Andrea Rosebrock 
Well, unless you’ve been living in a cave somewhere, you know this POS, waste of life is out of prison and was conditionally reinstated to the NFL by Commissioner Roger Goodell. That meant that any team could sign Michael Vick, convicted felon and dog killer, and he would immediately be able to train, practice and attend meeting as well as play in the last two pre-season games. When the season starts, Vick can participate in all team activities except games. Goodell has said he would reconsider full reinstatement by week 6, Oct 18-19, at the latest which I have no doubt will happen.
So let’s have a little discussion about what’s happening now and since Vick got out… looking forward to hearing your feedback and there’s plenty for you to do too!
Vick Signs 2-Year Deal with Philadelphia Eagles
When Vick was released from prison after serving his 23-month sentence for “Conspiracy to Travel in Interstate Commerce in Aid of Unlawful Activities and to Sponsor a Dog in an Animal Fighting Venture,” (you’ll notice that there are no charges for animal abuse, the dogs that were so wantonly and cruelly killed) many teams backed off immediately and stood up saying they wouldn’t sign him. Regardless of their reasons, I applaud them for taking and early and strong stance. Unfortunately I knew it wouldn’t be too long before someone signed this “toxic asset,” as I heard him called somewhere and today it looks like the Philadelphia Eagles took the plunge and signed Michael Vick to a 2-year contract which will be formally announced at a press conference tomorrow morning. He will earn $1.6 million in his first year and $5 million in his (team option) second year. Wow, pretty good pay for a killer, eh?
I hope Philadelphia and the Eagles are ready for the shitstorm that’s going to hit them from dog lovers and animal advocate all over!
“Philadelphia is a city of dog lovers and most particularly, pit bull lovers,” said Susan Cosby, The Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals chief executive officer. “To root for someone who participated in the ha…nging, drowning, electrocution and shooting of dogs will be impossible for many, no matter how much we would all like to see the Eagles go all the way.”
Link to the Philly Eagles website – HERE - and if you look at the bottom left corner there’s a poll asking what people think of them signing Michael Vick. Guess the animal lover’s haven’t gotten wind of this yet, not much response. Let help out and make sure we vote and let them know just what we think!! NOTE 8/14/08 – looks like they took the poll down… maybe too many responses from animal lovers??
I already know that the corporate sponsors of the Eagle are going to be getting alot of email and calls for backing a team that is backing and signed this killer and there will be a boycott. Here’s a list of the Philly Eagle corporate sponsors – HERE Note -They’ve removed the link to their sponsors page or removed the sponsors page altogether…. see below for a list of Corporate Sponsors
Michael Vick on “60 Minutes” this Sunday
For some reason it seems a lot of people want to tie themselves to Michael Vick’s bloodsoaked coat tails for a ride and CBS is no exception. This Sunday they’ll be airing an interview with POS.
Just what we need, more Michael Vick. I don’t if they trash the hell out of him, it’s publicity and he’s going to play his “sorry” card when the only thing he’s sorry about is what he’s lost. He has never taken responsibility for what he’s done, never!! Why give him more publicity?? It’s all about money, money, money and for TV, ratings equals money!!
You can let “60 Minutes” know what you think of their waste of air time HERE. If you’re on Facebook, here’s a link to the “60 Minutes” Facebook page HERE – there’s a note on the Michael Vick interview where you can leave your comment. You can also send your feedback to CBS HERE. And below is a brief excerpt from the upcoming interview.
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HSUS Backs the Killer, Michael Vick
Many of you that have been following this debacle were, like me, appalled but not terribly surprised, when Wayne Pacelle came out supporting Michael Vick and not only that, bringing him on-board.
If you recall when the whole Michael Vick debacle started, HSUS was out there calling for donations to save the Vicktory dogs, as they’re now called, but when the time came, they were one of the first and fastest in calling to have the rescued dogs killed! Sure, they collected a bunch of money on the premise of helping the dogs but when the time came, they offered nothing but a call for a death sentence.
Other groups and organizations like Best Friends and BadRap stepped up and stepped in. They took the dogs that could be saved, most of them by the way, and rehabilitated them, worked with them, saved them. Some of the Vicktory dogs are now loving family dogs and even amazing therapy dogs!
And HSUS, guess they just banked the bucks! But now they’re back to riding on those blood stained coat tails again, right to the bank and right to getting Michael Vick back into the NFL. If you don’t believe the HSUS played a part in this, you’re missing it. Vick being backed and supported by the HSUS is a hard act to turn down. How can the NFL not think “if the HSUS backs and supports him, how can we not?”
Oh yes, it’s all planned out… Vick uses them and they use Vick. Let’s talk about Vick’s first appearance as HSUS spokesperson, which also is a condition of his probation, the public service.
Last Saturday Vick’s first appearance was at an Atlanta, GA, community center. In theory it was to speak with low-income community youths about dogfighting. In reality what it was was a carefully planned and orchestrated gameplan for media, for the 60 Minutes interview. The HSUS sponsored event was not publicized so few people knew about it and the doors were actually barred to all but a few lucky enough to get in, which didn’t included the media except for the “60 Minutes” crew.
Vick’s visit to a suburban Atlanta community center was largely off limits to the very neighborhood it was supposed to be helping. In an agreement between Vick’s handlers and the Humane Society of the United States, only 55 people and one media crew were allowed inside. An Associated Press reporter, videographer and photographer were among the media banished from the property by police.
Most people who live in the largely black neighborhood southeast of Atlanta were unaware of Vick’s appearance. Several showed up after the former Falcons quarterback had already left in a black limousine.
“Not too many people knew he was going to be here,” said Stan Sutton, who stopped by the New Life Community Center to pick up some clothes and wound up being one of the few invited inside to hear Vick speak. “There would have been a lot more people here than there are now. The whole Eastside would have been here.”
Wayne Pacelle, president of the Humane Society, said the group wants to be transparent and reach as many people as possible with its anti-dogfighting message. But the tightly controlled appearance comes as Vick is trying to rehabilitate his image and ease his path back to the NFL. (FOX Sports)
Well, sounds like they want to control it from start to finish. Now that’s what I call “community service”… as long as the HSUS and Vick and his “handlers” are the only “community” that counts. The rest of us will have to be satisfied with the “bites” they carefully feed to everyone.
We were told Michael Vick was coming on as an HSUS spokesman—with a goal of stopping dog fighting—but it appears to be the other way around; that, in fact, Pacelle is coming on as a Vick spokesman. The whole enterprise, according to the Associated Press, is driven by “Vick’s handlers” with a goal that has nothing to do with dogs and everything to do with creating an image of Michael Vick as “reformed,” so he will be signed by an NFL team. Vick’s public relations team is setting the agenda and telling Wayne Pacelle when and where to show up to help sell the “new” Michael Vick. And Pacelle is obliging. As his new spokesman and on cue, Pacelle tells an Atlanta newspaper that Vick “now wants to be part of the solution.”
Take the time to read Nathan Winograd’s entire post, “Riding on Vick’s Bloodstained Coattails.” As always, he tells it like it is and doesn’t pull any punches!
And Lest We Forget…
Michael Vick served a 23-month sentence for “Conspiracy to Travel in Interstate Commerce in Aid of Unlawful Activities and to Sponsor a Dog in an Animal Fighting Venture.” This charge has nothing to do with the dogs he brutally fought and killed.
The Commonwealth of Virginia had the chance to “make things right” by actually indicting and charging him with animal cruelty;
“The execution of these animals and the “manner in which they were executed” is startlingly offensive and demanding of prosecution,” Poindexter said in August.
In Virginia cruelty to animal charges carry a sentence of up to five years which means that his admitted killing of 6-8 dogs could net him up to 40 years in prison!
“Most of the matters that I’m presenting have already been admitted in sworn statements authored by the defendants in the federal proceedings,” Poindexter said.
“The killing of dogs is one of those statutory prohibitions,” Poindexter said. “Dogfighting is a crime, the mistreatment of animals is a crime, so you could take your pick, or take them all.”
Sadly, yet another let down!
The Virginia indictment charges Vick with one count of torturing and killing dogs and one count of promoting dogfighting. Each carries a maximum five-year prison term but good ole boy Vick isn’t going to be facing any of that it seems. Doesn’t sound like he’s being held responsible for anything with a suspended sentence and probation.
Once he’s out of federal prison, he’ll have 3 years of probation and pleading guilty to the state charges isn’t going to really hurt him a whole lot. Word has it that he’s not going to be facing any jail time. He’ll get an unspecified suspended sentence and some more probation. Really tough, isn’t it?
Why am I and so many other still so angry?? He never paid!! He was never punished!! And he still will not take responsibility for what he did!
Here’s a quote from one of the volunteers of BadRap that was involved:
I just can’t get myself away from the swimming pool in Vick’s yard. I first learned about it while riding in the back seat of a federal agent’s car that sweltering Tuesday back in Sept 07. The agent was assigned with escorting us to the various Virginia shelters so we could evaluate “the evidence” otherwise known as 49 pit bulls – now known as cherished family pets: Hector, Uba, Jhumpa, Georgia, Sweet Jasmine and the rest. I’m not sure if sharing insider information with us was kosher, but you know how driving down long country roads can get you talking. I imagine she just needed to get some things off her chest. She said she was having trouble sleeping since the day they exhumed the bodies on the Moonlight Road property. She said that when she watched the investigators uncover the shallow graves, she was compelled to want to climb in and pick up the decomposing dogs and comfort and cradle them. She knew that was crazy talk, and she was grappling with trying to understand such a surprising impulse.
Her candor set the tone for this entire saga. Everyone we worked with was deeply affected by the case. The details that got to me then and stay with me today involve the swimming pool that was used to kill some of the dogs. Jumper cables were clipped onto the ears of underperforming dogs, then, just like with a car, the cables were connected to the terminals of car batteries before lifting and tossing the shamed dogs into the water. Most of Vick’s dogs were small – 40lbs or so – so tossing them in would’ve been fast and easy work for thick athlete arms. We don’t know how many suffered this premeditated murder, but the damage to the pool walls tells a story. It seems that while they were scrambling to escape, they scratched and clawed at the pool liner and bit at the dented aluminum sides like a hungry dog on a tin can.
I wear some pretty thick skin during our work with dogs, but I can’t shake my minds-eye image of a little black dog splashing frantically in bloody water … screaming in pain and terror … brown eyes saucer wide and tiny black white-toed feet clawing at anything, desperate to get a hold. This death did not come quickly. The rescuer in me keeps trying to think of a way to go back in time and somehow stop this torture and pull the little dog to safety. I think I’ll be looking for ways to pull that dog out for the rest of my life.
So that’s where I’m at. A second chance for Vick? An HSUS sponsored spokesman for ending torture? In my mind’s eye Vick is still in the shadows at the side of that pool. As many times as this scene plays out my head, he hasn’t yet moved towards that dog to pull him out. Not there yet.
Don’t forget that he and his cohorts also used to take pets dogs and throw them in with the fighters and laugh watching them be torn to bits.
There were also numerous other documented killings of dogs by a multitude of cruel and vicious means including; hanging by placing a nylon cord over a 2 x 4 that was nailed to two trees located next to the big shed, drowning by putting the dogs’ heads in a 5 gallon bucket of water, beating by slamming [dogs] to the ground several times … breaking the dog’s back or neck, shooting the animal with a .22 caliber handgun and electrocution to name a few.
And still Vick does not accept responsibility for what he did!!
Vick told a crowd of about 250 to “use me as an example for your dreams.” Vick also told them that after accomplishing his goals he “allowed someone who didn’t have my best interests at heart to take all that away from me,” according to a release from the school. (ESPN)
This is what he’s telling people right now, basically that someone else made him do what he did!
This is the man that HSUS’s Wayne Pacelle wants us to forgive and embrace? A man who still will not, even after all his claims of doing so, accept that he is, was and always will be responsible for the brutal fighting and killing of innocent animals!!
Michael Vick’s Apology to Everyone But the True Victims.. the Dogs!!
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In closing…
I ask that you take the time to take action, be proactive!! Reading, watching the videos, getting angry… all well and good but it accomplishes exactly nothing! Contact the NFL, contact the Philly Eagles, contact the corporate sponsors and tell them you will boycott and then DO IT!! Let Wayne Pacelle and the HSUS know that you do not and will not support them as long as they support this dog killer!
We also need to remember that kids, children look up to these sports figures. Do we want someone like Michael Vick to be any kind of a hero to emulate in a child’s eyes?? Do we want to teach our children that you can kill, abuse, lie, then laugh and joke about it, and get away with it?? If we let this pass without doing anything we are silent accessories after the fact. To me, it says that we condone this behavior, we accept it. Well, I for one, DO NOT!! And if you care, really care and want to make a difference, you won’t either!!
As for giving Michael Vick a second chance, he doesn’t deserve it!! When he can go back and give a second chance to all those dogs he and his cohorts so carelessly and cruelly killed, I’ll consider it. When he finally stands up and really takes responsibility for what he did and stops blaming anyone and everyone else, I’ll consider it. When he goes to the authorities and gives up the names and place of everyone else involved in this vicious “bloodsport” that he was ever in contact with, I’ll consider it. If he donates a portions of all his future earnings to rehabilitating dogs seized from fighting rings so they don’t have to be routinely killed, I’ll consider it. If and when he can do all these things, I’ll consider giving him a second chance… but since the first is impossible and the rest improbable, I, and many others, will never forgive, forget or give this POS waste of human life a second chance!!
So, in closing I want to share one more video with you. This is a tribute to the 11 dogs that were named in Michael Vick’s indictment… these do not include all the dog’s that were viciously killed…. or the lucky ones who were saved and rehabilitated… but the ones who fought.. and won… or lost…
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List of Philly Eagles Corporate Sponsors
LARGEST SPONSOR/STADIUM NAMING RIGHTS:
Lincoln National http://www.lfg.com/LincolnPageServer?LFGPage=/lfg/lfgclient/cus/corp/index.html
Twitter: Unknown
MAJOR (“FOUNDING”) SPONSORS:
94 WYSP Radio http://www.94wysp.com/pages/1063305.php
Twitter http://twitter.com/94wysp
MillerCoors (Miller Lite) http://foryourentertainment.blogspot.com/2009/08/www.millercoors.com/contact-us.aspx
Twitter http://twitter.com/millercoorsbeer
Sovereign Bank https://www.sovereignbank.com/companyinfo/investor_relations/forms/contact_investor_relations.asp
Acme Markets https://www.acmemarkets.com/eCommerceWeb/AboutAlbertsonsAction.do?action=getContactUs
NovaCare http://novacare.com/email/contact.aspx
US Airways http://www.usairways.com/awa/content/contact/customer_relations.aspx
Twitter http://twitter.com/USairways
Anheuser-Busch (Budweiser) http://contactus.anheuser-busch.com/Contactus/
Twitter http://twitter.com/ab_cares
Pepsi http://cr.pepsi.com/usen/pepsiusen.cfm?date=20090813
Twitter http://twitter.com/Pepsi
Verizon Wireless http://www.contacthelp.com/directory/Phone%20Companies/Cell+Phones/Verizon+Wireless?ListingID=169
Twitter https://twitter.com/VZWOffers
OTHER SPONSORS:
7-Eleven http://webclarify.7-eleven.com:7001/CR/General_Request.jsp
Twitter http://twitter.com/7_eleven
AAA http://www.aaamidatlantic.com/About/Contact/
AFLAC https://www.aflac.com/us/en/classic/forms/customer_service_contact.asp
Twitter http://twitter.com/aflacduck
Best Buy http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?id=cat12104&type=page
Twitter http://twitter.com/Bestbuy
CJ’s Tire http://www.cjtire.com/contact-us/Default.aspx
Chrysler Note: Chrysler also owns Jeep, but because they are listed as separate sponsors I will include contact information for both. http://www-5.chrysler.com/wccsapp/universal/C/index.jsp?appStr=wccs&titleStr=Contact+Chrysler&familyStr=brand&franchise=C&actionURL=%2Fwccs%2Fbrand_forms%2Fus%2Fwebform.jsp&promotion=null&category=U
Twitter http://twitter.com/CHRYSLER
Comcast http://www.comcast.com/customers/feedback/default.cspx
Twitter http://twitter.com/comcastcares
Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia http://www.csnphilly.com/pages/contact_us
Twitterhttp://twitter.com/CSNPhilly
Dietz and Watson http://www.dietzandwatson.com/go/contact/
Twitter http://twitter.com/DietzandWatson
Dunkin’ Donuts https://www.dunkindonuts.com/aboutus/contact/Feedback.aspx?type=5
Twitter http://twitter.com/Dunkindonuts
Gatorade http://cr.gatorade.com/usen/gatusen.cfm
Twitter http://twitter.com/Gatorade
Geico http://www.geico.com/about/contactus/email/
Heineken http://www.heineken.com/usa/
Twitter http://twitter.com/heineken_beer
Idearc Media http://www.idearcmedia.com/customersupport/contactus/index.jsp
Twitter http://twitter.com/idearcmedia
Independence Blue Cross/Blue Shield http://www.ibx.com/contact_us/general_inquiries.html
Taco Bell/KFC http://www.tacobell.com/legal/feedback.asp
Twitter http://twitter.com/TACO_BELL
Mastercard http://www.mastercard.com/us/company/en/newsroom/contact_mc.html
Twitter http://twitter.com/MasterCardNews
Motorola https://www.motorola.com/feedback.jsp
Twitter http://twitter.com/Motomobile
Papa John’s http://www.papajohns.com/feedback/feedback_form.shtm?agree=0
Twitter http://twitter.com/Papajohns
Pepcid https://www.pepcidac.com/page.jhtml?id=pepcid/include/contactus.inc
Twitter http://twitter.com/JNJComm
The Original Philadelphia Cheesesteak Co. http://www.phillycheesesteak.com/contact-us.php
Philly.com/Inquirer/Daily News http://www.philly.com/philly/about/feedback/
Twitter http://twitter.com/Phillydotcom
The American Red Cross http://www.redcross.org/en/contactusform
Twitter http://twitter.com/RedCross
RE/MAX http://www.remax.com/ContactUsNational/index.aspx
Twitter http://twitter.com/remax
Rite Aid http://www.riteaid.com/contact_us/contact_customer_service.jsf
SCA North America http://www.scanorthamerica.com/
Email: info.northamerica@sca.com
Snapple http://www.econsumeraffairs.com/am_bev/contactus.htm?F1=snapple
Twitter http://twitter.com/Snapple
Splenda https://www.splenda.com/vcrc/email/splendaemail.jhtml
Tastykake http://www.tastykake.com/consumeraffairsform.aspx
Teva Pharmaceuticals USA http://www.tevausa.com/default.aspx?pageid=74
Thomas Jefferson University Hospital http://www.jeffersonhospital.org/about/article5066.html
TicketMaster/TicketExchange http://ticketmasterus.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/ticketmasterus.cfg/php/enduser/ask.php
Waste Management http://www.wastemanagement.com/Templates/FAC4207/contacts.asp
Email: cseasternpa@wm.com
Past coverage on Michael Vick dating back to April 2007 - HERE
As a Pennsylvania resident, I am appalled at the Eagles’ action and am in the process to writing to all of their sponsors to tell them I will no longer buy any of their products. I have followed the NFL for decades and am not going to let this sorry excuse of a human ruin my enjoyment of the game but I will not watch the Eagles and hope and pray they lose every game
It appears to be impossible to contact the NFL commissioner by email anymore, do you think perhaps he doesn’t weant to hear from us?
