"Almost 100 percent" of animals seized in dogfighting investigations are euthanized because they have a level of aggression that makes them dangerous pets and neighbors, said John Goodwin, a spokesman for the Humane Society of the United States.

"It's simply not fair to someone who has a black lab or a Yorkie to have a fighting dog next door because if that dog gets loose, he's going to . . . kill that person's pet," Goodwin said, making it clear he was speaking in generic terms only.

He did not have specific information about the dogs taken from Vick's home in Smithfield, Va.

Sixty-six dogs, 55 of them pit bulls, were seized April 25 when police conducting a drug investigation raided the house, which Vick owned but said he rarely visited.

Police also found items associated with dogfighting, including treadmills, syringes and a "pry bar" used to pry apart a dog's jaws, as well as a bloodstained carpet. Prosecutor Gerald Poindexter said they also found blood on a floor in the home.

Several of the dogs had old scars that could be associated with dogfighting injuries, but authorities have said the dogs largely appeared to be healthy.

No charges have been filed, and the authorities involved met for nearly 2 hours Monday to go over their evidence, but said only that the investigation is continuing.

Officials with knowledge of the whereabouts of the animals seized would be unlikely to share it, Goodwin said, because fighting dogs often are stolen from shelters.

Poindexter did not return a phone message left at his office yesterday.

Vick has since put the house up for sale and agreed to a sale price with a buyer on the first day, but it is unclear if the sale has been finalized.

Vick, a native of Newport News who starred at Virginia Tech, is a registered dog breeder. He said he let a cousin, Davon Boddie, live at the house, and that he didn't know a large kennel on the property could be involved in criminal activity.

In a related development, agent Drew Rosenhaus defended his client, Clinton Portis, in the wake of comments made by the Washington Redskins running back that seemed to support dogfighting.

Portis was asked Monday about the investigation into possible dogfighting at Vick's home.

"It's his property; it's his dogs," Portis told a Norfolk, Va., television station. "If that's what he wants to do, do it."

Rosenhaus, speaking at a Charlotte Touchdown Club luncheon, said he talked to Portis about it.

"He said, 'Drew, I didn't mean for the way that came out. All I was saying, I wasn't condoning dogfighting. I wasn't condoning Michael Vick's conduct. All I was saying is that people should give him the benefit of the doubt until he's been charged or found guilty,' " Rosenhaus said.

The agent then immediately began a public-relations campaign to clear Portis' name.

"I like the fact that Clinton stood up for another athlete, but I want to clarify that he in no way, shape or form condones dogfighting or any type of illegal activity," Rosenhaus said. "I spent the last day or so with Clinton trying to get that message out."

Rosenhaus has dealt with controversy before. He represents more than 90 players, including Terrell Owens, Warren Sapp, Jeremy Shockey and linebacker Lance Briggs, who is holding out in Chicago after the Bears placed the franchise tag on him.

Portis' comments, though, led to outrage. In the TV interview, the Laurel, Miss., native added: "I know a lot of back roads that got a dog fight if you want to go see it."

Portis has apologized and the Redskins have distanced themselves from the comments.

"It was awkward for me, because it was one of my clients and I'm a real dog lover myself," Rosenhaus said. *