Michael Vick Five Years Later

Michael Vick has been reviled (with good reason) by many, including myself, for what he did to pit bulls five years ago. Recently, through a tweet of his, he had posted a picture with a box of Milk Bone dog biscuits in the background. Then, a few days later, it was revealed that he had a dog. When questioned by reporter, he wanted to keep things about football and evaded the dog question. Later, he came clean about it by issuing a statement:

"I understand the strong emotions by some people about our family's decision to care for a pet," Vick said. "As a father, it is important to make sure my children develop a healthy relationship with animals. I want to ensure that my children establish a loving bond and treat all of God's creatures with kindness and respect. Our pet is well cared for and loved as a member of our family. This is an opportunity to break the cycle. To that end, I will continue to honor my commitment to animal welfare and be an instrument of positive change."

At first, I was outraged. I was 100% convinced this could be the worst thing ever. I thought that Michael Vick would be banned from owning dogs for the rest of his life. It turns out as part of his probation, there was a time limit that expired in May, and he's now able to own dogs again.

As much as I want to, I can't vilify the guy anymore. If he was living by himself and adopted these dogs, I would find that more of a problem. In a situation as controversial as this one, you have to look at the facts as well as the opinions.

One of the facts is, the judge who sentenced him, did not ban him from having dogs for life. He was given a three-year period. There must have been a good reason that judge didn't ban him from owning dogs for life. Any backlash would fall on the judge's shoulders.

Another fact is that out of all of the dogs found that horrific day, one of the dogs was Michael Vick's pet, who was in excellent health during the Bad Newz Kennel raid. So many dogs die in shelters each day because there aren't enough people out there who can give them a safe forever home. What's worse, giving it to a man who's trying to do the right thing after making a huge error in judgement or euthanizing the dog so he'll become just another statistic?

Lastly, he has three children who are innocent. How are they supposed to understand that when a person finishes their punishment, why shouldn't they get another chance? Is that what our country is about?

Michael Vick has been lucky enough to have a life most young boys dream about. As much as he's screwed up big time, he's done good in the world too. Before his arrest, he created the Michael Vick Foundation to help at-risk kids and a scholarship foundation to help students who were part of the equally tragic West Virginia shooting.

I see a person trying to do right by his kids. He's tried to make up for what he did by working with animal groups as an advocate. If he didn't care about making things better, he wouldn't have bothered to continue his volunteer work after his probation ended. It shows that he was big enough to admit to his mistakes. Also, what does it say about us that we can't forgive? Granted, I have no desire to ever see him play football or buy one of his jerseys, but if he's going to put a dog into an abusive situation again, it will affect his children and the aftereffects will be too much to bear.

As much as I hate what he did, the truth of the matter is that he has too much to lose, if he ever does anything like this again. For his sake, I hope he only has one dog and keeps that one dog happy and healthy for a long, long time. Everyone is capable of change if they truly want their life to be different. Change isn't easy, but it appears that he's slowly learning his lesson and trying to become a better person than what he was in his dogfighting past.

When it comes down to it, it's about the dogs themselves. We can choose to focus on a criminal who adopted a dog to benefit his children or we can try to save the other dogs out there who are still being used for dog fighting, to make puppy mill owners a quick buck or being senselessly abused for no good reason. I choose the latter. It doesn't mean I've forgotten what Vick has done, but there comes a time where you have to move on. What he does now can't change what he did in the past, but one can hope that he gains wisdom and truly changes for the better as a result.

Let's Discuss!

Please feel free to agree or disagree below.

It's All Related!

Why Michael Vick Needs To Steer Clear of Dogs A Fresh Start But Has He Learned The Lost Dogs Book Review Michael Vick, Does He Deserve A Second Chance

Why Michael Vick Needs To Steer Clear Of Dogs

Photo: Parade Magazine

Almost four years ago, when all this brouhaha came out about Michael Vick and his dogfighting ring, I was wondering if he deserved a second chance. When it comes to dogs, he most certainly does not.