Nancy, I wouldn’t be surprised if Goodell has been so flooded with email since he reinstated Vick that he shut it down. Can you imagine the sheer number of dog lovers and animal advocates out there that are angry right now and have been since the NFL welcomed this killer back?
Sorry that “your” team was the one so desperate or uncaring to take this POS on…
Was nervous for a while that it may have been mine, Packers, not that I am into football but just the thought that he would live right in WI… OMG!!
D.
OMG, I have to compose myself and get back to this. I am crying like a fool at my desk, distraught with the swimming pool incident. I cannot stop crying. I will be back.
Aw Susie, I’m sorry. I thought you heard and read about anything and everything in regards to Vick. My reaction was the same when I first read it. I cannot read it again, the images are just to vivid and heartbreaking.
Hugs,
D.
And all the thugs on You tube dog fighting sights are making it out to be a victory for mankind
As if I’m not sick enough!!! UGH!!
Hi – I looked for the place to vote Against Vick, but it was not there. Maybe this is only available for Americans? Don’t know ..
I’m in Sweden.
I REALLY wanted to vote AGAINST the Bastard!!! ;-((
Karin keep looking, there are several. I did them all
The poll has changed to one that is not at all controversial, but interestingly they are running the Vick sign on press conference live on the site right now showing off the new jersey, ect.
Ok he killed some dogs…I am very against that but he has paid for it now let’s move on. Are all of you people saying that this man should not work at all and should just die on the street from starvation? He deserves to work and feed his family it just so happens that he plays a sport what about all the other people are dog fighting why don’t you go after them as hard as you are going after M.Vick. On that note why not take some of this energy and put it against some of the people that are raping women and children. Why not take this energy and put it to use to putting these perverts that like to touch little kids in jail……I love dogs but a dog is not a human let’s put things in perspective.
Bily, you’re a jerk and an ignorant ass! You obviously didn’t read or watch and I hope you’re prepared for the tongue lashing you’re going to be getting. YOU put it in perspective! I’ll let others take it from here… I’ve had my say… tho I may come back for more…
D.
WTF Billy – here I go on my bandwagon. ARE YOU THAT FRICKING IGNORANT NOT TO NOTICE THE NAME OF THIS BLOG? FOR THE LOVE OF THE DOG!!!! You are a complete imbecile.
Don’t ever say “ok, he killed some dogs” WTF are you from another planet? He just did not kill dogs, he used the beautiful pit bull for illegal fighting, and monetarily gained from this actions. He is a sick waste of life, and as called before, toxic asset. I don’t give a shit if this man was a ceo of a company or a sports figure. What he did, and by the way, did not spend enough time in jail for his offenses, was not only murder dogs, but fight them? Fight the beautiful pit, watch them get murdered, murder some by his own hands, and watch them get torn apart in a fighting ring? And if they did not win, this pos MURDERED THEM.
I spend my life rescuing dogs. I have seen what abuse has done to beautiful animals. I am involved in recording of assholes such as Vick who do not know the meaning of the love of the dog, never to let them adopt or be near another animal. I am fighting every day to stop this horrendous act of dog fighting. I have seen what some of the dogs who have made it look like, and you know what, even tho they have fought for a living, getting them to trust takes a long time, but once a rescuer has gotten the trust back, there is no holding back on the UNCONDITIONAL LOVE these poor abused dogs will give you.
You are right, a dog is not a human, but I will tell you that God created these dogs and has entrusted us to take care of them, feed them and love them, no use them for financial gain to fight them. But I will also tell you I have no use for a stupid son of a bitch like Vick, and will spend my life fighting for and protecting the animals. They cannot speak for themselves, but they have I along with others on this site who will fight for them. I think you better get your own shit into perspective.
Don’t think you are going to get away without a tongue lashing from others here.
Vick is a piece of shit, he does not deserve to be on any team of any sorts. Don’t ever tell me he has paid his dues. He did not serve any time for cruelty to animals. Maybe you are one of his co horts, and God help you if you are, because there is a special place in HELL FOR BASTARDS LIKE YOU.
You tell em Susie, I can not as long as I live ever understand the mentality that go’s with the , their just dogs.
Dogs (as well as any living thing) Eat, sleep, need water,love and affection, care for their young,and speak in their language ( which by the way ) they understand.Perty much everything that humans do, except be walking POS and thorough waste of spaces that don’t care how they get a buck or at who’s expense. If you are in a different country and the people there are speaking in their native toung, you probly wouldn’t understand. Would that make you any less of a person? Billy, there is no such thing as their just.
He did not pay for what he did (serving time for racketeering, not cruelty to animals) although I’m sure he will in the next life.
Assuming that people here care only about Vick and not about prosecuting all the others engaged in dog-fighting is your first mistake.
Your second is assuming that people who care about dogs don’t care about other people when in fact dog lovers are among the kindest people on earth. People who on the other hand think torturing and killing dogs is just a little mistake should remember most serial killers started out as animal abusers.
Well Billy the just die part would be good and that includes all the other vermon you mentioned. This planet needs a good good house cleaning.And I don’t mean a slap on the wrist which seems to be the only thing most of these judges seem to be able to dish out. The animals should have the same laws that people do, period.
And by the way ” WE ARE AFTER ALL THAT OTHER SCUM TOO!”
Put this in perspective you moron
1- He fought dogs for many years
2-If they did not win he hung them from trees , drownd them or electrocuted them- so after a complete mauling they were torchured
3-He funded the whole operation with his other Gangstas
4-He has been doing this since his teens
5-Would you get your job back ?
6-We all now want him dead
Bily
It is always nice to hear from intelligent, responsible, moral people who value honesty, integrity, deceny and compassion. It is too bad you are not one of those. Your comments tell us you are not, and, instead, are a morally decayed, sycophant who is either too lazy to read all of the documents, or too stupid to understand the full implications, or too blind as to see the truth but instead cling to your Neanderthal thinking that “it is just dogs”. Think again Bily, anyone who would willing and with great pleasure (read that in the court documents) commit these kind of atrocities to “just a dog” is capable of doing so to any other defenseless being. Paticularly, as the world can now see, there is little concern of real and meaningful punishment.
It is nice to know that you have decided to become the aid and lackey of Mr Goodell, who also wondered why animal advocates, protesting his reinstatement of VIck to the NFL, did not go after rapists and abusers. You should get him to put you on the payroll.
As for Vick earning a living and feeding his family, tell him to get a job like the rest of decent and moral people who labor long, honestly and without the accolades and applause of people like you. But I can see your point, it is extremely hard to get by on $1.6 million in these hard economic times. I am sure he appreiciates your support. Maybe you can get him to put you on the payroll as another one of his parasitic toadies. It should work out well and be a good fit, as you both have about the same level of intellgence and moral backbone.
And here is one more thing that you can do, GET OFF THIS SITE, STOP COMMENTING and spend some time seeing if you can think before you open your stupid, stupid mouth. The ridiculousness of your “I love dogs…” statement is just that, ridiculouos. Do you even hear yourself, or read what you have written. I love dogs BUT it is okay to drown them, I love dogs but it is okay to try to anally electrocute them, I love dogs but it is okay to head beat them to death because they just won’t turn into killers, I love dogs but God Help me, if any of them displeases me in one little way…I can do whatever I want to them and not be held responsible. But, yes sirree…. I LOVE DOGS.
Perhaps you thought this was a site for you, Goodell, Pacelle, the Eagles, and other Vick type of “I Love Dogs” people. You are wrong, woefully, dreadfully and 100% wrong. For the Love of The Dog site is made up of people who by saying that they love dogs mean that they honor them, respect them, are the voice for them, and do what they can to see that they too are cared for, protected, and saved from abuse and intolerable treatment. Maybe that will help clear things up for you. Anyone, and I do mean anyone, who thinks that what Michael Vick did can be condoned, excused or pardoned is not only someone that is NOT wanted on this site, but is also someone who can be put in the same category as the abusers, rapists and child touching perverts that you so righteously think the rest of us should be going after. Well, guess what, people who have great compassion and action for dogs and other animals are likely to be those who have great compassion and action for all. Save your stupid comments and moanings and finger pointings for your fellow I Love Dogs ABUSERS and depraved, Vick and his kind supporters.
And by the way, I am pretty sure that the perverts you think we should be so concerned about do not “like to touch little kids in jail.” They are in jail because they touched little kids, they same place that Vick should be for the next 20 – 40 years. The he would not have any worries about earning a living.
WTG FELLOW FTLOTD BLOGGERS!!!!
Bravo Bravo : )
You have obviously missed the point, idiot. It was the animals that suffered, not Michael Vick. If he had a job out of the public eye, this would not have made the crime any less and he would have done some real prison time. Athletes are supposed to be role models for our children, bu tperhaps that does not bother you that maybe your own child will follow in his footsteps and be an animal abuser. This is not something that will just ‘go away’.
T.G. a dog is not “a human”, otherwise you would have your face slashed ASAP. Human beings like you are the prime reason dogs, Mans Best Friends, are abused, treated as disposable “things”, and forced to do the depraved acts that entertain cruel, selfish humans like you.
BTW, I believe our jails are full of your fellow human beings who “like to touch little kids” rape and murder human beings. Thats where Vick belongs – with the perverts. But he has POSs like you to defend his evil against defenseless creatures, who have no one to speak for them. By now, you may realize YOU ARE ON THE WRONG BLOG. I suggest you find a site suitable to your character: such as “Support Animal Abuse”.
have u been living under a rock? u sound like a “it’s just a dog” moron. m vick is a murderer……..he used these dogs for something obscene…all these dogs wanted was 2 b loved. no, this ASS**** turned them into killers. HIS dogs just wanted 2 please him. they did what he trained them 2 do. this POS DID NOT PAY FOR HIS CRIMES…..now he’s gonna play football n get paid huge amounts of $$$ what a load of BS.
Philadelphia Eagle’s major corporate sponsors are:
Miller Coors, Verizon Wireless, PepsiCo, Chrysler, Sovereign Bank, Anheuser-Busch, and Lincoln National.
Please contact the corporate sponsors:
Miller Coors 1-800-645-5376
https://www.millercoors.com/feedback.aspx
What I emailed to Millers Coors:
I understand that Miller Coors is a corporate sponsor for the Philadelphia Eagles. I am writing to state that I am appalled that they have signed a contract to hire Michael Vicks, a know dog killer and perpatrator of dog fights. I encourage Miller Coors to end its partnership with the Philadelphia Eagles franchise. I will boycott any corporate partner of the Philadelphia Eagles as long as they employ Michael Vicks.
Sincerely,
Cheryl
Oklahoma City, OK
Wherever I could email, I reworked the above email to fit the sponsor.
+++
Verizon Wireless, Corporate Headquarters
Street:
Pittsburgh, PA 15203
Phone: (412) 913-2000
++++
Anheuser-Busch Inc.
One Busch Place
St. Louis, MO 63118-1852
1-800-342-5283
http://contactus.anheuser-busch.com/Email/email.aspx?Site=CUSITE
++++
PepsiCo Inc.
700 Anderson Hill Road
Purchase, NY 10577
(914) 253-2000
++++++
Chrysler
1-800-992-1997
M-F 8:00AM-6:00PM EST
Contact Us by Mail:
Chrysler Group LLC Customer Assistance Center
P.O. Box 21-8004
Auburn Hills, MI 48321-8004
+++++
Sovereign Bank
General Inquiries
Sovereign Bank
P.O. Box 12646
Reading, PA 19612
Contact our Personal Banking and Online Banking Representatives at 877-SOV-BANK (768-2265), 7 days per week between the hours of 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. ET.
email:
https://customerservice.sovereignbank.com/cgi-bin/sovereignbank.cfg/php/enduser/ps_ask.php?loc=personal
+++++++
Lincoln National (Lincoln Financial Group)
Media Relations
800 525-2599
Fax: 215 446-8315
E-mail: MediaRelations@LFG.com
Cheryl, thank you for all that info! I am going to be out of town, and was planning to take my legal pad of paper with me and write letters. Don’t know if I will have time today to email, but, I will print all this and write next week. Thank you. You saved me a lot of research!
Cheryl
Thanks so much for all the great contact info.
Just a note to all, even though if takes a bit more effort, and of course a stamp, other than an in person, face to face meeting, a written communication sent via the mail USPO, FED-EX, UPS, etc. has the most impact of any other form of commnent, complaint, compliment or prostest. So I encourage everyone who is truly committed to this Vick Boycott and Protest to write and mail.
Cheryl has provided the needed contact for us, all we need to do is write and mail.
I understand and share the sentiment that what Vick did was heinous, but 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 at least one dog. We’ve seen this work in one of the HSUS programs where former dogfighters are part of a campaign to end dog fighting, and it has been amazingly successful, helping both people and dogs. Said best on Wayne Pacelle’s blog’ “We did not endorse his return to the NFL, or vouch for his character, and he is not a spokesperson for The HSUS. Rather, we are simply giving him a chance to make good on his promise that he is through with dogfighting and now wants to be part of the solution, rather than part of the problem.” You can read more about it at this link hsus.typepad.com/wayne/ and I encourage everyone to do so, and be fully informed.
Sarah, like I said, I would consider giving him a second chance if he were truly remorseful, among other things, but he isn’t! All that people will see is that he got away with murder, literally, and is back in the game making the big bucks! And the HSUS orchestration of his public service is BS!! Sorry, not convinced and nothing anyone can say will convince me. I already said what it would take for me to consider giving him a second chance.
D.
I have written to the HSUS that I want to be taken off any lists of people they contact for donations. They are enabling this man to pretend he’s sorry. If he keeps just enough of his money to live on and donates the rest to Best Friends and the other groups trying to save the dogs he didn’t get to kill (dogs which the HSUS wanted to be euthanized), maybe I’ll buy his remorse tour.
