Good Can Come From Vick Dogfighting Case
The face of the poor dog you see is one taken from Vick's propery,courtesy of the Humane Society of the United States.
One good thing has come out of the Michael Vick dogfighting case: the ugly world of dogfighting has been exposed in all its blood, gore and torture.
Those of us who work for animal welfare causes have long known about the horrors of dogfighting. National groups like the ASPCA and Humane Society have fought for decades to enact stricter laws and have gone undercover to dog and cockfights to gather evidence for prosecutions. It’s because of their tireless efforts that fighting is a felony in most states. Those operations didn’t make mainstream national news because no one famous was involved—until now.
However, some in the sports world feel Vick was targeted only because he’s a rich black man. That belief is a gross insult to anyone who has ever fought against animal exploitation and cruelty. Based not on fact but on feelings, such an attitude assigns a motive of racism—not animal welfare—to those involved in the indictments.
The feds didn’t build a dogfighting ring on Vick’s property, nor did they create his “Bad Newz” pit bull kennels. They didn’t hold his co-defendants under water or electrocute them—as Vick has been accused of personally doing to unsuccessful dogs—in order to exact confessions. Vick’s operation wasn’t small potatoes—it was a huge ring involving illegal gambling that spanned several states, according to the indictment.
Just think of the good Vick could have done with his millions, as other athletes have done over the course of their careers. Instead, he used his wealth to support a brutal, illegal activity.
When I first heard about the Vick case, I was appalled and horrified by the gory details of the indictment and also because such a prominent athlete was involved. But unfortunately, people involved in the gruesome world of animal fighting come from all strata of society—rich, poor, young, old, male, female, black and white. Some even bring their kids for the “entertainment.”
What made Vick national news was his lofty position: A rich quarterback of an NFL team. A supposed role model for America’s youth. A spokesperson and endorser of American products. Vick has only himself to blame for his legal woes, the public’s disgust and public relations nightmare of his employers.
All famous people are put under a media microscope when they do something wrong or illegal—and often lose jobs or endorsements because of it. That’s why the drunken antics of Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan are splashed across TV screens and magazine pages. Stars suffer consequences regular Joes who commit the same acts don’t. Don Imus did for his racists remarks. Pete Rose for betting on baseball. Michael Vick is no different.
Celebrity draws media to the story. If any other well-known athlete of any sport was at the center of the scandal, animal-rights activists would react no differently. I can assure you animal defenders see only the color red when it comes it comes to animal torturers. Their sole focus is the innocent animals exploited for perverted pleasure and profit.
I believe anyone involved in animal fighting of any kind has something missing in their psyche and soul and deserves condemnation both in this life and in the afterlife.
We reap what we sow, and I hope Vick has sowed the seeds of the end of his football career. Maybe now that more people know about the horrors of dogfighting, more will be done to prevent it and stop it from all segments of society, not just longtime animal activist groups. Sometimes good things do come from the bad actions of depraved people.
NOTE: Vick pled guilty (what else could he do?) and should serve jail time. Here is what has to happen: Now that he's a FELON, the NFL can get rid of him. Most commentaters I heard on TV said his chances of playing in the NFL are SLIM. We have to make sure the pressure is kept up to make that happen. What team would want such a PR nightmare, not to mention sick individual.
What gets me the most is the way losing dogs were tortured and killed. That image I'll never get over. Oh, if I could decide his punishment. Any ideas? Let's see who can be most creative!
posted by Sandy at 8/20/2007 03:08:00 PM
Pet People
18 Comments:
GREAT article, Sandy. By the way, Mr. Horne blogged more about this topic trying to defend himself by printing a letter from one of his supporters on the issue. To me, it was more infuriating than the 1st round of CRA* he published. Here was my response, and I hope more with follow:
"Sorry, Mr. Horne. But printing the ONE letter than happens to agree with your ignoramus did nothing to support your cause. All the letter did was CRY about Mr. Vick being a VICTIM. Do you really believe that load of rubbish? He is nothing more than a thug... has probably ALWAYS been a THUG... and just so happened to get a real break in life (only in America by the way) based on his talents as a football player. The NFL didn't conspire to MAKE Vick get involved with dogfighting so they could stick a white boy in his position as quarterback. If they didn't think he was worthy of the position he wouldn't have been making millions of dollars both with the NFL & through endorsements. The fact is Mr. Vick blew it... and he blew it big time. It's just pathetic that an educated man like yourself can't even look beyond the race card here. The ONLY victims surrounding Michael Vick was the 60+ animals that were tortured while being forced to fight for human entertainment & monetary gain. Perhaps you should post a few pictures of some of those dogs on your blog. Like the dog that was doused in water & electrocuted. Or, the dog that was body slammed to the ground multiple times until it finally died. Pathetic. Truly pathetic that anyone would DARE say that Mr. Vick is a VICTIM of being a black quarterback in a white man's position. Give me a BREAK. You & your single supporter need a wake up call."
This topic could just make me SPIT. UGH!!!
