“HE WITHOUT SIN CAST THE FIRST STONE”

Already posted my comment on VegDaily, but could not agree more with Karen and Susan. What he did was simply atrocious to us animal lovers and to any person with common sense.

Really? Hanging dogs from trees? Really? Electrocuting them? Really? Utilizing a rape-like device to impregnate aggresive females? REALLY?

Yet, some people are still defending him. They probably treat their pets the same way.

Sure! He should be allowed to work again… in construction, as a dock worker, at a restaurant, or really any average job that many American ex-felons would be happy to have. His old job – prior to his breaking the law – gave him fame, status and made him a role model to young football players for his natural talent. He might still be good at that job, but he doesn’t deserve it. He can work a regular job like you or me, get paid a fair wage and play football on a rec team if he loves the sport.

I couldn’t agree more with Karen’s comments. Two years is nothing compared to his heinous crimes. And I don’t believe he is at all remorseful for what he’s done. I think he is only sorry for himself and for the fact that he got caught.

What Vick did was cruel and no animal should have to go through that. It’s heartbreaking to think of what he did to those dogs, but the fact is, that there are people that still do that or are well on their way to doing that. By having Vick speak to them, it will reach people that otherwise would not be reachable, and it’s been very successful in Chicago. If he even gets the message out to one person, who then decides not to commit similar acts of cruelty, it will help save the life of atleast one dog.

This issue leaves me conflicted. I do feel that people deserve a second chance, but should he be able to step back into his old life? I don’t know about that, we’ll have to wait and see how much activism he really does now that he’s out of prison. Maybe if he donated a generous portion of his salary to stop dogfighting? Too soon to tell if he’s rehabilitated in my opinion. I do agree whole heartedly with Michael’s statements on compassion though, as advocates for compassion we need to extend that comapssion to all living creatures, even when it is difficult.

Yes, Michael Vick served his time. But being able to play for the NFL is a very valuable privilege, and one that Vick lost when he made the decision to torture and kill animals.

I for one will never support the NFL again.

I hope he does good work with the HSUS, since it’s best when someone kids look up to spreads the word that dogfighting is unacceptable. However, Vick is a monster. He didn’t kill dogs. He pulled their teeth out with pliers, threw family pets into the ring to be torn apart; drowned, electrocuted, and hanged dogs instead of wasting bullets to kill them. Sick.

I don’t believe for a moment that Mr. Vick feels any remorse for his savage crimes. (Though I do believe that he feels a great deal of regret for getting caught…) But, I think Richard Cohen says it better than I can right now (Too sleepy. Profound later. *yawwwn*), when he says “When Vick takes the field, I for one will imagine the thrashing of pacifist puppies as they are drowned or twisting in the wind as they are hanged. And throughout the land every kid will know — if they do not already — that what matters most is not that Vick has paid his debt to society or is remorseful, but that he could still throw the ball. Maybe an athlete can’t quite get away with murder, but drowning dogs is a different matter.”

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/10/AR2009081002454.html

He’s dead to me. I’ll never be able to cheer him again. He may as well have killed my favorite cousin. Dogs and all animals are the innocent of all innocent living beings. Yes, living beings that feel pain and cannot understand what is happening.
Humans are a very dangerous species.

I agree with the above comment. If we’re gonna get that angry- we’ll have to throw the majority of the population in jail for contributing to the torture of cows, chickens, and pigs. It’s an ugly part of human nature that hasn’t quite evolved yet. I’m waiting (hoping) to see Vick do some good to show everyone that he has evolved from this experience and can be a good role model. Given his talent, he has the rare opportunity to really make a difference in a good way. I hope he does.

There something wrong with someone torturing the helpless: children, mentally challenged, the elderly, and animals. What he did was not just a crime of property like stealing a car. It was thought out, executed and intentional for quite some time. Sure he “could” be a spokesperson and turn kids around who think dog fighting is a sport. But there is something wrong with an ex-convict who committed this type of crime to make a million, and have crowds cheer him. Yes, he said he was sorry but countless other convicts whose crime wasn’t against the helpless said that too and received far less. I work with parolees. Crimes against animals hide a far deeper and darker mind. Those who commit torture against the helpless later lead to or haven’t yet been caught at countless heinous acts. He could’ve begun another career to show remorse but it’s buisness as usual in sports yet again sending what kind of message to children regarding consequences?