Even if he gets the message out to one person that what he did was wrong (a message I am not convinced he believes), how many more people will get the message that it’s OK to abuse man’s best friend in horrific ways.
As long as you might make money for some sports franchise, you can be welcomed back with open arms and make millions because too many people care less about what you did than about their teams.
Here Here Nancy! Thank you for saying what you did.
To Sarah, sorry, I don’t believe this guy is remorseful, and for the HSUS to use him as a “symbol” to hope others will listen is the biggest waste of the air I breathe. You will never convince me. Never ever. I want this man to pay for what he has done, because he will return to it in some other fashion – maybe not himself physically, but he has the sick need to abuse and murder dogs. I too will no longer support HSUS because of this decision.
Just to point out that he did pay for each one of the dogs care – 1 million dollars total.
I know that he was ordered to pay it, has he actually paid it?? And what did he pay for all the dead dogs… the ones he tortured, the abused and the killed?
D.
He was forced to pay $928,000 by the prosecutors as part of his plea agreement, part of which was for the individual evaluation of every dog.
The HSUS has a long way to go to prove it has truly changed since six months ago in North Carolina when its representatives described euthanizing dogs recovered from fighting operations as “the humane thing to do” and was successful in convincing the court to order the killing of nearly 150 pitbulls, including 19 puppies born after the raid.
In the NC case, HSUS claimed it would cost about $190,000 per dog to rehabilitate each dog, so Mr. Vick has obviously greatly underpaid.
http://yesbiscuit.blogspot.com/2009/04/court-to-hsus-why-is-this-so-called.html
He was “ordered to pay” which indicates no choice, just as in he was “ordered to a prison sentence”. Stating that he “did pay” indicates some degree of willingness or desire to make ammends. Amazing how the artful use of semantics can blur the truth.
I as well as most people on this site, and thousands of others, will grant you and the HSUS and every other of his supporters that he had a court ordered judgement regarding these costs. Most of us can read and have followed this case ardently, we know he was ordered to pay.
I am certain that none of us buy into this weak statement that he “did pay” as some type of proof of his remorse and contrition.
Nancy,
Thanks for the great piece of data on the $190,000.00 per dog. Not only does it mean that Mr. Vick has grossly underpaid, but it also makes one extremely questionable about either the math abilities of those quoting those figures and or the court who heard that number and did not question it. Sounds like the same math person worked on these as helps others pad their “Deductibles” at tax time.
By the time stamps I can see we were both responding almost simultaneously, wish I had been a bit slower so I could have seen the $190,000.00 first. Would have worked on my math first to add to my reply. LOL
Sarahhus….THIS IS SUCH BULL!!! THERE IS NOT WAY THOSE DOGS CAN B PAID FOR….NOT AFTER WHAT THAT POS DID 2 THEM!!!!!!
sorry for the yelling, dear 1’s, but i’m angry.
You are right D. The only thing that scum is sorry for is getting caught : (
If he fought 1 dog and then quit , I could see sympathy as a “mistake”. He says all the right words now , all bullshit .Now all the Gangstas will cheer him on .If they killed John Lennon for promoting peace , maybe 1 nut will put a bullet in Vicks head for this.For now lets hope he is severely injured or maimed on the field
Oh so true Terry! You said that very well. I like your thinking and way you put things.
Did you hear the assholes last statement , football does not matter , he should be on a comedy show .
Sarah,
Do you really believe that all, or the majority of us on this site are so uneducated, so uninformed, and so guillible that we would buy into your comments.
let’s take a look:
- life of one dog: not that one life is not valuable, but how about all of the others lost because of his example, lack of due punishment, and please, let’s us face it, his less than true apologies and actual remorse. Sorry that one will not fly.
-did not endrose his return to the NFL: one, you all would have no direct say in that; two, do you actually believe that Mr Pacelle’s commentary on how he feels that Mr. Vick is truly remorseful and has changed his ways, did not have some positive impact? That is an affront to what you think of the intellectual and thinking ability of most of us. Sorry that will not fly either.
- did not vouch for his character: gee, seems like saying he should be given another chance, are sure he is remorseful and has changed his ways, sounds like “vouching” to me and I think to the rest of us.
- not a spokesman for the HSUS: hard that you do not see the oxymoron in this statement, particularly after your sponsorship of his Atlanta community center appearance. So let us understand this, when he appears at events that you sponsor, support, run, initiate and/or pay for with donations from people who still think the HSUS is about truly helping animals, and he opens his mouth…he is still not speaking for you? Who is he speaking for?
-encourage us to read the blog so we are fully informed: I know that the great majority of us, as well as all us in rescue who have worked and labored long and hard over this atrocity are “fully informed”. What I believe you mean is “fully indoctrinated to HSUS way of running things”.
As D and others have said, if there was any real and true evidence that Vick was truly remorseful, changed, had “seen the light” or whatever you care to call it, there would be the chance that he would be forgiven, offered another opportunity, and seen a worthy spokesperson. But other than empty words and false posturing, there has been none of that.
So do not ask us, or any other advocate of moral behavior and right and justice to even consider buying in to this charade, not matter how much “explanation there is”. There is none and there is no excuse.
This is righteous Peggy, You tell em. I’m with you !
Thanks Ex.. hope you and everyone else saw Max’s comment and that he will post the link to access the SI article. That will be more great info. HSUS, as an organization and its leaders, has not been about anything but themselves for a long time, the Vick campaign is just the icing on the cake and hopefully will show more people what they are really about: power, publicity, and greed…..wolves in sheep’s clothing.
The HSUS says Michael Vick deserves a second chance.
The HSUS testified in court that his dogs should die. No second chance.
You call yourselves an animal welfare org? You’re just another Vick PR flack.
Yet another excellent point!! Thanks James for pointing that out so succinctly!
D.
Right on James
Turned their backs on all the dogs, claimed they were not saveable, that it would cost too much, and then let others groups take over. I am pretty sure that Bad Rap does not have the same war chest that HSUS nor make Mr Pacelle’s salary…check that out some time on one of the charity watch groups. PR organization is right…for Vick and for anything that is for themselves.
To Sarah: By offering Vick all this ridiculous gratitude, he and your organization is sending out a message alright..a message that its OK to torture helpless animals, force them to perform depraved acts in order to “entertain” human beings, and that a famous football player can get away with this evil. Wake up!
And thank you, NO…I have read enough of your hogwash praising Vick’s pathetic apologies. He is not sorry….he is sorry his lifestyle was/is threatened.
Netanya, and everyone else – I myself am a dog lover, I work with a rescue and foster primarily pit bulls, often those that have been used as bait. Everyday shelters all over the country are flooded with pit bulls, both friendly and aggressive ones. The Vick dogs were extremely lucky and it’s wonderful that Best Friends and Bad Rap took them in, however there was the unusual circumstance that the care and rehab they needed was covered, by Vick himself as the judge ordered him to pay a million dollars for their care.
So far we have had tons of communities call in and ask that we help their community by setting up a ‘pit bull training team’ program in their area. So that’s going to help alot more than just one dog. It will NEVER make up for what he did to those dogs in my opinion, but what it will do, is help more dogs that may otherwise end up like the ones he killed. This wasn’t a decision that the HSUS made lightly – I’m asking that you atleast keep an open mind and be open to seeing the good that can come out of this. The Washington Post article recently described the decision making process here at the HSUS – take a moment to look at it, it’s on page two http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/14/AR2009081403322.html
I read the article as you asked. It is clear that the writers are unaware of a lot of history when they write “it was the humane society that had pushed the hardest for the prosecution of Vick…” and “it was Pacelle who campaigned for the harshest sentence possible.”
They either don’t know or chose to omit the fact the society and Mr. Pacelle also pushed the hardest for every Vick dog to be euthanized.
Do you not see a problem with “rescuing” dogs in order to kill them?
I feel the surviving Vick dogs received more care, training and a future because of the strong reaction from the public against the horrible acts inflicted upon the dogs, and am sadly aware that most Pits don’t stand a chance of rehabilitation or adoption except for people like you and individuals, private rescue groups, etc. who try to save as many as possible. For this, I commend you. Most animal advocates and rescue groups are becoming savvy to the fact that we need to donate to local efforts, because no one comes to our aid if there is an emergency with criminal charges against a plain ole citizen (not a famous one such as Vick) – such as puppy mills, abused Pit Bulls, fighting rings and everyday cruelty and the dogs who need adoption/foster care, etc. (which requires $$$ and time, and commitment.) The huge Animal Rights groups are capable of bringing focus on important animal issues, and I admire the undercover investigations, etc., as well as the power to get TV exposure – but until the dogs in our own backyard, and cats, have a true shelter and refuge to turn to – its difficult, nowadays, to support the large well-heeled and supported national AR groups such as HSUS, when we are pretty much “on our own” on the front lines in our local areas.
I feel the decision to make Vick a hero, and be so eager to forgive him was just not the right move for HSUS. That opinion does not mean that everyone and every decision of HSUS has been wrong – but REALLLLY, Vick has not paid for his evil doing, and he is enjoying his new celebrity status in Animal Rights/Welfare, which ticks me, and many people off.
I apologize if you think I was attacking you personally. Tempers and emotions are high, with the crushing memory of those dog’s faces, scars and descriptions of their unspeakable lives and deaths at Vick’s and his crony’s hands.
That the Washington Post, or LA Times, other newspaper, TV program, sportscaster, newsperson, has chosen, for whatever reason, although I am sure many of us know the rea$on, to write positive articles on Vick, the Eagles, HSUS, or any other supporter in this case does not make it valid. I read it, many have. It is difficult to determine if Carpenter and Maske are misinformed, have not done there homework, or have just decided that they too will jump on the Vick bandwagon, which of course includes support of the HSUS.
As you seem to want us to believe that if it appears in the news it must be correct, maybe you would like to read articles that have appeared in the news that are not as laudatory. Maybe if you would like us to believe your citations, we could ask you to do the same.
This will be yet another long post, but I have been doing research and working on this response for a couple of days now, in what small amount of time I’ve been able to squeeze out of my day/eveing between working my two jobs. (Sorry D, for taking up so much space, but I just get really “wordy” when I feel strongly about something, and this is one of those times.)
I’ve read the Washingon Post article. I see the same information contained there that I’ve seen everywhere else, either directly from the HSUS or from others of Vick’s “handlers”. I notice that there was no answer to Dungy’s question about what Vick would do if he couldn’t get back into the NFL, and would he still be proactive in the community.
Sarah, as much as I would love to be able to just roll over and say it’s all ok and the HSUS did the right thing, I simply can’t. That’s hard for me, since as I’ve said numerous times, I have stood in awe of the work done by the HSUS. I had even dreamed of perhaps one day being able to work for the HSUS in some sort of journalistic capacity because I believed so deeply in their mission to save animals. From beginning to end, Vick’s actions literally scream that he wanted/wants his career back. Period.
He had tried to give money to PETA, which they flatly refused to take. Why? Because on the day he was taking an empathy course, he tested positive for marijuana! He also went out just a few weeks before going to jail and bought a bulldog from a pet store. Someone who was truly sorry for what he had done would never show up for a class that teaches empathy, stoned on pot. From everything that has been published about Vick, he needed that class, since it’s obviously something he is lacking in his character makeup. And, why on earth would he go out and BUY a bulldog, knowing he was heading to jail? It appears it was just another ploy and I suppose at the time he didn’t have these PR people on his payroll to tell him that he just looked stupid, never mind arrogant.
I consider myself to be a reasonably intelligent woman, and now that I’ve lived 57 years on this planet, I’ve grown in wisdom. I grew up in a family of journalists, and I learned at a very early age how to read between the lines of what someone says when being interviewed. Also, thanks to some formal training I had during my years of working on insurance fraud investigations, I learned to read body language. I was specifically trained by a former FBI agent on what he called the “body language of lies”.
After all of this time since Vick’s horrors were first made public, I’m long past the emotional side of this issue. I can’t wallow around in that any longer. Now I am seeing things with clear vision and a level head. Vick was lying during a good bit of the 60 Minutes interview. He danced and dodged when he couldn’t outright lie. When faced with a question that he clearly had not been coached on ahead of time, he did what he does best in football – avoided the tackle. The question about what it was that motivated him to run that dog fighting outfit – the competition, the money, the adrenaline rush – clearly had hit a nerve and he didn’t know how to answer it. The panic in his eyes said it all. So his answer was a NON answer – that none of that mattered. Well, yes it DOES matter.
What did Vick do first when he got out of prison? He met up with a “gangsta” rapper, Young Jeezy (who is also known to fight dogs), and they went to a strip club! He chugged down champagne, got roaring drunk and was being the “playa” he had been before his world came crashing down. Yes I know people want to celebrate after getting out of prison, but for someone who is trying to represent himself as a role model for at-risk youth, that wasn’t even remotely the kind of image he should be showing the world, and it spoke volumes about where his real priorities lie. On the 60 Minutes interview, he spoke about missing his new baby’s life while he was in prison; so why wasn’t he at home, catching up on that lost time? Obviously it was because he was ready to get his “old” life back.
Vick clearly has some wonderful spin doctors on the payroll. More than likely their fees are contingent upon his regaining his celebrity status and his juicy NFL contract, and has nothing whatsoever to do with helping him to help educate at-risk youths. If it did, they would never have allowed that kind of sleezy public display.
Please remember that Vick lied and lied and lied some more, denying any involvement in Bad Newz at all until everyone else turned on him. He only admitted it when he had no other choice. He was such a good liar, he had Arthur Blank, the owner of the Falcons’ franchise, completely hoodwinked. The man was standing beside him and standing up for him, and ended up looking like a fool. That shows right there just how good Vick is at slathering on the slime of lies when he needs to. There’s no doubt he’s All Pro at that. He lied to the FBI about actually killing any of the dogs, until he failed a polygraph test and was forced to tell the truth. Even after having to admit he was involved with Bad Newz, he still tried to lie about the details. In the 60 Minutes piece, he said things like “what I let happen to those animals” – not WHAT I DID to those animals. Still in denial, still using semantics to make himself a lesser villian. But we must remember that this is the man who, when one of his partners in Bad Newz, Peace, had suggested to Vick that the “loser dogs” should be given away, Vick INSISTED “they have to go” and then killed them. That coupled with knowing he had thrown his own family pets into the ring and laughed while they were ripped to shreds showed me more than anything else I had heard or seen that he has no heart, no soul, no capacity to truly love an animal. He has just gotten better at “the end run” now.
Very interesting reading is the USDA report on Vick, detailing all of the grisly activities of this monster, which can be found in its entirety here:
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2008/1124081vick1.html
As for the North Carolina bust of the dog fighting organization, Dog Town and Bad Rap were ready and willing to take the dogs. They were begging to take them. Nobody had offered up any money to do it. They did it because it’s in their blood, because they passionately believe in those dogs. But rather than allow those dogs a second chance, even newborn puppies born AFTER the bust, the HSUS was instrumental in the wholesale slaughter of those innocent victims. That literally brought me to my knees in anguish. I cried for days over the loss of those precious lives, killed for no reason whatsoever except the HSUS’s and PETA’s testimony that they were bred of fighting stock and not worth the effort of saving. We all remember the global cries of rage that came from that, which resulted in Wayne’s announcement that the HSUS had reconsidered their position about seized fighting dogs in future raids.
There are people who are truly reformed and want to be redeemed. There are others who only want the appearance of it in order to further their own agenda. Vick falls into the latter category. If he had truly felt the remorse and guilt down to his very soul the way those who actually have had the realization of their wrongdoings, his actions towards helping would have begun long before he was due to get out of prison and wanted his career and fame back. We wouldn’t be hearing from a “jail house convert” at the very last possible second before the prison gates opened to send him back out into the world. Instead he was silent, and probably meeting with these PR people to formulate the plans for how to get back his careeer via the shortest route.
I’m not saying that this one bad decision to bring Vick on board negates all of the good that the HSUS has done over the years, and continues to do. But it has seriously hurt the reputation of the organization as a whole, and Wayne Pacelle in particular. No one here has said that the HSUS is a sub par animal advocacy organization. What we HAVE said, is that this decision to bring Vick on board is a seriously misguided one. Vick is using the HSUS. All he is doing is his PR handlers’ version of upscale “community service” and you can bet that once he is securely anchored back in the NFL, he will suddenly find that his schedule is simply too full to make the next appearance, or the next one, until it’s all just a bad memory.
In another Washington Post article written by Richard Cohen on 08/11/09, he summed it up very well:
“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.”