Great Amy. He should quit trying to defend the indefensible. We see who really sees color and shows a form of prejudice, not to mention a total lack of understanding of the FACT that animal activists have fought dog fighting for decades AND have gone undercover AND have prosecuted.
As IF anyone, black or white, should feel sorry for a spoiled, ingrateful millionaire. HE should be forced to pay millions to animal welfare groups.
Great idea! Can we add the Humane Society of Clarksville-Montgomery Co. to that list of welfare groups? LOL
Also, that picture you posted Sandy came from the HSUS website. It's one of the actual dogs fought on the Vick property. Poor precious baby. I wish they would tie a T-bone to Vick's meat rack & let her go to town! But, I digress.
Sandy,Amy, fantastic what you both said! Amy you were much too kind in suggesting the T-bone on VIck's meat rack for the dogs to chew. That shold only be one thing done to him. He should also be tortured in various ways where he feels the same pain he inflicked on those prescious animals. IT is killing my heart to think about all they went through before they died and what the ones went through that have lived. It is far more sickening than words can ever describe. I pray God gave them some mercy to where after a while they not aware of so much pain. God bless all of you in the rescue groups and all people who help the sweet animals in this world!
Sandy, you did a great job on that Posting. You should print that one in the paper also!!!
What perfect timing! My Letter to the Editor about Horne was in the paper today! It was not as explosive as I would have liked to be but hey, I got the main point across and that was what I was after! I did see his rebuttal on his Blog today K-9… I think he is doing back strokes trying to save his job! I cannot believe someone who writes for a newspaper can be so uneducated!
My over all view on this being a racist thing…
The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. did not march down Peachtree street in Atlanta for the right of any person to be able to murder animals!
As far as punishment for Vick, I can think of horrible things to do to him but then that would put me down on his level, so I must get those out of my mind. I am better then that, I say taking his love of playing football and his famous status away from him would be the ultimate punishment. Plus he should have to donate tons of that Blood Money to Animal shelters across the country! Well, okay having a cell mate that loves animals would be a great one also….
Hey, Vick gave up the fight. Maybe his dogfighting friends can do to him what they all did to the dogs who didn't fight according to their standards?
And when they put him in prison, maybe they can find a prison where animal activists might be jailed--you know,for freeing lab animals. Bet they'd take care of him.
I'd love it if Judge Judy could dress him down. She'd rip him a new one.
Skeeter, great job on your letter to the paper! I think you made your point and it was as clear as a bell! And you did it while acting like a lady, good for you!
P.S. And you're right about taking away his job and status then making him give money to animal causes being the best punishment.
On a lighter note--I saw a picture on the AP wires last night that showed a dog at a Humane Society in Virginia, I believe. People were sending in their unwanted Vick jerseys and the shelter was using them as RAGS to clean the kennels. HA.
Something that upset me. Some commentator on TV last night said that more people were upset about the dog fighthing than over football players beating on their wives! What a stupid comparison. A human can LEAVE. A human can call the COPS. A human can call her family, a woman's group--any number of things.
I HATE when people try to change the subject or make stupid, illogical comparisons. Just shows how lame their powers of logic are.
Ladies,
My hat is off to you--SANDY-WONDERBAR of a posting---SKEETER-keep 'em cooking on the creep,darlin .
It's shame they don't tie these idiots to a post in the middle of a football arena, rub them down with raw hamburger, and then let the REAL victims loose on them (plus about a million or more pet activists. Oh--but that would be "inhumane" wouldn't it--sniff.
It's pretty typical that some people want to throw the race card when they get caught with their pants down (and in some cases, we can see that thats is what literally happens). But black, yellow, white, green, whatever--Vick and his posse of pet predators will have no such luck with that card when they stand before their maker--all colors burn the same in h*ll.
AMY- wanted to give you your own box of pat on the back--LOVE THAT Response to Horne!!!!
YOU and the Humane Society do WONDERFUL, BLESSED work --and I know how this issue thrusts that bile into your throat. But GOOD JOB girl and Kuddoes to you and yours!
Just remember --of all the evil being done-YOU are out their making a difference, and the rest of us Pet Maniacs are right behind you!
To all, there is nothing more I can add to the story or the posts. All I can do is to tell each and all is that just the shear picture of the dog brings Dragon tears to my eyes.
My heart aches so when I see photos of these poor precious animals that have been treated so bad! How unfair to them!
Dragon, my brother, it's so nice to see the softer side come out every so often.
That is absolutely the best column about Michael Vick I've read in a while. I totally agree with everything that you said. He is a monster and if he were struck by lightning tomorrow, I'm not sure if many tears would be shed. I sure wouldn't want to be him when he meets his maker!!
OOPS, I forgot to add....what's up with Mr. Horne only printing a small exerpt of the letter against him, and ALL of the letter supporting him? Talk about one-sided journalism.....
Dragon, we Wenches will wipe your tears Friday night...
Tammy, why don't you go to his blog and ask him? He seems to be afraid to respond now that several people have taken issue with his remarks on his blog, and not just one person. He doesn't normally have people posting on his blog, so he's not used to actual dialouge with readers. He's used to just spouting off his ignorance without retribution.
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