It'll take more than keeping convicted felon Michael Vick on a short leash to send a blaring message to dogfighting criminals in America, said animal welfare activist Leo Grillo in a released statement today.

In order to sniff out and take down illegal dogfighting rings, like the gruesome one Vick ran, Grillo said that the government's bite needs to bigger than its bark.

"Participants are much more dangerous than animal control officers are trained to handle," said Grillo. "And often, this is not [their] only crime."

Grillo is calling on diligent police investigation, arrest and prosecution. "Due to the organized nature of many dogfighting venues, state and federal agencies must be available to assist local police," said Grillo.

Grillo is the founder of D.E.L.T.A. Rescue, the largest dog and cat sanctuary of its kind in the world. It's located in Glendale, California.  He and his staff care for more than 1,500 animals on a daily basis.