By allowing Vick to align himself with the HSUS, it is just showing the world another example that gifted atheletes don’t have to play by the rules. They slide through college on a free ride. They can commit horrible acts like using drugs, carrying illegal guns, rape, to name a few, and still be allowed to earn millions because they are “stars”.
For the HSUS to embrace Vick with all of the proof of his lack of morals and character out there for the world to see, results at least in my humble opinion, in a huge black eye on what I used to consider the best animal welfare organization on the planet. It’s heartbreaking to me. I had been able to get past the murder of those precious puppies earlier this year when at least Wayne Pacelle took immediate steps to “reconsider” the HSUS position. I knew it was done to save face, but prayed it would save innocent lives as the end result. So I could get past that for the most part. But then came the announcement about Vick, and it rocked me to my core yet again, and this time I just don’t know if there will be any coming back from that in my mind and heart.
The public had already gotten a huge education on the horrors of dog fighting when Vick’s case came to light. That should have been enough as far as Vick himself goes. Every ounce of research that I have done now shows Vick’s people are making sure his name and the name of the HSUS and Wayne Pacelle are shoulder to shoulder. Don’t doubt for a single moment that the two being in bed together has not directly resulted in Vick’s potential $7 million dollar “baby” – his new contract with the Eagles.
If down the road it turns out that Vick is truly the poster child for the HSUS’s anti-dog fighting campaign that Wayne appears so passionately to believe he will be, if young people start touting Vick’s successes in THAT arena, if it’s shown that Vick has truly made a difference in eliminating dog fighting, then I will be the first person to stand up and shout from the rooftops that I was wrong. I will happily offer up my sincerest apologies for doubting the ability of this union to be successful. I honestly do hope that day comes. In the meantime, like so many others, I’ll be watching and praying…..for the dogs.
Bonnie, if I could stand up and applaud, I would!! Thank you so much for this excellent and succinct commentary. You’re welcome to all the space you need my friend!
D.
Bonnie,
An absolutely awesome piece with accurate information and insight. I hope you can feel the “vibes” of all the waves of applause coming through the air waves to you.
In regard to the HSUS and its actions, I would like to make one addition. They took on Michael Vick, not becasue they have made an error. They took him up because it is a reflection of the ongoing agenda of Pacelle and the HSUS. If one had the time, money and investigative interest (I am not saying you as it would be an immense and expensive task for even the most well funded journalist), the facts would show that the HSUS has been about smoke and mirrors long before the Vick case. Their taking him on is only more proof as to what they really are about.
Many thanks to you for all the time, research, fact gathering and personal sacrifice that went into this article. Bless you for speaking up and speaking out.
Thanks so much D and Peggy.
For me with my physical limitations, my only real “weapon” I have in this war on animal cruelty is my words.
That’s why blogs like this one are crucial in today’s world. The exchange between those of like minds, the sharing of information, the enlightenment and support we all provide to each other are all facets of the prism that make up the anti-cruelty/animal advocacy movement.
At one of various groups I belong to, a member has a gorgeous picture posted on his home page that says “Individually we are one drop. Together we are an ocean.” That is so true!
Together, we are one collective voice that CAN be heard and CAN make a difference for the precious animals. While we each may not have the same specific beliefs, collectively our goal is the same – to be the voice of the voiceless and do whatever we can to make their lives better.
Bless you D, for all that you do every single day for the dogs. You are making a positive difference for those precious babies. Never doubt that for a single moment.
Bravo for a beautifully researched and written response.
With the news that the NFL is letting Vick return much earlier in the regular season than was originally planned, I think I would feel totally hopeless without my friends here
http://blog.mlive.com/twominutedrill/2009/09/credit_tony_dungy_for_michael.html
BTW Sarah, whatever happened to all the money that the HSUS campaigned for to care for Vick’s dogs?? Did it go to BadRap or Best Friends for the actual care of the dogs or did it just disappear into the HSUS warchest for whatever they want to use it for?
D.
That’s an excellent question. People are calling upon Jeffrey Lurie, the Eagles owner, to donate the equivalent of Michael Vick’s salary to small shelters and rescuers and it would be a fitting gesture for the Humane Society to do the same
Jeffrey Lurie is an insensitive asshole for getting involved with this idiot , I hope everything backfires on this jerk. What the hell is he thinking , all the great young law abiding players that could use a job were looked over for Mr dog torturer .Read Bonnies the smoking gun then see what you think .
The money was used for the anti dog fighting campaign, and to pay for the dogs care while they were being held until he plead guilty.
Sarah HSUS
It would sure be great if you and HSUS got your stories straight and kept them straight.
In an earlier comment, when making a paltry defense of Vick for “paying” this money…as opposed to being “fined” or “court ordered” your statement was that the money went to
“…care and rehab was covered by Vick himself as the judge ordered him to pay a million dollars for their care.”
Now you respond that the “money” covered care “while they were being held” and also for anti dog fighting campaigns.
So the question still stands: What happened to that money? HSUS certainly did not do any of the rehab, so did a large portion of the money go to those rescues who did step forward? The care while they were being held would have not have come anywhere near the almost million dollar Court Ordered Payment. So who exactly got the money for whose anti dog fighting campaign? WHOSE campaigns?
We pretty much know who – YOU – HSUS.
Sarah, beginning July 18, 2007, one day after Vick’s criminal indictment, the HSUS promised on its website that financial contributions would help you care for the dogs seized in the Vick case. Several weeks later, the New York Times reported that the HSUS was not caring for the dogs and Pacelle told the Times that as we all know your organization was actually recommending that all the dogs be euthanized.
The HSUS is guilty of bait and switch tactics, getting people to donate to help save the Vick dogs and then taking our contributions and stockpiling them to finance Pacelle’s other programs.
http://ar-hr.com/following-the-money/stolen-sympathies-2/
http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS174367+20-May-2009+PRN20090520
Actually Peggy, like I stated earlier – some of the money raised went to pay for the care of the seized dogs up until when Vick plead guilty. The rest of the money went to the anti-dogfighting campaigns. The money that the judge ordered Vick to pay was to go with the dogs, to pay for their care (so whatever groups took them in). Hope that clarifies your confusion.
Sarah, I cannot tell you how many sports sites are featuring the fact that the HSUS supports Michael Vick and throwing that in the faces of anyone who doesn’t approve of his return to the NFL. Your group is being used, just like Tony Dungy.
I’m making it a point of posting links to the SI article which makes clear that HSUS wanted to euthanize the Vick dogs so apparently they believe in second chances only for humans. And this was after the HSUS sent out pleas for money for the dogs…only problem was, they didn’t have custody of them (thank God or they’d all be dead now.
“Saving” dogs in order to kill them doesn’t make much sense to me.
Hopefully the HSUS learns a costly lesson from climbing into bed with Mr. Vick.
Hi Max
When you get the chance will you please post the link to the SI article. That would be a big help. And thanks for adding to our collection of information of how the sports sites and Vick supporters are using the HSUS and Pacelle’s posturing, to shore up the VICK cause. If it were not so sad for all animal victims of this brutality, would be laughable that they (HSUS) are trying to get us all to believe that they had nothing to do with this.
I’m not Max, but here is the link to the full SI story about the Vicktory Dogs. It’s a GREAT story.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/magazine/12/22/vick.dogs/index.html
Thanks for adding the link, Bonnie, it was a great story and really began to open my eyes about what groups just talk the talk and which walk the walk
If the HSUS succeeds in winning the suit it’s a party to regarding the Helmsley Trust, I wonder how much money will actually go to the groups which really need it
Peggy, I actually did a post on that when it came out… an excellent article!! SI – What Happened to Michael Vick’s Dogs?
Your blog is where I first saw the information about that SI article and I’ve been a fan of yours ever since
You do fantastic work, D, I’m sure it’s not easy telling these horror stories every day but you are definitely making a difference in this world
Well Sarah let me tell you what I think. Vic has no more paid for his crime than the man in the moon. He has no remorse, that is fairly obious to everyone that can see what he really is. He used you all like a cat playing with a string. Here he is going to make millions and I bet he has never once offered to help any shelter, organization, etc. He is interested in one thing and one thing only – Michael Vic. And I echo these words again, “The only thing he is sorry for is getting caught.” Also you better than anyone knows what was done to those dogs at Vics hands. Would you be so kind as to tell me and everyone on this blog how it is that he didn’t get prosecuted for animal abuse? Of all things not to be prosicuted for! That was what he did for pete sakes, how could he not be brought up on charges and tried for it.If I had the money, each and everyone of those dogs would have been represented by council and their main directive would have been go for the throat and take no prisoners. I would guarentee that Vic and the rest of his crew wouldn’t have gotten off so easy. That you can take to the bank. And before you and the rest say it, this has nothing to do with race, I hold the same contempt for all animal abusers. A bunch of no good lousy low life scun, that aren’t fit to lick those dogs paws or anything else. The only thing this guy is going to do is give you all a black eye by association if nothing else. Welcome to ” The Hall Of Shame”
Way to go Ex……that is exactly it…..Pacelle and HSUS just want on the BS Wagon…..with all our help…we can make sure it goes right to nowhere but the Hall of Shame….
I agree – and I’ve been leaving comments on the Eagles’ website – I think even though at first I was totally against him having anything to do with HSUS, he has more opportunity than anyone to send a message to a lot of people and CAN make a difference…I really don’t think he is sincere but the fact that he can reach a lot of people and kids maybe makes it worth letting him do it. No one listens to us sometimes, and he can reach people, at least some people I think – even if he makes some folks think about it is worth it. We can’t change the fact that the law let him go now. I’ve been leaving some comments on the Eagles website (as a “fan”) but even if they don’t want to hear me and even may end up cutting me off (abuse of their site), at least someone read what we wrote.
Hi Debby
I really am not trying to be argumentative. But if I am reading your comment correctly, you are sugesting that Vick working with the HSUS might be a good thing because he can reach so many people. If I am misinterpreting what you write, I apologize. But if I have interpreted it correctly, could you clarify that good thing.
I agree, he certainly does have his fans and supporters who still think he is great. But he has shown no real evidence of remorse, or contrition, or made any “non required” effort to make up for his wrongs. His entire focus has been getting back in NFL, with a big salary, tripled next year if they extend, and the glory of the gridiron. How is that for really turning around the lives of younger fans and followers. As far as I see, the message is do what ever you please, because if you are great and talented and can make someone else big bucks while you also make them for yourself, you can get away with murder. Look at me, I did.
As for the HSUS itself and their programs, are you aware that their policy, recommendations, and in some cases sworn court testimonies is that for dogs who have been “fighting dogs”, no matter what, they need to be destroyed, they are not saveable, that it is too expensive, not worth the effort. Are you aware that there have already been cases that dogs such as this have been court ordered to be killed (and have been) based on the testimony of HSUS on this issue, even when there were rescues with trainers and fighting dog rehab experience who had stepped up for these voiceless victims. It is beyond me to understand how that helps dogs who are already victims of being misused, misunderstood, mislabled, and targeted for death. How is that helping? In my opinion, and that of countless others who actively work to end BSL, both VICK and the policies and acts of the HSUS help to drive BSL. Which, if this were enacted into law against humans, would be racism, bigotry, a violation of civil rights and against the law.
And are you aware Peggy, that our policy has changed and that we now recommend the dogs be individually evaluated.
Sarah, Wayne Pacelle himself has said that most of the dogs evaluated probably won’t make it. There has been no information given out by the HSUS about WHO will do the evaluations, or what the evaluation process will entail. If Wayne says he feels like most won’t make it past the evaluation, then that’s pretty much putting a rubber stamp of death on them.
It was because of the public outcry just like this with Michael Vick that the HSUS decided to “reconsider their position” about dogs seized in dog fighting busts. When those precious tiny puppies were murdered in one bust simply because they were born from fighting stock, and the HSUS told the court that it would be bred into them to fight and they should die, people like the ones here at D’s site sent out a tsunami of outrage. The HSUS was losing members left and right because of it, and being slammed on blogs around the globe. So, immediately there was this announcement about reconsidering their position. That was welcome news, until Wayne made the statement that most dogs won’t pass the evaluations.
So please enlighten us. I am always willing to have an open mind. Exactly who is doing the evaluations? Is it people from Dog Town or Bad Rap, the ones who have taken care of the Vicktory dogs? They are, after all, truly experts in that field. Or are the evaluations being done by employees of the HSUS?
Out of the 500 or so dogs recently seized in the multi-ring busts, how many have “passed” their evaluations and are now being rehabilitated? More importantly, how many did NOT pass and have been killed?
It’s all fine and good to spoon feed the pablum to the general public, until that public reads the ingredients on the label of the pablum. That’s how I am – I want to know ALL of the facts – I don’t just slurp up the pablum and say it’s all good.
I’ve said it before and I will say it again. I used to stand in awe of the HSUS. But when those puppies were murdered for no reason, practically torn from the hands of the foster parents who said they would keep them and raise them, because of the HSUS statements to the court, my beliefs were shattered.
Then when the HSUS accepted Vick’s offer to be a spokesperson, I was horrified. Why? Because Vick is not like the truly remorseful people that HSUS has used in the past. He is a greedy, heartless monster who only cares about his career. He said as much on 60 Minutes – that when things started falling apart he realized his CAREER was on the line. There was never a word about what he had done/was doing to those precious dogs. I’ve watched the videos from HSUS with his “speech” in Chicago. The lack of sincerity was almost palpable.
I believe that the HSUS has made a terrible error in judgement, but now they’re stuck with it. They have no choice except to keep moving forward with it, because unlike the situation about evaluating fighting dogs, “reconsidering” the use of Vick has passed the point of no return.
Vick exemplifies nothing more than than the sad reality in our country, wherein someone who is a famous athlete can commit horrors beyond comprehension, never serve a day of jail time for those specific horrors (animal abuse), and have it all simply be washed away and go right back to business as usual. It’s simply sick and disgusting, but the way things are for the rich and famous.
Sarah,
I am aware, as you put it, that the HSUS changed it policies after the February 2009 North Carolina case where HSUS experts, with HSUS backing, testified that all of the dogs seized in this case were NOT saveable, even though there were rescues who had stepped forward to take them. Your “changed your policy” ONLY came about after there was such a public outcry, from individuals as well other animal organizations, that in order to save some degree of face you “changed your policy”. I do not have to repeat any of the other issues related to this, as Bonnie has done such an excellent job on that in her response to your comment.
It is beyond comprehension, that you or the HSUS should have the audacity to even make this statement, as if you were the “leading light” in this decision when you were forced by outcry into having to reconsider. MORE importanty, that you feel you can even defend ploices of your HUMANE efforts that resulted in the death of apporximately 145 dogs, and 70 of them were puppies, some as young a 6 – 8 weeks old. Would you care to defend that, instead of asking us what about our awareness. We are very AWARE.
Peggy, almost anyone can reach a lot of people if they have the proper exposure. And there are plenty of famous people that could have done this that aren’t depraved monsters. Vic is an insult to every decent humane being that cares for dogs, and he does not need a helping hand to get back to his depraved ways. Of cours the NFL and Eagles have made sure he has the money for it. He’ll do it again, only this time he will be more sneaky about it. God help the poor innocent animals that have the misfortune to be in the wrong place at the wrong time : (
Oops, sorry Peggy I ment to write Debbie
Debbie
Please excuse the lapse in mispelling your name. Should have checked.
Peggy
Deanna you took the words right out of my mouth.He has no remorse for his vile actions that is why I am so angered over all this brown nosing that is occurring now.vick is a piece of trash and I hope he burns in hell!
His charges were on gambling , nothing on animal cruelty – good work judges you assholes
just emailed the Eagles a straight from the shoulder no holds bared email of exactly what I thought of their selling out the youth of America and the animals by hiring this scum Vic ( and yes I did refer to him as scum) I also told them that they needed their heads examined, that they were sending out the wrong message to kids,That Vic and everyone else invoved should have been thrown in a hole and left there to rot, that if I had been the judge he was standing before, that sweet deal that was set up would have been thrown out the window and he would have been charged with animal abuse for each dog that was involved, that when ( if) he got out he would be to old with no money to do anything.
I don’t really care who it is! I say what I think and I think what I say. Also I told them that that had nothing to do with race, I detest all animal abusers alike.
And I finished off with they didn’t deserve to win, and I hoped they didn’t, but I did feel sorry for the other players that they stuck working with this scum.
