogs and people in their quest for treats.

In his presentation, "How Dogs Think," Coren reviewed a number of studies that found that dogs have the ability to solve complex problems.

Research shows dogs have similar intelligence to a 24- to 30-month old child, Coren said. [Cats are considered to have the intelligence of an 18-month-old. ]

He said tests suggest that dogs and apes both have some of the same basic emotions — fear, anger, disgust and pleasure — that toddlers experience, while both the animal groups are missing some of the more complex, learned emotions such as guilt, according to the Canadian Press.

“What we tend to be interpreting as guilt is really fear on the dog's part," Coren said. "They get the impression you're going to drop a piano on their head for something they've done wrong.”

What about fairness? In one experiment, Coren said, a researcher trained two dogs to shake a paw. After both learned the trick, the researcher started giving a treat to one of the dogs every time he got it right but not to the other.

The dog who didn't get a treat not only stopped performing, he wouldn't even look the researcher in the eye.

Coren, author of half-a-dozen popular books on dogs, gave his presentation at the American Psychological Association's 117th Annual Convention in Toronto.

In his most recent blog entry he considers why dogs roll around in garbarge, manure and other stinky stuff.

Coren, you may recall, famously ranked dogs on the basis of their intelligence. Top dog was the inimitable Border Collie. At the bottom of the class, with more beauty than brains: the Afghan.