The dog you see pictured above was Vick's personal dog Harriet. She was never fought and after being seized from the premises, she found a home fairly quickly. This was one of 60 dogs. She was one of the truly lucky ones.

By The Numbers

Michael Vick and his friends engaged in this sport for a short period of time. They didn't care about the welfare of the dogs. Dogfighting was something they enjoyed and a source of extra income. Not that he needed it, he was already a millionaire at the time.

If he didn't need the money, then it was obvious dogfighting gave him enjoyment. He was proud of the dogs who won and could care less about the ones who lost. Even when other members of his crew suggested to give them up, he insisted on ending their life.

Nine dogs were killed at the hand of Vick and his crew and buried in shallow graves on his property. 51 were confiscated by the authorities. One of the dogs in the shelter was so badly traumatized from being raped repeatedly, she was too violent to even go to an animal sanctuary. Another was euthanized because of medical reasons. Two of the dogs died in the shelter because of mysterious reasons. 22 dogs like Lucas (pictured right)were given a new lease on life at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary . Just one look at his face and you can see the numerous scars from the dogfighting they made him do.

Of the 25 left, 10 of these dogs were given to BAD RAP, a rescue group that specializes in rehabilitating Pit Bulls. The rest were split between other rescue groups or adopted into new homes.

Constant Lies And Cover Ups

Handsome Dan, Adopted

When Vick was arrested, he maintained that he didn't have anything to do with killing the dogs. Flash forward to one of his associates testimony that he witnessed Michael Vick and another crew member take first try to drown the dog by taking the front and back legs and submerging the dog under water. When that didn't work, he was hurled to the ground with brute force, not once but twice, resulting it his death.

Vick has said he's a product of his environment. While that may be true, if he didn't like what he saw, then wouldn't he stay far, far away? Guess what? He did. So many people will see their parent smoke and are repulsed by it. Yet, they'll never go near a cigarette when they're grown up. Now he's complaining that his daughters will never have a dog of their own. Was he thinking of that when he started this in the first place?

Worst of all, he named his kennels Bad Newz. He passed it off as a boarding kennel when it was really a cover for dogfighting all along. He knew it was illegal but didn't care. He saw those dogs as a means to an end. He had no appreciation for them as beings, they were just property to him.

Vick Has It Good

Yes, he served 18 months behind bars. He had to file for bankruptcy. Still, no sooner than he was out of jail, he was given a spot on the Philadelphia Eagles. He was voted Comeback Player of the Year by the Sporting News, a few days ago.

For him to have a fulfilling life, he doesn't need a dog, nor does he deserve one. Even with his vicious treatment of dogs, he still has many football fans who enjoy his athleticism. There is even a website called Michael Vick Is Back where they praise him and sell t-shirts for this reason.

Some of the dogs that were seized are still traumatized, even now. Michael Vick steering clear of dogs is a small price to pay for the freedom and convenience his celebrity lifestyle gives him.

Let's Discuss!

What are your thoughts on this?

Read More About It

The Lost Dogs by Jim Gorant
Michael Vick's Pit Bulls, Where Are They Now?

The Lost Dogs Book Review

The Lost Dogs: Michael Vick's Dogs and Their Tale of Rescue and Redemption was a book I ordered from Amazon right when it came out. However, due to the demands of my classes, I didn't get a chance to read it until I was on vacation. It also didn't help that the first chapter was very graphic. I wouldn't change a thing though because the grittiness of that chapter was very realistic.

That said, this book gives an clear picture of the Michael Vick dogfighting case. It is divided into three sections: Rescue, Reclamation and Redemption. While it wasn't the biggest case ever (that belonged to the folks in Missouri where 400 dogs were seized), it was the case to define all others. 51 dogs were confiscated and all of them had different outcomes. It's also important to note that not all of these dogs were not only pit bulls but also Beagles , Presa Canarios and others.