IF HE IS REMORSEFULL THEN I’M DOLLY PARTON. SORRY I DON’T BUY ANY OF IT. I USED TO DRINK PEPSI BUT UNTILL THEY PULL OUT OF SPONCREING THIS TEAM I WILL NO LONGER BUY PEPSI. UNFORTUNALLY I DRIVE A DODGE BUT IF I COULD I’D TRADE IT IN LIKE YESTERDAY.
JANET…..i was thinking the same thing about MY dodge caravan…..i haven’t had it all that long so i’m kinda stuck with it for a wee while longer. i’m not gonna “use” any of the other supporters. i used 2 love dunkin donuts but i hadda knock it off my list of “goodies”. i banished the red cross for any donations a long time ago…….
The poll is GONE! Now there is a poll about something totally unrelated, but NOTHING asking about Vick. Why do I think it’s because they were bombarded with negative responses? I tried checking archives……..everything. I was going to circulate the info to all of the Care2 and Yahoo groups I belong to, so that we could let them know how we really feel, but when I went to do my own vote, I found the poll vanished.
There is a discussion link at the center of the bottom of that page called Insider, and you have to click on that and then go to the page. BUT you have to register to comment. But it’s worth the time to do it. It appears a lot of people are against it, but the ones in favor are in the majority, with a “forgive and forget” attitude. OMG….even the fans only care about winning and $$.
This is the most sickening thing I’ve seen in a long time when it comes to “second chances”. What kind of second chances did he give to the dogs who lost the fights?? NONE! He tortured and murdered them. It’s all about greed and nothing else. I’ve cried myself sick over these precious dogs and the torment they endured, and then wept for joy at their complete transformation when given love and honest to goodness CARE.
So now we need to concentrate on boycotting the sponsors. But, knowing the clout the NFL has……..I don’t want to have a defeatest attitude, but I’m afraid that’s exactly what will happen. The NFL has more power than Obama. If something makes them money, then that’s all they care about. I would bet it was the NFL who told the Eagles to take that poll off the website.
I just want to scream.
While I agree that taking on the NFL seems like a daunting task, in this economic time, I think any sizeable boycott against sponsors which are already in financial trouble may have some impact.
A tourism boycott of Lancaster County helped to result in their tourism bureau becoming a supporter of kennel reform legislation.
Money talks and if this guy starts costing airlines, banks, car companies and drink manufacturers, they won’t be shy about telling the NFL that advertising with the Eagles is no longer a winning proposition
I just want to use a 2 by 4
Hi Excal……
As I work in a related area, I can tell you that a 2 by 6 works much better. A lot less worry about them breaking over hard heads, I have a few left from a preivous job, you are welcome any time.
Ahh, but Peggy, being in the hardwood business, there is nothing like a good piece of Hickory!
Hey Susie,
You are so right. But what a waste of very valuable wood on such a piece of scum, sort of like using this beautiful wood to scrap dog dung off the bottom of one’s shoe. But then, that might work, it is certainly an appropriate description of and place for Vick.
I dont think he should be back on the team or any other team. He has a name so that speaks for itself. If it was a regular citizen like me or anyone out here we wouildn’t be so lucky. Now vick is getting paid the big bucks, GUESS WHAT, HE SHOULD GET PAID 1/4 OF WHAT HE DID THE REST OF HIS PAYCHECK SHOULD BE DONATED TO ANIMAL SHELTERS ALL OVER AND FUNDING TO HELP WITH THE END OF DOG FIGHTING. NO WAY WOULD I SPEND MY MONEY ON A FOOTBALL TICKET BECAUSE OF HIM. LET HIS CHECK PAY FOR ANIMALS IN SHELTERS. LET HIM DO COMMUNITY SERVICE HOURS LIKE 100,000.00 HOURS OF SERVICE FOR THE COMMUNITY, SEE A PROBATION OFFICER EVERY WEEK, MAKE IT HARD ON HIM NOT EASY. THIS IS NOT FAIR. I HAVE NO RESPECT FOR ANYONE THAT HURTS ANIMNALS. THEN STATISTIC SHOWS ANIMAL ABUSERS ABUSE HUMANS. WOMEN BETTER WATCH OUT.
Thank you, whoever you are. Even if you yelled, it was well worth reading your post.
Yeh, there are times when yelling works
To Billy and to Sarah:
I DID read every word of Wayne’s blog and everything else sent out by the HSUS to justify this terribly bad decision to bring Vick on board. Nothing, and I mean absolutely NOTHING justifies it. Sure, your every day run of the mill dog fighters might be great for the purpose of educating the public about the wrongs this “sport” brings. But Vick?? He is only out for #1. His “handlers” have most likely told him that he needed to align himself with the biggest animal advocate names possible in order to get himself back into the NFL and back into the big bucks. His first “appearance” clearly shows exactly what his intentions are…everything on his terms and nothing short of that.
IF he had even BEGUN to apologize for what he did to those precious dogs, MAYBE some people could think it would be ok for him to act as a spokesperson. But even in that clip from 60 minutes above, when directly asked “what about the dogs, Michael?”, he STILL doesn’t own up to the horrors he did to them or say he was sorry to THEM for what he did. Not a WORD. The same old song and dancing around it. Why? Because he’s clearly NOT sorry he hurt them, tortured them, fought them, terrified them, and MURDERED them. He’s sorry he got CAUGHT at it. He’s sorry he lost his MONEY.
Vick is the exactly WRONG person to represent ANYTHING having to do with anti dog fighting activity for that very reason. I truly used to stand in awe of the HSUS for the work they did. But this has absolutely brought me to my knees in despair. Vick USED you for his own personal gain. Just look how quickly all those teams who swore they’d never sign him backed away and look how quickly he got a contract…….and a BIG one at that, right after being brought on board with the HSUS. Do you think for a single minute that would have happened had he not been part of this HSUS fiasco?
I work two full-time jobs to try to keep us from losing our home to foreclosure, which is still going to happen. I’m disabled with 2 heart attacks, cardiomyopathy and severe congestive heart failure, but I can’t stop working because we have to be able to survive. It’s going to send me to an early grave, probably within the next 5 years at most. But in what time I have after those jobs, I’m writing letters, making phone calls, posting MySpace bulletins, writing poetry and short stories for the enlightenment of others to try and do my share for animal advocacy. I’d give anything to be able to do it full time! I fight every day with government reps about these issues. I sign petitions, I make phone calls…….anything my disabled body will allow me to do in order to help even just one helpless, voiceless animal escape from abuse or worse. But I’m not paid millions of dollars and I’ve never harmed a single living creature in my life. Tell me on what planet that’s right and just???
As for Billy, I’m sick beyond words at people who always revert to throwing verbal rocks at animal advocates with the argument about issues with humans. Everyone chooses a cause that they want to champion in their lives. We here have chosen animals. Others choose human issues. But that in NO WAY negates our feelings about the atrocities committed against humans such as rape or child molestation. I am passionately against that as well. I just happen to want to champion animals in my lifetime. Everyone is entitled to choose their battles, but stop trying to belittle those of us who choose animals, simply because we aren’t at the forefront on the human problems. Animals have no voice except for us. Humans DO have a voice. I choose to be the voice of the voiceless. Please take your energy and use it for those other causes……but just do it on some other website. This one is about the love of DOGS.
I wait for the day when Vick actually owns up to the facts of what he did to those innocent and helpless dogs, and expresses true remorse for it. I know I will go to my death never having seen it. Why? Because he has NO remorse for it. In his mind there was nothing wrong with it. I have no doubt he still feels that way deep his cold muscle he calls a heart. He will have his final judgment one day, and there is a special place in hell with a buried car axle and a short, heavy chain just waiting for him with his name on it.
Some said to give Vick a chance; a chance for what? What chance did he give to that poor dogs? Helpless dogs who died of their master’s hand; dogs who thought that “love life” looks like that! Hell is too easy for him! Even hell doesn’t want him! He is arrogant, like saying: “I told you so”! This short jail time couldn’t change him in a better person! It is only about him! A self centered beast! Going back as a player? No, for God’s sake, he deserves to work for Humane Society cleaning the dogs’ needs, and this should be for free and for a lifetime! I am so disgusted of this Vick! I am sick!!!Those dogs died for any reason, or better said, for his reasons: he wanted winner for the money. What is these dogs’ fault? Why did they have to pay with their life? Just because another sick mind used them for his own purposes? Come on, people, this person doesn’t deserve to be a public person with a lot of money; he has a sick mind and nobody could tell me he became a “dog lover”; give me a break! Vick should never play again! he still should pay a hard tribute to all that dogs who waited in the death row!
Marina, you are right. And by the way how is it this jerk got released with no provissions that he would have to donate a portion of future earnings to his victims and do community service some where?
Bonnie, I am sorry you are disabled, and having to work two jobs, but I must personally thank you for being the animal advocate you are. I too have had my demons (cancer), but devote my non work time to animals.
We all know Vick will never own up to what he has done. He has no love of anything but money. Life, as you know does not revolve around money, yes it helps, but does not make you a good person. It comes from deep inside. Just because he was raised with dog fighting, does not mean he has to follow those footsteps. He has no heart, and no soul, because if he did, he would never have been involved in this horrendous act of violence.
This blog has had me upset all day, and I could not wait to get home from work and hug my three boys, and tell them how much I love them.
I will be writing my letters when I am out of town. It is such nonsense with our judicial system that because he is a “star”, he could get away with murder.
Last point from me , If you can hang a beaten dog in a tree and watch it die , what are you . Rot in hell and die Vick
Terry, That says it ALL! This should be our rallying cry!
Media and supporters of Vick don’t want to hear the dirty truth. Sadly, I fear the powerful forces (NFL, Advertisers/Sponsors/media) will put this scum bag up on a throne before they are through. That won’t keep up from speaking, and I like your style.
I do not think this will pass lightly , when I talk to people about it and they say give him another chance , I tell them to go on You Tube and look at dog fighting victims , they are in shock.We need a game plan of relentless pressure to make his life hell. I will do anything I can and I’m not even American .If this was an NHL hockey player we would not see this
It is indeed a sad day. I find that I get sadder, angrier, more filled with despair and more driven to expletives as the hours go by. With every report I read and voice I hear that calls for forgiveness, a second chance, a plea for understanding, a defense for his need to find a job and support his family, a call to let the Eagles have their choice, a defense of Pacelle and the HSUS, the sadnes and anger deepen.
I belong, or belonged, to two groups, supposedly animal advocates that I had to remove myself from today. No one forced me, but I could not longer remain and listen to the excuses; the cries for being a forgiving person, to be understanding, to recognize that he had paid his dues; the charges that it was not my place to condemn him, that he had paid his penalty, and that he had lost a great deal, I could no longer listen to the claims that I, you, we were wrong in “judging him”, in not forgiving him, in wanting him to pay more than he already had, in speaking badly about Wayne Pacelle and the HSUS, and that in urging boycotts or speaking against Pacelle or the HSUS, I, you, we were hurting all their good work, and that meant that I, you, we were hurting the animals.
The cry from all of his supporters, from all those who join in the support, who defend Vick, and the Eagles and/or ignore the actions of the HSUS and Pacelle is that they are now the “good guys”. That I, you, we, who not forgivng, who will not give him a second chance, who do not accept that he is sorry, who want to hold Pacelle and the HSUS accountable, are the “bad guys”, the retaliators, the unforgiving, that he and they are the victims and I, you, we are the victimizers. Some how and in some way, the dogs, the true victims, have been forgotten.
It is rare that I am so saddened, so in despair, and so overwhelmed that I cannot come out fighting to stand up for up is right, for the innocent, for the victims, for the animals, for all in need. Today is one of those days. It is as Kerry says, as if my very home has been ransacked and viloated. It is indeed, a sad day.
It is even sadder to find that people who one thought were honorable, who claimed to defend animals, who one thought would stand firm, and speak out, have decided not to do so, or cannot see where the real blame lies, or for whatever reason have chosen to take the more acceptable or easy route.
I do not know what anyone’s personal faith, beliefs, tenets, or life philosophies are, but to each and everyone of you on this site, and to all those on other sites, and groups, and elsewhere who has chosen to do the decent, the honorable, the moral and the brave thing in standing for compassion, humaness and decency by standing for these animals, God Bless you. Some times you have to stand up for what you believe in, even if you have to stand alone. Here on this site, and on many others, we are not standing alone.
As Terry has said, if we are willing to do whatever we can, to act, to continue to act, to do whatever we can, as often as we can, without worry or concern of win or lose, of big guys versus the little guys, of short haul or long haul, we can fight this, and win or lose, we will have stood up for what is right, what is fair, what really is good for the animals, and for justice for all of those who have suffered and died at the hands of Vick, the likes of him, and even the HSUS. We will have fought the good fight, we will have been decent, and moral, and compassionate. Terry will not give up, and has said so, I will not give up, and I pedge that to each of you. It is my hope that none who cry for justice for these animals and for what is right will give up either.
Will you join? And take up Terry’s cry”
THIS WILL NOT PASS LIGHTLY….WE WILL NOT LET IT DO SO.
Peggy, like you, I have seen that same thing…. and like you and like Terry… and Susie and Nancy and so many others who read and comment and support… we’re not standing alone. We are standing in the right, I fully believe that!
Tell ya something, my guy is an avid football ban, he’s not into animal advocacy like I am but he puts up with my “eccentricites” as I call it. Even he is beyond disgusted by this and even he is going along with my boycott of the sponsors. He’s spoken to friends who talked the “get over it” line and actually has gotten them to see. Now, for a bunch of “macho” WI guys, this is a really big deal.
We are not wrong and I will not back down. We stand together, united it our mission never to forget and to be the voices of those who have no voices, of those who have passed beyond, of those who have received no justice. We will carry them in our hearts and our minds.
I want to thank you all who have stepped up and stepped forward. Each and every one of us make a difference. We care, that is what counts!! You have my love and respect!
Deanna
D..thanks for the pick me up, and love the “my guy story” … which by the way I am sure he and all his WI buddies are kissing the ground that the PACKERS did not pick VICK…at one time that was one of the sports rumors (real or not) as to being a possible team. Use to date a WI fellow and Rabid… oops… AVID … LOL..Packers fan but also a dog person….. He would be having apoplexy if that occured…..
I don’t know what victory for us will look like.
The Eagles losing all their games, their stadium being half-empty, sponsors pulling out, the HSUS losing support, Vick proving we were right about his sudden convenient conversion to a man of conscience and character?.
But I promise I too will take up Terry’s cry, “THIS WILL NOT PASS LIGHTLY…WE WILL NOT LET IT DO SO”
I will not be stopped by people calling me unChristian or racist or judgmental. Some acts are beyond forgiveness in this life.
And if I should ever feel my resolve weakening, I will look at the photos of the beautiful dogs who were saved from this butcher. And then I’ll think of the many more for whom there was no rescue as they were forced to fight for their lives, a fight they couldn’t win, and battle on in their memory.
They did not die in vain as long as we don’t let this pass
Thanks Nancy,
I am a great believer in committing to something. I believe, in fact it is part of a course I teach, that Commitment is the mother of success and Passion is the father of Commitment. As you can tell, we, and thousands of others, have that Passion about this issue, if we can move that to commitment, and the willingness to recommit, when our resolve weakens, for whatever reason, there is no goal that is not achievable. No success that is out of reach.
I do not know what the success will look like either. I think we all like some of your visions, but I do know this: if all who are Passionate about this will Commit and be willing to recommit if needed, we will be successful. Vick will be proved wrong, and people will know and have to admit that he is a narcissistic monster.
Thanks for your pledge to commit.
In this life we all make our choices, good and bad. We chose what we do in life. Yes we make mistakes, and we have to amend our mistakes. But…….we also make the choices for our pets. Vick’s “pets” had no choice in the bad choices made for them and they suffered. They suffered unmercilessly. No one involved cared. They chose a cruel, abusive life for these dogs. Pennsylvania is working hard at making laws to enforce the cruelty against animals, as well as other states are. So, since Vick is a “football star”, and IF he does this again, does he AGAIN get special treatment, cause he’s sorry and had a slip up? And the laws will not hold cause he’s a football star? If someone wants to make a bad choice in their lives, another life should not have to suffer for someone’s bad choices.
My thoughts on Vick – useless. He’s not sorry about what he did, just that he got caught. I think Donovan McNabb said it all – I think Vick could help our team!! That is what this is all about, helping a team, superbowl and money. All what seemed to be said in this interview is football. What I can do for the team, help to get to a superbowl, given another chance to play football. What exactly is he doing to help animals?? Is he donating any of his “hard earned money?”. He was making good money before but it wasn’t enough.
