Canines can bite back with Vick's Dog Chew Toy

Three buddies are giving dogs a chance to get a grip, sort of, on Michael Vick, who is facing dogfighting charges.

By Demorris A. Lee, Times Staff Writer
Published August 13, 2007

Three dogs, including this one, were taken from property owned by quarterback Michael Vick.
	[AP photo]

ADVERTISEMENT [Getty Images] Darren Usher says the toy is named after Vick, a friend's dog, not Michael Vick, above.

There has been lots of controversy surrounding the Michael Vick case, but as far as we know, only one chew toy.

Even before the first drooling dog chomps on the first Vick's Dog Chew Toy - a vague likeness of the NFL quarterback in his No. 7 jersey - the toy has become a minor Internet sensation, at $10.99 plus shipping and handling.

Tough enough for pit bulls, the site promises. Lasts all season long. Shipping is supposed to start Sept. 7.

The chew toy creators have kept a low profile. Maybe because they've been busy negotiating with the NFL over the use of Michael Vick's likeness and uniform.

We tracked down a pretty surprised Darren Usher of Jacksonville, who wouldn't say what he does for a living, but talked for the first time about the frenzy around the toy.

Usher says he and two football-loving buddies - he won't name them - came up with the idea last month in the wake of Vick's arrest on animal cruelty and dogfighting charges.

"It just took everybody's breath," Usher said. "Then we thought, what can we do to raise the awareness and keep it in everybody's mind and not have it swept under the carpet?

"We are regular guys who don't like to see bad things happen to animals."

On Aug. 1, Usher and his pals put together a Web site in the Atlanta Falcons' team colors, black and red. In 24 hours, they had 1,000 orders. CNN, Fox News and the local newspaper all began to churn stories about the Michael Vick likeness created to be gnawed by dogs.

"We are taken aback by all the attention," said Usher, 39. "We are still trying to play catch up. This is not something we are trying make a million dollars or retire off of. We did it to increase awareness of this thing."

In just over a week there were 150,000 orders.

The National Football League noticed.

Because the NFL protects its image, the chew toy design has transformed quickly. The creators have tweaked the colors, the stance and the ball.

"We don't want to infringe in any way," Usher said.

Conveniently, Usher says they have a friend with a pit bull named Vick. The toy is technically named after the dog, not the famous football player.

News researcher Caryn Baird contributed to this story. Demorris A. Lee can be reached 727 445-4174 or dalee@sptimes.com

Vick's Dog Chew Toy

To learn more about the chew toy, go to vickdogchewtoy.com.

[Last modified August 13, 2007, 07:47:38]