This book illustrates the mystique and misunderstanding of the pit bull breed. It shows us how Michael Vick's celebrity affected the case procedure. Tackling this situation head on involved people from all over the country. Most importantly, this book takes us on a journey with all of these dogs. It brings out the anger and disbelief of what happened as well as the hope and triumph for the dogs' future.

This is one of the best books I've read all year. It is written with a strong focus and an objective eye on a despicable situation. I picked up my book from Amazon. Here is the link for your convenience:
The Lost Dogs...

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In The Doghouse: Jay Leno and Chris Rock

(Note: Due to being incensed with the following, this post is written in a sarcastic tone).

Just when I thought life would go on and the Michael Vick saga would be a distant memory, Jay Leno decided to have a talk on "Politics" with Chris Rock on his show. One of their topics discussed was Michael Vick. This is an excerpt from their "brilliant" chat.


Jay Leno: "It's amazing to me that you mistreat a dog and you lose your career and go to jail for two years."

Chris Rock: "What the hell did Michael Vick do, man? A dog, a pit bull ain't even a real dog. A pit bull, that's the white stuff. Dogs are white mans best friend - dogs have never been good to black people."

I'd be very surprised if either of these guys are dog owners. Even so, I would think a person who doesn't own a dog could at least see the viciousness and senselessness of what Vick and his cohorts did. If Jay spent a day at Bad Rap or Dogtown, I think it would be apparent that Michael Vick's sentence was plenty fair. Sometimes, I think it wasn't harsh enough. For a guy who is playing professional football again and has an endorsement from Nike no less, I'd say he's pretty lucky compared to many others who have been in his shoes.

In response to Chris Rock's comments, if he can't tell that a dog is a pit bull, here is a visual aid:

Dog

Pit Bull

Even if Chris Rock was probably generalizing, he should know better. It's too bad either did not have the sense to realize that when this interview occurred. Yes, they are comedians and are going to stir the pots. However, they are public figures and should remember that some things are going rub people the wrong way.

Cruelty of any kind should not be tolerated or made light of. It's really tragic when you think about it.

What are your thoughts on this?

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A Fresh Start, But Has He Learned?

A Fresh Start But Has He Learned?

One of Michael Vick's Dogs at Best Friends

*Photo courtesy of MSNBC

The biggest piece of news that caught my eye was the fact that Michael Vick has now found a team to call home. Just over two weeks ago, he was allowed back into football. For all of you who live in Philadelphia, welcome your newest player. It has been said that Donovan McNabb was instrumental in bringing in this guy. It's nice to see that he stuck his neck out but after reading Michael Vick's comments, I just can't believe what he's saying. I hope he's learned something from this, but only Vick knows for sure.

There are three ironic things about this story. One, Philadelphia was one of 26 teams that had made a public statement that they weren't interested in Michael Vick. Two, Michael Vick's agent said that as soon as a team had an injured player, interest in Vick would increase. Sure enough, a player named Kevin Kolb has been sidelined with a strained knee ligament. I don't know if that was the Eagles' management main desire to sign him, but it sure echoes what his agent said about the interest increasing when he was shopping Vick to other teams. Three, most of the fans in Philly are optimistic about this.

Well, if Philly is ok with this, this is a business decision and the Eagles are willing to give him a shot good for MV, then more power to them. While it's admirable that he's working with the Humane Society, is it genuine or is it part of an act to get back into the good graces of the public?

I think if it's about football, and the NFL finds that he didn't violate their code of personal conduct so be it. Please keep him away from living dogs though. He can do public service announcements with a large poster of a dog in the background but I think he should stay away from real dogs.

He's in a situation that is very volatile. Once he's playing in the game, the public will have a short memory about what he and his friends put those dogs through. I know there will be some who can't forget, but one can't deny the popularity of football and nothing gives sports fans greater joy than seeing their beloved team win. Sad, but true. If you would like to see what other sportswriters are saying about this you can see it all at the Philadelphia Inquirer.