And this thought. When you fill out a job application, it asks if you were convicted of a crime. And how many of the “average joe” felons, that made stupid mistakes, and I’m not talking murder and crimes like that, the other crimes, drugs, robbing a bank, drinking , etc. And how many of the “average joes” do not get that second chance? But because we are a “football star” or a celebrity, well that’s different.
What about the dogs? What about the dogs? Vick obviously “got off” doing all those heinous crimes against them and I don’t want to even mention what he did, we all know.
His stance is the same. And because he was raised with dogfighting that excuses him? Nope, you grow up, you learn what is right or wrong. I know people who came from alcoholic families, they aren’t alcoholics, but I guess they should be cause they were raised in that situation.
And the morals? Where are the morals? Oh okay if I’m a star I can get away with …. “murder”, and then serve my time, come back and make mega money again. And oh he had to file bankruptcy. So? How many of the “average joes” had to file bankruptcy because of the economy – too bad I guess, you are an “average joe”
What are the morals and standards of the NFL? Pete Rose gambled in baseball, you are outta here Pete! But if you beat up a dog then that would have been different.
Sorry so long, this is what I see. And again…….
What about the dogs?
Where was their chance to play in the sun?
I just left some comments at the Eagles website (there is a thing about “how vick can help us”) – all you have to do is register – they were a bit annoyed with me about not talking football, but I think I maybe got some point across maybe to some folks. I think that even though Mr. Vick deserves sh*t, he still can be a spokesman IF HE REALLY SHOWS THAT HE IS SINCERE…but it sure doesn’t seem that he is sincere, and I haven’t heard anything about him speaking in public about being against dog fighting. Even though he is scum and will never pay for what he did, he could still, as a public figure, reach a lot of people and kids if he did it sincererly. I hope he rots in he**, but I still think he has potential to help us out and bring attention to this but he just seems to put it off and not talk about it.
Please go to the Eagles website and there is a choice for how michael vick can help us (something like that) and you have to register, but then you can leave comments – I seem to be the only one leaving comments. Most are ignoring me but there is one person who is responding. We need to make them realize what they did by signing him on.
Debbie
Will do this and hope others do, maybe the lack of comments from anti Vick people is that they know this is a pro Eagles and care less about dogs website. Through rescue I know a fair number of people that live in PA and my lines have been burning up all day with reports of how unhappy a number of PA people and Eagle fans are also.
Does not help that Newsweek published two articles, both by women, that made it look as if they were certainly against all sorts of cruelty to dogs, even animals but them went on, and on…to tell everyone all sorts of reasons why we should ALL give him a chance. Everyone wants to jump on the Blood Wagon. They think they will gain from this, they are betting that it will be another loss for the animals, another loss for the dogs, another loss for animal advocacy and a win for greed, money and the big powers.
If we all will act, work together, act and ACTIVATE… loud, long, and continously we can show them that they all bet on the wrong side.
I’m in Pennsylvania and my area is largely Eagles fans, at least until last night. Sentiment on our local paper’s boards is running at least 50 percent against Vick with many people saying they are selling their season tickets and will never support the team again. We just finished a long campaign to clean up the state’s abysmal puppy mills and finally this week got some legislation passed regarding non-vets performing surgical procedures without anesthesia.
And now the Eagles throw this piece of crap in our laps? Believe me, there are thousands and thousands of people in my state who are FURIOUS
Thanks Nancy for that info. I was pretty sure that my PA rescue friends were not just sending me those little reports to placate me, mainly because they are extremely dedicated dog people and very active dog rescuers. And as for taking on the Eagles, and their sponsors and Pacelle and anyone else who supports Vick I am with you and am ready willing and able to do do so. I also agree that if we all will take action, and keep at it loud and long, it can be won.
Nancy good for you all. But instead of selling the tickets, you should gather in front of the stadium and burn your tickets. Now I think that would really make a statement.
I left my message. Someone responded about alot of PETA people here. I’m not a PETA person. I’m a dog person!!
Thanks for the contact info and also thanks to the poster who contacted Humane S, it inspired me to do likewise and get off their mailing list. I can’t believe that a sociopath like Vick is being championed by anyone, it’s a sad day for anyone who cares about animals. And why do some people think that people who care about animals don’t care about people too? The heart can find room for all things,empathy isn’t a limited commodity!
People who fight for animals are some of the most caring toward other people too, from my experience.
Hi Vida
Good for you, the HSUS stopped being about animals a long time ago, but were able to cover it better. This Vick thing, just made their real agenda all the more transparent. They are much like the fable of the Emperor’s New Clothes. For a long time there was only the little boy crying, he’s naked, he’s naked before others joined in. Well for a long time the HSUS has been convincing everyone that they are about the animals and saving the animals, and only a few lonely voices have been crying, no you’re not, no you’re not. Now there are more taking up that cry No You Are Not. A you can read by the Sarah HSUS they are already trying to weasel out of this and are still insisting that they are “dressed in the finest clothes” Thanks for joining those who cry NO YOU ARE NOT. No one can be and support Vick. No One.
What blatant hypocrisy! Jeffrey Lurie, the owner of the Eagles, calls himself “an extreme dog lover” but says that he felt he needed to provide an opportunity for someone who has “become rehabilitated to become an agent for social change.”
The same story on http://www.philadelphiaeagles.com says “The decision to allow Vick to become an Eagle has been received quite well by the fans. A majority is in favor with the decision as they understand Vick has paid his debt to society and should be allowed to pursue his dreams again.”
They are trying to turn this felon into Mother Teresa in a football uniform, out to save those who haven’t yet seen the light about how torturing and killing dogs isn’t a sport.
I hope any dogs Mr. Lurie professes to love never have the misfortune to meet his “agent for social change.”
What Mr Lurie felt was an urge to see if he could fatten his wallet….let’s all make sure that he placed his bet on the wrong side this time. As you say, Nancy, what blatant hypocrisy.
If he’s an extreme dog lover I’m a millionair(not)
Now we are extreme dog lovers and dam proud of it!
The Eagles have pulled the big list of corporate sponsors from their website. You can find a complete list with contact info (including Twitter) here:
http://tinyurl.com/ozfe8k
Thanks John!! Good to see you here
Guess they must be getting nervous… LOL GOOD!!
Guess they are so full of themselves that they think all dog and animal advocates are too dense to find this out, or be clever enough to watch the games, or visit the Eagle’s stadium and see all the ads, or even get some great help from those who have so diligently provided this info for us…thanks John and Cheryl. Guess they didn’t figure on you great sleuths.
I just submitted my opinion to the team via their official website. I was really upset when I kept hearing how Vick should get a second chance, because the dogs that he tortured and killed certainly didn’t get one! Signing Michael Vick sends the message to kids that you can get away with just about anything if you are a star athlete, and it feeds the perception that professional sports teams are fundamentally corrupt and without any moral standards. Money and ratings rule, and the victims can take a flying leap.
Way to go Susan. So many of us are tired of hearing about that second chance, and how he has paid his dues, and we need to forgive him. Your statement is exactly the message that it sends, whether it is Vick, or any other public figure who gets away with horrendous crimes. That if you are special enough, famous enough, rich enough, important enough you can get away with murder, figuratively and literally. What young person does not think that they are sure to be that special, famous, rich, important person. A terrible message, and then we wonder “what is wrong with young people today”. Answer is, maybe we should take a look at the message our adult people are sending today. Maybe the NFL, the Eagles and all those who support Vick should consider the thoughts you expressed, what message does it send.
Alright..I THINK I have calmed down enough to try and say something..Something other than an incoherent string of expletives..Although that urge is still very much there..
I was sitting with my hub(who loves football)when this despicable news came flashing across the screen..As we both sat there in stunned silence..An odd memory came to my mind..Many years ago…my house was broken into..Whoever the scum was..they took everything of any value at all..The t.v.,stereo,computer..which back then was very new..They ransacked the place..took keepsakes..jewerly…went through my underwear drawer throwing everything on the floor..And it occured to me sitting there, trying to digest this whole Vick thing..That I was feeling the same way as I did walking into my ransacked house that day..Anyone who has experienced this knows what I’m talking about..That feeling…The shock of it..The feeling of utter disbelief that greed could possibly control someone to such a degree..That they could do something like this..Something so terribly,terribly wrong,selfish and disrespectful..All for greed..
I then walked outside to try and get my bearings…And all that could or would go through my mind was the thought of this POS putting on overalls so he wouldn’t get his clothes messed up before he brutally,mercilessly murdered innocent,helpless dogs by some of the most ignorant..sadistic,torturous ways a sick human mind can come up with..His clothes were more important…I’m feeling that expletive urge again…
What does that say about someone’s character?What does that say about the “value” system of this POS?Prison was a turning point huh?I would personally like to know if he has ever thanked Best Friends,or anyone else involved in the rehabilitation of the surviving dogs he so viciously damaged,physically and mentally..It seems in all this “I’ve seen the light” bull shit he would have at some point..thought of them..Thought of the people who tried so hard to right his wrong..The dogs,”Shutdown” in the words of dogtown….So terrified some cowered under blankets for pete sake..Has the POS ever said “Thank you”..”I’m sorry” or gave a thought to them?Of course he hasn’t!!I guess if he did that..he would actually have to admit he did something wrong..Something awful…He doesn’t a give damn about them!!He’s not sorry for anything other than he was busted and lost his status..lost his cash..lost his f— clothes that were so precious to him!!How can anyone want this monster addressing children?How can anyone think that the message”Lie and deny until your buddies roll on ya…take a plea deal.and then blame it on someone else” could possibly be productive for our children??Who in the world would possibly believe this POS feels bad for anything other than being caught?What does giving this POS millions of dollars now,after we know he is a sadist, say about our society?What does that say about the human race?If someone was a serial killer of humans..Tortured them to death..children..Drowned them..electrocuted them..put them in a rape stand…Had a child-fighting ring..Do you think this POS would ever see the light of day again, or make it one hour in gen pop in prison??Nevermind making millions and being cheered..Nope..of course not.Can’t you hear the collective gasp at my comments?Compare “just a dog” to a human child…Why is our own suffering all that is really important..all that is considered really wrong?This disgusting display of greed and pettiness is indeed..a terribly sad day for all animals..and those who love them.
Kerry, I found what you said very touching and the picture of Vick putting on overalls so he wouldn’t mess up his pretty clothes is such a good reminder of how this man is beyond cold-blooded and sadistic
This petition for Eagles fans which had a goal of 1,000 signatures is now over 2,100 and growing by the second
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/eagles-fans-against-michael-vick
HURRAY: )
: ) : ) 
Growing by the second is right…we are now at 2245. A good yeah…..but 1000 is a crock…will not even move the Eagle’s Front Office…let’s adopt the aim high, achieve more goal. Let’s try for 10,000…and then 100,000. We know this can be done, we know the power, the voice, the number and the dedication of dog lover’s, animal lover’s. and people here, in the US and around the world as well as those who honor decency and compassion over money and fame. LOOK what we did for OTIS…almost 10,000 signatures in less than ONE WEEK…….WE can do this for the VICK VICTIMS too, that and ten times that.
It’s now at 3390. I’ve posted a MySpace bulletin, and I hope every one of my almost 3000 contacts will sign it. I’ve also emailed it to all of the various groups that I belong to.
The 60 Minutes story was a crock. At the very least it should have been balanced with information about those precious dogs and what they have endured, as well as the rescuers who dedicated so much time and love into helping them recover from the trauma.
If you all will remember, it was after another bust of a dog fighting ring, when the HSUS showed up immediately screaming “kill them all!”, claiming that they had been bred to fight and couldn’t be saved. Tiny puppies less than 6 weeks old were killed! After the huge public outcry from that case, the HSUS did a back pedal immediately and said they had “reconsidered their position” and would now begin to suggest that dogs in future busts be evaluated individually.
Well that’s all fine and dandy and I was glad to see that the power of our voices made a difference. BUT, at the latest huge bust of multiple dog fighting organizations in the last couple of months with around 500 dogs seized, while they still say the dogs will be evaluated, in the next breath they say that it’s unlikely many will pass that evaluation. WHY?? We know the answer to that…..because they STILL want to KILL them!
I haven’t heard another word about the evaluation of those dogs since those multi-state busts took place. Nothing. My heart aches at the thought of how many have probably already died because of the “evaluation” process.
It did prove at the very least that our collective voices DO get heard and DO make a difference. So my prayer now is that by taking up this cause and not giving up or giving in, we can make the public and the NFL listen to what the PEOPLE want……those of us who truly LOVE dogs and care about their welfare and NOT about football and the almight dollar.
I have written to CBS with my opinion on the lopsided piece. While they tried to be firm with Vick, he did his dance around the issues and he danced like the athelete that he is. He did his PR team proud. That clip from his supposed outreach to the kids in Atlanta was the very place where his handlers taped up the windows so no one could see in, allowed ONLY the 60 minutes film crew to come in as media while the rest had to stay outside, and only 55 people were invited to attend. That was no outreach….that was a staged PR event by Vick’s handlers. Period. I was outraged at the way they played it out on 60 minutes, and made it look like Vick was doing something good for underpriveleged kids who might get into dog fighting. Bull hockey!
This just keeps preying on my mind. I can’t get the visions of those dogs, especially Georgia (formerly Jane), with all of her teeth pulled out and her little face scarred from the times she was forced to fight. The terror in her eyes when she first came to Dog Town was heartbreaking. Vick did that.
Sorry to keep going on and on. I’m just heartsick over the whole sordid mess. We must keep up the fight for those precious VICKtims.
Say I have to say it.The picture of the dog biting the player in the a** is great.I saved it to my files : )
LOL… I love it too! One of my favs.
D.
There is a poll on the 60 Minutes website asking if you think Vick should return to the NFL. Let’s rock the vote! POLL
Excellent Bonnie!! Thanks!
Heading over now —–>
Thanks Bonnie
THANKS BONNIE! Just went and voted and then sent to lots and lots on my lists. Would not even have known it was there without this post. At just before 5:00 EST….it stood at just under 39% YES, and just over 61% NO.
GO VOTE ALL and pass to everyone you know who will vote NO and also pass along. I am still trying to decide if I can bring myself to watch this dog and pony show that CBS and 60 Minutes is running. My head says YES…so I know what is said and can rebutt….my heart says NO…to save my blood pressure. LOL
Re: Article in LA Times, if anyone wants to post comment to article: HUMANE SOCIETY COULD HELP MICHAEL VICK FIND REDEMPTION
(I say, “Redemption” – crap!)
http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-streeter16-2009aug16,0,4735769.column
Redemption Yeah: They could show him that short pier to take a long walk on LOL : )
Just watched his 60 minute interview , he just does not say the right things .I know why he fought dogs now , HE IS STUPID ,VERY STUPID
I knooo…Hes so xxxxing careful, saying only what his high priced attorneys tell him to say. One thing for sure, he falls short, verrrrrry short, of EVER admitting what was done to those poor dogs.
And Wayne P./HSUS is full of xxxx! Says the didn’t help Vick get reinstated, but they certainly did, just by their babysitting and pampering the animal abuser.
No compromise! Vick has to go!
I suggested to CBS 60 minutes, that if they can give Vick air time, then they need to give the rescuers air time. On what they saw when the dogs first came to Dog Town. How they worked with the dogs and how they have progressed. And also give mention to the bait dogs. They have been forgotten too. It’s only fair as the dogs are the true victims. I did not buy Vick’s interview, he contradicted himself several times. Very well coached. And the part where he had a pit as he was growing up and loved the dog so much, he did not want anything to happen to his beloved dog. Right then & there, whether you were exposed to dog fighting as a child or not. That statement itself tells yourself, you do NOT harm dogs!! If you love your dog, why in the world would you feel good about hurting another dog? Makes no sense. None at all. And would the HSUS take a non celebrity person to be a spokes person against dog fighting? Heck no, that won’t bring in any monies to them. It’s all about money. So sad.
Now, thats a great suggestion! And worth writing to CBS about. Thanx. (I have written to CBS and the other networks over the years asking them to do stories, investigations on certain crucial animal issues, and have never received a single response. But, in this case, they may be paying more attention given the publicity and, hopefully, our letters of protest.
They should have showed dogs after fighting , but most could not stomach it , see what it really is all about. As far as the HSUS – this is like getting Jeffery Dahmer to work at a food bank ( he got his ,Vick will get his also )
Right on Terry…..and we can get Vick and HSUS to get their’s. Vick for all that he did, and HSUS for their support of him and for their disservice to all the dogs.