I am offended that Micheal DuDell would accept Micheal Vick’s animal murder and torture that easily. Growing up poor or in “the ghetto” does not mean that you should accept things like animal abuse, gangs, rape, etc. Plenty of people who grew up poor ended up become animal rights activists/vegetarians/vegans. I grew up in a small redneck town where hunting is acceptable but I managed to grow up into a vegan and animal rights advocate. Growing up in a certain community has NO BEARING on your morals, ethics, or acceptable behavior. My beliefs and ethics are completely different than my parents and community’s. People have the ability to decide what is right or wrong. Murdering and torturing animals is wrong and evil. Two years in prison is not enough to make up for that horrible crime. It is murder, plain and simple. Regardless of what species, animals are sentient beings that can feel pain, suffer, and think. Torturing and killing a sentient animal is no better than torturing and killing a human because both suffer equally. I realize that “humans are animals too” and that we should “have compassion for humans” but no human has the RIGHT to be a pro-athlete or a millionaire. It is not a right that we all share. Vick doesn’t deserve to be a pro-athlete and he doesn’t need to be one. Most ex-convicts can’t even get a job at a fast food restaurant. Vick should find a job in construction or fast food and be thankful for it. He does not deserve success. I’m sure that there are plenty of moral, amazing athletes who could take his job.

Maelstrom,

I gotta say I agree with you here on this one. I was very disappointed that HSUS wanted to kill the dogs.. but thankfully Best Friends (and Last Chance for Animals behind the scenes) were able to save them and adopt them out.

I’m so glad they didn’t euthanize them (though I can think of many criminals who treated them badly who I’d much rather see euthanized instead!!)

E

The NFL commissioner who allowed Vick to return to playing ball should be strung up. Whatever team signed him would be carrying a huge burden – but it would be at least one team – and he is a talented player.

He should have never been allowed to return to the NFL but since he is – I think his millions should be dedicated to fighting animal abuse. That would really punish him and show how sorry he is.

I am ‘happy’ to see so many people outraged by the 2nd chance this guy has been given.
This because when my comments are a bit tougher I am often accused of being intolerant or extremist (among other more insulting things!).

Therefore, I urge all the Americans who believe he doesn’t deserve another chance in NFL to send e-mails to the NFL protesting against his comeback. You could also demand that he must be more publicly active against dog fighting and that a large percentage of his salary should go to the rescue and rehabilitation of dogs used in dog fighting.

I don’t know much about the NFL and couldn’t care less, so I don’t know how you can do that, but I’m sure you’ll figure it out.
After all, veg*ans who are real activists are more evolved and intelligent people than the average ‘Joe’.

No one is saying Vick doesn’t deserve a second chance. He does. But playing the NFL is a privilege, and he should not have the privilege of being a role model again. If he wants to work, he can work construction, in retail, some job with little prestige, but that will pay him for an honest day’s work.

Perhaps if people cracked down on talented athletes when they started showing signs of being predatory assholes, there would be fewer Michaels, Kobes, Shaqs, and so on.

For those who believe Vick has paid his dues, I would have to differ. He has not and will not spend a single day behind bars for animal cruelty as his federal charges were for racketeering. And as for remorse, Vick pled NOT GUILTY to animal cruelty charges at his state trial – and it was dropped in a plea deal. How can this man be remorseful for his crimes if he does not even believe he was cruel to animals?”

“Racketeering” is the act of operating an illegal business or scheme in order to make a profit, perpetrated by a structured group. It is a broad category of criminal acts that includes bribery, sexual exploitation of children, and illegal gambling, among many others. Racketeering is closely associated with organized crime, since both are conducted by groups.

Yes, I do believe people deserve second chances. But, I do not think he should be allowed to be a role model for our children!

Anyone else would have a hell of a time trying to find a job even at a McDonalds, or a restaurant because of past criminal records without a pardon. So why should he be able to reassume his position?..

The world loves money, not the world.. Its a shame.

Paid his dues my ass! I spent more time in the joint back in the 80′s for a bag of weed than this dork got for running his mini canine Gitmo. Give me five minutes, a baseball bat and a rape rack and I’ll make him pay his dues.