Reward for dogfight information

Call it the Michael Vick reward.

Amid a steep rise in dogfighting complaints this year, Pennsylvania authorities are offering up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in dogfighting.

The reward was announced yesterday in Philadelphia by the state Attorney General's Office and the Humane Society of the United States. It also applies to other animal combat, such as cockfighting.

The Pennsylvania SPCA has reported receiving more than 400 complaints about dogfighting in the first six months of this year. That's up from 245 complaints during all of 2008.

Dogfighting gained renewed attention in Philadelphia after the Eagles signed Vick, who had served prison time for his role in a dogfighting ring in Virginia.

The reward is funded through a grant from the Holland M. Ware Charitable Foundation.