THIS WILL NOT PASS LIGHTLY
WE WILL NOT LET IT DO SO
The fact that most could not stomsch it is precisely why they need to see the aftermath of a dog fight. So they can see with their own eyes why animal lovers all over are up in arms and down right p**ssed off Angry
It does not show well on family tv does it
I’ve been struggling in my arguments with people on other sites about the charge that those who oppose Vick’s return to football are racists. They claim dog-fighting is an acceptable form of “entertainment” in parts of the Black community. I think that those who use this argument are the ones truly guilty of racial stereotyping.
In Googling dog-fighting in the black community, I ran across this article from 2007 on huffingtonpost.com about pitbulls and “hypermasculinity”. I disagree strongly with some of the writer’s conclusions, that our outrage “is tinged by a perverse pleasure in bringing down a Black man.” But I found her theory interesting since on at least one site, sackvick.net, quite a few pro-Vick posters call anyone who disagrees with them “limp-wristed” and I couldn’t figure out why one would equate compassion toward animals with a lack of masculinity.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lisa-wade/the-secret-brotherhood-be_b_67225.html
I also wanted to share al link to an article in The New Black Magazine in which another author decries the use of Vick as a symbol of racial injustice.
http://www.thenewblackmagazine.com/view.aspx?index=926
P.S. Thanks to those who watched “60 Minutes” for their insights, I couldn’t bring myself to view it but will write to them with the excellent suggestion mentioned by another poster about asking for equal time for those who really saved the Vick pitbulls. Wayne Pacelle should not be allowed to present himself as THE face of animal welfare
Hey Nancy,
Maybe we should have all those who link anit dog fighting and love of dogs, or even anti Vick say that face to face with any of the members of RESCUE INK..Boy would I love to be there if that happened.
As for the commentary that people were making to excuse Vick and anyone else doing this that Dog Fighting is an acceptable form of entertainment in some of the Black Communities, and think we should excuse Vick based on that, I wonder how forgiving they would be if it were brought up as to what some of the forms of acceptable entertainment are in many Neo Nazi and KKK communities. Thanks for the great link to the intelligent article. I do not know one single solitary black person who have education, or humantiy, or decency or compassion who feels this way. The people I know are mortified that anyone would think so, little less say so. I live in the Metro Detroit area…so the number of black people I know and interact with is sizeable. A big poop to that idea, from any moron, and that includes some of the Hollywood and other well known names who are spouting that.
I am sick of people saying this has anything to do with race!! I don’t care if someone is white, black, red, yellow or green, anyone who is involved in this heinous”activity” is less than human! As for people calling it “black entertainment,” that’s bullshit! There are plenty of whites also who have been arrested and convicted for dogfighting too.
It’s time for people to stop whining and making excuses and just calling it what it is, torture, abuse, cruelty… of the highest form! It has nothing to do with race, gender, socioeconomic status, where a person lives, where they work or what they do… it has to do with a lack of heart, lack of compassion… sadism, psychopathy, sociopaths, etc.
I didn’t watch the “60 Minutes” seg either… guess I forget…. might have remembered if, as you pointed out, they’d have offered equal time.
D.
It was reported on ESPN today that according to Wayne Pacelle, the Eagles are scrambling to find a Philadelphia-area animal group willing to partner with Michael Vick.
According to the reporter, the team wants him to be seen out in the community working with animal welfare organizations before the preseason games which he will be permitted to play in which take are scheduled Aug. 27 in Philadelphia and Sept. 3 at the Meadowlands.
Seems like they may be having trouble finding a local organization willing to work with Vick despite the fact the Eagles claimed area animal rights groups signed off on Vick’s coming to Philly
Thanks Nancy
I am out the door on the way to finals, but you can bet that as soon as I come home later tonight, I will send to all my other PA rescue and AR friends and contacts to keep the heat on so no good group will work with him or HSUS.
Maybe they can form their own group….they can call it LARS…Liars and Abusers Rescue Society.
Excellent Peggy, I know you have tons of contact and I hope they all turn them down flat!! Look forward to hearing what kind of responses you get back.
D.
Are they out of their ever lovun minds? What self respecting animal group would aid and abed that monster?
Brenda, you said the exact right words… “self respecting”… if they are, they wouldn’t get near this POS with a 100′ pole!!
Just hope it stays that way Nancy. Anyone who signs on with this monster is just making themselves a target, just like HSUS and deservedly so!
D.
More window dressing : (
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How can you sponser a team that hires a convicted animal abuser? [Incident: 090816-000004]?
From: Sovereign Bank Customer Service (sovereignbank@mailnj.custhelp.com)
Sent: Mon 8/17/09 7:35 AM
To: re.bm.evon@hotmail.com
Recently you requested personal assistance from our on-line support center. Below is a summary of your request and our response. If this issue is not resolved to your satisfaction, you may reopen it within the next 7 days. Thank you for allowing us to be of service to you. Question—————————————————————How can you sponser a team that hires a convicted animal abuser? Discussion Thread—————————————————————Response (Crystal Escalar) – 08/17/2009 09:35 AMDear Brenda Hixenbaugh, Thank you for expressing your concern. We are currently a sponsor of the Philadelphia Eagles. Our sponsorship agreement is a contractual obligation and predates the Eagle’s decision to sign Michael Vick. We will share your concerns with those who make the sponsorship decisions. Sincerely,Crystal Escaler Sovereign Customer Contact Service
e sponse bto email sent to Sovereign Bank Customer Service
This was the email I sent to them:
Customer (Brenda Hixenbaugh) – 08/16/2009 04:06 AMI am writting to express my great sorrow that you are a sponser to a team that would hire a convicted dog abuser. The shame will be worn by many in the fact that this person did not pay for the viscious monstereous actions against those innocent little animals, that did not deserve what was done to them. And how any decent humane being can just let this go as if it never happened is beyound me. “The Hall Of Shame ” awaits you. The whole kit and caboodle of you that are aiding this monster in humane dress will find the folly of your choice. There is going to be a great loss of buisness by you all. This guy should have been delt with like the monster he really is. God help you all.
Dmail response from Coors:
Thank you for contacting MillerCoors.
Customer commentary is extremely important to us. Please note that we do not sponsor individual teams or athletes. Like any company that purchases commercial advertisements, we sponsor only events that they perform in. All editorial decisions are the sole responsibility of the program. Your comments will be shared with the appropriate personnel and we will continue to monitor future content. Thank you for bringing this to our attention.
Sincerely,
MillerCoors Consumer Affairs Department
Ref: Case#N20490849
——————————————————————
I am writting as I have learned that you are a sponser of the Eagles. The same Eagles that hired Michael Vic and gave him a 2 year contract for how many millions. I am appauled that any reputable buisness would afilliate their name along with such a person, that was proven to be a monster. The things that he did to those poor dogs and the no punishment that he recieved for his crime, makes me hang my head in shame. No buisness from me for your company or anyone else that chooses to treat this complete injustice as if it didn’t happen or as if what he did was nothing. Vic should have gotten the book thrown at him and he should of been charged with each count of animal cruelty and sentenced for each. If I were the judge at that trial that sweet deal he got would have been tossed out and he would have gotten what he should have gotten.And no this has nothing to do with race, I hold the same contempt for all animal abusers equally. ” The Hall Of Shame ” waits.
Animal Planet just had the show on about Vick’s dogs! All the Vick fans are forgetting about the true victims! Grrrrrrrrrr!!
Candi Thats always convenient for them. The forgetting I mean, isn’t it?
Not Just a dog………..
I look in my dogs eyes and what do I see?
Love, tenderness and wanting to please.
One runs over and gives me a hug
One sits on my lap and just wants to snug.
One nudges me to get a simple pat on the head
One lies at my feet, with no feeling of dread.
I leave one room and they are all in tow
Just wanting to be with me, is so nice to know.
What better companions could one ask for?
All they ask for is love and nothing more.
They are not just dogs as some people say
They’re your best friends, beside you all the way!
And that’s our story and we’re sticking to it.
To Vick, the Eagles and HSUS, we say Phhtt!!
Gotta love it, coming from a dog!!
Wayne P./HSUS sent out a letter about “lets not fight”….and I commented on his Blog about 60 Min. segment, and on which he praises Vick as the “saviour” of all youth : Comment here if you want to give your two cents. I think u have to sign up for Type Pad to comment.
http://hsus.typepad.com/wayne/2009/08/vick-60-minutes.html#comments
A friend just sent me a link to a story from CNN.com headlined “Dogfighters get creative as spotlight on Vick fades”
http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/08/17/us.dog.fighting/index.html?iref=mpstoryview
Read that earlier today Nancy, scary… just scary!! As if the thought of “trunking” wasn’t bad enough, now we have to imagine big rigs rolling by with dogfights going on inside them.
D.
Stupid SOB.
Thank you for contacting Anheuser-Busch regarding the Philadelphia Eagles’ recent signing of Michael Vick. We always appreciate hearing from the public even when it comes in the form of constructive criticism.
Below is the Response I received from Anheuser-Bush, RE:Sponsoring Vick’s team/Advertismts:
************************************************
Although our relationship with the team existed long before the signing, your comments have been noted; and will be kept in mind as consider our plans for the remainder of 2009 and beyond.
As a company, please be assured that Anheuser-Busch cares about animal rights. We have spent more than a century developing our reputation in this area and have taken a leadership role in animal protection, animal rescue and rehabilitation, and wildlife habitat preservation. Our company is a major sponsor of organizations such as the Wildlife Habitat Council, The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, and Ducks Unlimited among others. Throughout the years we have partnered with and contributed millions of dollars in support of conservation and wildlife programs. Consider the following:
Since 1970, Anheuser-Busch’s SeaWorld and Busch Gardens adventure parks have rescued more than 14,000 animals, many injured or ill due to human causes. In addition, the non-profit SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund was recently launched to expand these efforts. Since 2003, the Fund has given $3.5 million to 286 projects in more than 60 countries.
Eight Anheuser-Busch facilities have obtained Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC) certification for managing company-owned lands for the benefit of wildlife. Anheuser-Busch employees volunteer countless hours to ensure that the facility lands are managed with wildlife in mind.
As we take the concerns of our consumers very seriously, we thank you again for sharing your thoughts on this issue. In addition, we hope that you have a better understanding about our commitment and reputation for treating animals with respect, and more importantly, our commitment to the unwavering principles of responsibility in all that we do.
Sincerely,
Your Friends at Anheuser-Busch
http://www.anheuser-busch.com
Three cheers for Bill Smith and Main Line Rescue, the group which got Oprah to do the segment on Pennsylvania puppy mills. Last week out of the blue Main Line received a donation of $1500 from Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie. Smith told WHYY radio yesterday Lurie cares nothing about rehabilitating Michael Vick and criticized PA Gov. Ed Rendell for suggesting Phillies All-Star Chase Utley, well known for his animal welfare work, appear in a public service announcement with Vick
http://www.philly.com/inquirer/sports/20090818_Lurie_donated_to_shelter_before_Vick_signing.html
In the Animal Legal Defense Fund (ADLF) newsletter that I received, there was a link asking that people write to their state representatives via ALDF, asking that they endorse a “First Strike and You’re Out” law for animal abusers. This organization is amazing with the legal work they do to help animals. They are their voice at times when no one else would be.
Here is the link for the page to send the letter asking that this legislation be supported and instituted. They make it easy for you – they will send it to the appropriate representatives based on the state you list in your name and address info.
Let’s all send this letter via ALDF and with their tenacity, we can see laws like this actually become reality sooner rather than later. These people have an amazing track record of legal victories, and could truly help get some teeth into animal abuse laws to protect the precious innocent animals.
http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/5154/t/6035/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=1538
Fantastic Bonnie!! And you’re right, ALDF is a fantastic organization, very strong. On my way now! Thanks!
D.
Sarah B aka SarahHSUS earns her salary at the H$U$ by monitoring all criticism of Pacelle and company and posting scripted defenses. She is not the only one there assigned to this task, but she is the most annoyingly persistent and the most deceptive. She even harassed Nathan Winograd on Twitter.
The youth program/pit bull training projects she boasts about aren’t even their own. Tio Hardiman of CeaseFire Chicago created it – HSUS helped fund some of his work so that they could franchise it and attach their name to it. They have done this with a couple of other established, outside, underfunded projects. HSUS turns them into fundraising cash cows and image polishers to distract from the stench that has long been the H$U$.
Rignt on Katrina and everyone else who wants to look carefully at HSUS. Even the big charity watch groups do not necessarily provide the “real truth” and use IRS figures to often decide the rating of a charity. But IRS has blurred lines between what is considered “fund raising” and what is considered “program”. If, as some have suggested, the IRS were to more narrowly define program, many activities of many charities would have to be labeled “fund raising” rather than “program”.
When fund raising costs, as a percentage, (as well as administrative cost, as a percentage) relative to donations (income) rise, ratings fall. Thus while HSUS gets very good to high marks from most charity based watchdogs, it is based on these numbers, rather than being rated relative to efffectivness of the programs (read PR) that are being sponsored.
As for Susie’s comment, data related to salary,(not any other forms of compensation or perks) are not readily available for most staff on charity organizations payroll. However, IRS requires that charities, taking in more than a cetain amount of money, must report the salary of the CEO,(defined by the IRS as the individual in the charity responsible for the day to day operation of the charity).
So for the 2007 tax year, the most currently published and accessible: Wayne Pacelle was paid a salary of $215,308.00 for that year.
This does not include any other compensation or perks, including the body guards and stretch limo he had when attending a function. Even if it was a black tie affair, last time I attended one, body guards and limo where not listed as mandatory on the invitation. Maybe the $8.00 covers the cost of that.
This post is directed to SaraHSUS. I have been out of town for a while, and just reading some of the posts, trying to catch up, I have one question for you. May not seem like a big thing to you, but to me, and many others here on this site, it is a big deal.
Have you ever, in your life, transported any animals to safety? Have you ever “been in the trenches” rescuing any animals?
How many people who earn a paycheck from HSUS have ever done any of the above? And finally, how many hours do you work a week, and let us know if you earn a wage over $30,000.00 a year from HSUS.
Once you kindly answer these questions I have for you, you will get my final thoughts on the HSUS.
Happy to answer. I have volunteered with an animal rescue group for over 6 years, fostering dogs (and cats but mostly dogs). I have done transports, both the driving and coordinating. I worked at a shelter, as have many at the HSUS, doing the day to day work cleaning kennels to humanely euthanizing when there was no other option. And as I write this, my foster dog (a pit bull that we were told was used for dog fighting) is sleeping soundly (and somewhat loudly) next to me. Whether or not you consider that in the trenches, is totally up to you, but I, like all the other employees at the HSUS, work there because I care about animals, and am passionate about helping them – the same reason you do what you do.
SarahHSUS, I cannot understand when you say that the monies Vick paid, some of which went to dog fighting campaigns – what the hell does that mean? To put ads out against dog fighting? Why the hell don’t you use that money appropriately to strengthen the “anti-dog fighting tactical team”, and get intelligent people out in the field breaking up these horrendous dog fights?
As far as your volunteer work, ok, you sound like you are doing your part volunteering, if all you say is true, but for you to work for a corporation such as the HSUS, I highly doubt that your heart is in the right place. Sorry, but your say you are passionate about helping animals; then why would you stand there and be a part of allowing Vick to have any part of the HSUS? Sorry, but if I was employed by the HSUS and they allowed that sorry SOB to be a part of anything animal related, I would have fought tooth and nail not to have him associated with anything to do with animals; and I would have turned in my resignation immediately because of that.
Passionate about animals? I recently got a call that a kennel in my state will be shut down due to an owners sudden demise in health, and was asked to place 40 adult dogs and 15 puppies. Since the call, I have not slept, I have cried, I have called and emailed every single local connection to place these dogs. You have no clue as to the passion I have in my heart for our four legged furry friends – they are more than “just a dog”, and it sickens me to no end that people like Vick, excuse me, he is not even a person, so let me rephrase that, a sick, evil, cruel selfish bastard like Vick is associated with a group that is supposed to be an ally to the animals has lost all my respect. And personally, anyone associated with the HSUS has lost all my respect because the HSUS is not in it for the animals, but for the all mighty dollar.
I will listen to all the babble the HSUS/you have to say to defend the HSUS. Honestly, it is very amusing to me, because the regular posters on this site have caught you in such contradictory statements, I really have to laugh. The regular posters here on FTLOTD are true and honest about their passion for our furry companions, and I seriously doubt that you can be as passionate and loving towards animals as we are.
You Said: Why the hell don’t you use that money appropriately to strengthen the “anti-dog fighting tactical team”, and get intelligent people out in the field breaking up these horrendous dog fights?
The money not used for their care went to the dog fighting campaign, which includes coordinating and executing raids on dog fighting.