As always, I'd love to hear your thoughts. Have a great night.

Michael Vick, Does He Deserve a Second Chance?

I've never been the biggest fan of NFL football. In fact, I'm one who loves to watch the commericials in the Super Bowl moreso than the game. The following post is more serious than most but is an issue that should be addressed.

Today, I was reading the newspaper while having lunch at Taco Bell. I came across a couple of letters to the editor about whether Michael Vick will become part of the Bears. One of the letter was against having Michael Vick on the Bears, the other said basically why would we put dogs before people?

My first reaction as a person who lived in Chicago was that he made his bed, let him lie in it. Part of me feels that he never gave those dogs he killed a second chance. He tortured some of those dogs and his dogfighting went on for six years, since he was twenty-one. His arrested cohorts told of "how Vick participated in the killing of dogs that didn't perform well in test fights by shooting, hanging, drowning or slamming them to the ground".

In July of 2007, he believed that he was not guilty as his plea stated. Three months later, he changed his plea to guilty but still pleaded not guilty for animal cruelty. I think that eighteen months in jail is pretty lenient considering there were 66 dogs were confiscated.

One of the dogs, Meryl was so aggressive, she was ordered by a judge that she could never be adopted. If Best Friends hadn't pushed for her, she would have been euthanized. At least she's in a sanctuary where there are people who love her. One only wonders where Meryl would have been if she hadn't been in Michael Vick's home in the first place.

Then, you hear about the success stories, like Halley who was the first dog out of the bunch to find a home after two years of rehabilitation, and you think ok, maybe something good came out of this.

Still, there are questions that cross my mind. "Would Michael Vick be so remorseful if he wasn't caught?" "Is he doing this because he means it or because he wants to have his career in the NFL again?" "Did he see the fear and pain in those dogs' eyes when he and his "friends" were hanging them and drowning him?

I then read about Michael Vick in an attempt to see how someone who had so much skill, talent and a little bit of luck, could live his a charmed life so recklessly. Did you know the odds of a high school football player getting into the NFL is about .0008%? Basically, 8 out of 50,000 students will have that chance. The odds decrease immensely when you factor in that person having a lifetime career. Vick had already surpassed some enormous odds by being in the league for six years.

I also learned that he first witnessed dog fighting at eight-years-old. That's very young age to be exposed to something so heinous. He is also doing everything he can to make amends for his past mistakes. What kind of adult would let an child get interested in something so violent?

Still, many teams right now aren't even looking at him. Being reinstated in the NFL, he qualifies for a minimum salary of $620,000 a year. That's more salary than what an average person makes in ten years. As his agent said, who knows what teams will need another replacement if their first team player gets injured?

He is very lucky to have been given a second chance by the NFL. It shouldn't be easy for him to come back though. When high profile actors have screwed up in their life, roles that would have been written for them in the past, are not existent. They are lucky to get an audition and if the director likes them, then they'll get the role. If Michael Vick is truly genuine about wanting make retribution for his past mistakes, he's going to have to start from the bottom in more ways than one.

Above all, the NFL is a business. The fans' buying the tickets as well as the numerous sponsors are what give the NFL its revenue. I think any team who is considering this man as part of their team, should get the input of the season ticket holders and their sponsors. What Michael Vick did was despicable. As much as I hate to admit, it was part of his private life and not part of his job. Yes, he got off way too easily by the court system. Yet the guy has done this and he's not even 30 years old yet? Will he never do something like this again?Will he be physically fit enough to pick up where he left off? Will he be able to focus on the game and not succumb to the scrutiny of his fans, teammates, opposing teams and animal organizations? Is he truly sorry and has learned from the error of his ways? I think that time will be the only thing that will answer these questions.

I will never like Michael Vick, am not much of a football fan and being a citizen of the United States, can see that everyone deserves a chance at redemption. I'd like to hear from all of you what your thoughts are on this topic? Do you think he deserves a second chance?

Thanks for stopping in. I hope you guys have a great night.