Everything that Vick did, makes me sick, but this was not a decision the HSUS made lightly. I think that it will have a positive effect – this is an unprecented opportunity to bring awareness to dog fighting. We’ve already gotten calls from over 100 communities that want to start anti-dog fighting programs in their areas – think of how many dogs that will save.
On a personal note, whether you choose to believe that I am passionate about animals is up to you, however I will point out that just because you may disagree or not have the same views, doesn’t make someone immediately not passionate about animals.
To Max, you may find this link helpful, http://www.hsus.org/hsus_field/hsus_disaster_center/disasters_press_room/beyond_katrina_three_years_later_0802808.html where you can see a breakdown of where the money went.
I am agast about the amount of money that is being talked about and the number of animals that are mudered on a daily bases, because there isn’t enough money to keep them. You people belong at the top of the heep in the “Hall Of Shame”. I like many many others would of given my eye teeth to have had the honor of being a part of the hsus. But after all that is said and have come out, I am so so tearfully sad that I truely am heart broken, at the thought that you have had all these funds and still thousands upon thousands of innocent animals,that have done nothing to anyone or anything, muust die every single day. God forgive you because I never will be able too
Hi Excalibur
Just so you have a very good idea of the amount of money you are speaking of, and all the vast amounts spent on programs, and yet still millions die every year, just in shelters, here is the partial IRS required filing for 2007 for HSUS 501(c)(3) Income Statement:
Income Statement (FYE 12/2007)
Revenue
Primary Revenue $87,187,115
Other Revenue $14,639,075
Total Revenue $101,826,190
Expenses
Program Expenses $75,745,400
Administrative Expenses $ 4,116,251
Fundraising Expenses $11,656,561
Total Functional Expenses $91,518,212
Payments to Affiliates $00,000.000
Excess for the year $10,307,978
Net Assets $204,868,764
Sarah, in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, the HSUS raised an estimated $34 million supposedly to reunite lost pets and their people. Public disclosure of the amount actually spent added up to less than $7 million but the Louisiana attorney general dropped his 18-month investigation when after HSUS announced it was contributing $600,000 toward an animal shelter on the grounds of a state prison. Where did the rest of that money go?
Do you not understand that when people donate money to save dogs, they are not contributing to Wayne Pacelle’s pet projects but to what you claim you are going to do with the money?
John Goodwin, your “animal-fighting expert,” a proponent of destroying all pitbulls seized in raids, accused those who tried to stop the execution of the NC dogs in February of “clamoring for media attention.” Clamoring for media attention? Has Wayne Pacelle EVER seen a camera he didn’t like?
And speaking of John Goodwin, he was formerly spokesperson for the Animal Liberation Fund, a group categorized as terrorists by the FBI. His stated goal is to destroy all animal agriculture.
His response to the protests regarding the NC slaughter was a form letter, “With approximately 600,000 pitbulls killed each year, why should fighting dogs which obviously require more resources to manage and which pose an obvious threat to other animals, get placed instead of other equally deserving pitbulls and other breeds slated for euthanasia?”
In 2007, the HSUS contributed less than 4 percent of its budget to actual hands-on rescues and shelters. If the HSUS used its funds to build no-kill shelters, we could probably put an end to euthanasia.
But instead the group raises money under false pretenses from people who think they’re helping to save dogs and instead uses it for campaigns against meat and dairy producers, zoos, circuses and hunters.
While all of these may be worthy causes, you know you would never raise the kind of money for them that you can by your false advertising that the money you raise helps dogs who have been victims of abuse
Sarah,
Regardless of what smoke you blow in responses to comments and questions posed on this blog, most, if not all the the people here, are able to see through that. You either do not respond to direct comments and for those you do respond to, you edge in sideways.
So to help you along, I am not CONFUSED, and I am pretty sure that others here are not either. The comment made was regarding COURT ORDERED payments, a subject you first brought up in a limp defense of VICK. The response was that it was nothing he paid but that it was COURT ORDERED. There was no response to that.
The next subject you responded to was that about the money raised over the VICK issue and the HSUS supposed step forward and step up campaign for the VICK dogs, which ended as soon as you got your hands on the money. The question was raised, what happened to that money. Your vastly informative comment was, some went for dog care before VICK pled guilty and the some went for your anti dog fighting campaigns. SOME????? As in I have some money in my pocket (two nickels, three pennies and a quarter or a wad of hundred dollar bills?)- well never mind, just SOME.
Also conveniently overlooked, is that until Vick pled guilty or went to trial the animals had to be held as evidence, you make it sound as if you all rushed in to voluntarily see to their welfare. The only rushing in HSUS did was that once the guilty agreement was accepted, HSUS rushed in to declare that all the dogs should now be put down. I wonder if the loving families who have many of these rehabilitated victims of abuse feel the same way. Somehow the remaining “some” raised to help the VICK DOGS went in your coffers. Amazing, that no matter what was done with the money, that HSUS does own up to the fact that the money from dog lovers that was raised to save the VICK Dogs and Help the VICK Dogs did not in “some” part do that. In your touching campaigns, did you mention that you wanted the dogs dead. I think not, in fact, I know that certainly did not happen. With your “help” and no other intervention, they would all be dead by now.
In addition, you also added the response that the other money went with the dogs to “whatever rescues. I must admit you have a great handle on English and semantics for the ability to keep from presenting direct misstatements but manipulating the truth. We should all remember those words if we are ever called to task relative to our personal rescue works and asked about our activities or what happened to the dogs we rescued or the money that we had raised from donation. “Some and whatever”, “paid for versus court ordered” and “took money to save Vick dogs versus testified those dogs should be killed” will come in very handy (or versions thereof).
I am not confused, nor are any of us, we are just trying to get all the smoke out of our eyes. The only place HSUS thought long and hard about before taking Michael Vick on was if to bet or not bet on what a great cash cow he would be for you. If you still want to stand by the ludicrous statement that Vick is not a spokesman for HSUS, then explain the recent Chicago VICK and HSUS event. Which, according to you in a former post, is one where all the young people were on the edge of their seats…must be that we have a different idea of what “edge of their seats” means. For your, and everyone else’s convenience I have pasted that link below.
PS: Your response to Max and his comments is just another example of misdirection and smoke. I am not sure about Max, although he seems very bright and intelligent as well as well versed in HSUS and its works, but I did not find your link to your own HSUS PR Site all that helpful. What I found was all smoke and mirrors. I worked Katrina too.
VIDEO CLIP Of the HSUS AND VICK CHICAGO “VISIT”
http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/08/25/michael-vick-speaks-in-humane-society-promotional-video/?icid=main|htmlws-main|dl5|link4|http%3A%2F%2Fnfl.fanhouse.com%2F2009%2F08%2F25%2Fmichael-vick-speaks-in-humane-society-promotional-video%2F
I am someone whose eyes have been opened far too wide about groups which I once believed in.
I thought the AKC was in business to help dogs and then learned the club is one of the major opponents to kennel reform because of the amount of money to be made by registering puppy mill dogs.
I thought money I gave to the Humane Society went to the cause for which I contributed it and that the group tried to save dogs, not lobby for their deaths.
My time and budget do not allow me to contribute to every organization so I have chosen aiding victims of animal abuse and shutting down puppy mills as the causes to which I donate my days and my money.
I expect every dollar raised for Kattina’s animal victims to be used for that purpose and every dime given to help the Vick dogs to go to their care.
I consider anything less than that fraud and hope that the groups which rate charities will take a hard look at the HSUS
Hi Max,
Please don’t be too harsh on yourself. I, along with thousands of people, tens of thousands I think, have also been fooled by the charities, as well as other organizations and business. I thought the same as you did about the AKC, HSUS and other charitable organizations.
As I became more active, I became more aware. I stood at puppy mill auctions, endured that horror with other rescuers, watched AKC representatives “buddy up’ with the very dog torturers themselves, and heard them claim, there is nothing we can do to stop the millers, if they have the proof we HAVE to register the dogs. Same with the HSUS, where are the dogs you save, where are the animals you save. I am not donating my money for glossy ads telling me to “be humane”, salaries for those who are proponents of killing rather than saving because it is “more expedient”, or help with rehabilitating dog murders and tortuers back into their glamorous and high paying lifestyle. In my own community, the HSs put down the pits and mixes, do not even give them a chance.
We have all been fooled. Thanks to sites like this, comments such as yours and others who are willing to step forward, and, in some way, the media attention to this Vick case, a little more light has been shed. It is up to us to keep spreading that light. There is nothing wrong with having been fooled, only that in having seen the light, one does not insist upon continuing to be blind. Thank Heaven, that those on this site, as well as many others people, have decided to be blind no longer.
I just received the following email – which was cross posted nation wide thru rescue. The lady who wrote this is well regarded in the rescue world.
Shall we all send Pacelle an email? Will sit and compose one, diligently tonight, and send it off tomorrow. Dumb bastard – he just does not get it.
Note that was cross posted nationwide from rescuer:
“I sent my feelings about Michael Vick being a spokesperson for HSUS and playing for the NFL again, and at the same time we have withdrawn any financial support to the HSUS now or when we die. The president and CEO of the HSUS society has written to me trying to convince me to change my mind. I am sharing this email I just got from him, and decided to let my convictions about this to be known. Everyone has an opinion of this matter and that is fine, but this is mine. You might care, you might not, but if you do please let HSUS know, they need to know. Here is Mr. Pacelle’s email address: WPacelle@hsus.org
M”
Email from rescuer to Pacelle:
“Mr. Pacelle: I do appreciate your response and I am sorry but I just can’t get past the horror that those poor dogs went through, and it’s my personal opinion when watching Vick in interviews, he showed absolutely no remorse for the animals he openly admitted to killing himself. I feel he was just sorry for the fact that he was caught. I have spent the last almost 7 years rescuing and saving animals from mills, shelters, private parties, some from abusive situations, some just because their owners were tired of them, many reasons. I can’t get those eyes out of my mind. It makes me sick to my stomach still and probably will for the rest of my life. I chose the HSUS to leave my estate to as I saw things from them that I was proud of and when I die, what little I have won’t make a big difference, but it would let me leave behind what I could to help for a while.
I don’t think Vick should be rewarded for his actions by allowing him back into the NFL, or to be a spokesperson for HSUS, and as you have decided to support him and use him, that is your chose. It is my choice to not be a part of supporting your decision. I don’t feel that using him publicly or allowing him to play for the NFL again, sends a good message to the public, and I don’t think he suffered enough like those poor dogs he killed.
M”
Response to rescuers email from Pacelle:
“I know you are very upset about the Michael Vick situation, and we shared some thoughts with you in response to your original email. I wanted to offer to speak with you directly about the matter. If you’d like to talk, please pass on your phone number and I’ll give you a ring. We at HSUS are absolutely committed to eradicating dogfighting, and I’d like to tell you how we’ve come to the decisions we have. We don’t want to lose your support.
All best,
Wayne Pacelle
President & CEO”
Hey Susie
Wow….I am impressed…you even got a personal invitation to have a call from Wayne “Himself”. Too Funny, as if we would know it really was Wayne on the other end of the line. Likely, another minion, just like the one who responded to my, and other friends’ e-mails regarding their new “Let’s Not Fight” ad. Mine came from a MEMBERSHIP and CUSTOMER LOYALTY REPRESENTATIVE. HA HA HA first – I am not a member and as for “Customer Loyalty”, this has got to come from someone who has years in retail. Last time I checked, charity supporters where not customers.
More of the same smoke and mirrors that HSUS is so good about passing out, but thought we could all share and compare notes. What is even funnier, and more maddening, is that HSUS really thinks we are not capable of recognizing BS and razzle dazzle. Check out the link to a HSUS video I am posting in response to Sarah’s comments about my CONFUSION. I am posting that with Max’s outstanding reply and information. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry…you will wonder why they even try. And one can get a far better idea of where all the PROGRAM MONEY goes. LOL
COPY OF RESPONSE RECEIVED TO MY E-MAIL TO HSUS:
Thank you for sharing your views on Michael Vick. Vick has made a long-term commitment to work with boys and young men at risk of involvement in dogfighting, and The Humane Society of the United States has agreed to allow him to speak to individuals engaged in our End Dogfighting campaign – one element of our full-out assault on this despicable industry.
We have not endorsed Vick; we have not enlisted him as a spokesperson for HSUS; and we have not advocated for his return to the NFL or his signing with the Eagles. Rather, just as he paid a million dollars for the care and rehabilitation of the dogs he abused, we believe he should continue to pay with his time – as a form of community service, which many ex-convicts engage in – to help others understand the real cruelty and consequences behind dogfighting.
We continue to battle the scourge of dogfighting on many fronts. HSUS is the only national animal protection group which has a dedicated unit working to stop dogfighting and cockfighting – we have crafted the nation’s laws on this issue, trained law enforcement personnel, conducted investigations, and changed the national landscape on these issues. If you disagree with us holding Vick accountable and putting him to work with at-risk kids, we sincerely hope that you will support other elements of our program – including a national tip line to report suspected dogfighting in your neighborhood, and a close collaboration with law enforcement authorities to bring the curtain down on organized fighting networks. The dogs who are trapped in the misery of this dead-end business deserve every effort we can give them.
It’s hard to make a definitive judgment about Michael Vick’s sincerity – only the passage of time can give us insight into his thinking. But, for now, we can be certain about his actions. And we believe that Vick’s actions can add something to our effort to eradicate dogfighting – and that’s our goal. When he spoke to at-risk youth in Atlanta and Chicago, the kids were on the edges of their seats. Many of the young men we spoke with said they have seen dogfights in their neighborhood, and when they walk down the street with their pit bulls, other people challenge them to fight their dogs. After hearing Michael Vick’s story, they say they are now going to be advocates against dogfighting, and are going to spread the word to their friends.
That’s the type of grassroots community-based outreach program we need. If Michael Vick reaches one young man and steers him away from dogfighting – or thousands of young men – then that helps our cause, and prevents dogs from being forced to fight. We all know the cruelty that is inherent in this horrid world of staged fights. The HSUS is on the front lines working to end dogfighting forever. We encourage anyone who shares our resolve to stand with us. The HSUS is committed to long-term change. The dogs deserve it.
We encourage you to look at our website to see images of young men and their dogs who have turned away from the culture of dogfighting. We are gaining on this dark underworld, and we won’t rest until it is ended. You, too, can help us in this campaign.
Sincerely,
Wayne Pacelle
President & CEO
The Humane Society of the United States
Peggy, actually, as I said, it was an email I got from one of the rescuers who is very prominent in my area. Wish is was me, but then my wording would not have been so kind.
Thanks Peggy for being so bold with Sarah in your posts. I have been overwhelmed with other things right now, I have not had to the time I want to respond to posts.
Thanks Peggy,I (like I’m sure many others) didn’t have a clue. I look at those figures and the tears are just rolling down my cheeks. When I see all the beautiful loving tusting little babies that could have been saved with that money. It is just unforgiveable. Sure everyone should get a paycheck but not that much, especially when they know what is happening to the whole reason that the organization exist. May God have mercy on their souls,because my mercy is reserved for the helpless creatures, that must suffer because af greed and indiference and all the other man made reasons and excuses : (
It just gets worse and worse. I cannot believe this. Now Vick gets to keep the $16+ million bonuses he had earned while he was with the Falcons…….while he was torturing and murdering those precious dogs!!
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12118_5688406,00.html
I’m just sick. Where is the justice??
I agree, Bonnie, I hope the NFL appeals the ruling. In his bankruptcy agreement, he has $20 million in debts to repay starting next year so hopefully he won’t be able to resume his previous lavish lifestyle of expensive houses, boats and high-end SUVs.
Now Tony Dungy, his chief apologist, is talking about him going to another team next year because Vick doesn’t like the limited role he’s been given with the Eagles. The teams Dungy mentioned are the Cleveland Browns, the St. Louis Rams, The Washington Redskins and the Buffalo Bills.
While as a Pennsylvanian and former Eagles fan, I would be thrilled for him to leave Philadelphia, I hope NFL fans in those cities, having advance warning Philadelphia didn’t get, will take the opportunity to let their teams know exactly what they think of paying millions to the dog killer.
Where is Justice? Not in the courts anymnore, it seems. And certainly not with those who prize publicity, money, fame (or maybe infamy) and position above honor, deceny, and humane morality. That includes, his so called spiritual advisor Tony Dungy, who decided it was time to get back on the fame route again.
As for the 16 mil, if the debt holders filed their paperwork properly, they will be able to eat that 16 mil up, or what is left of it after the IRS take, quicker than lightening. Let’s hope they are already standing in line. There may not be justice in this lifetime for Vick, or any of his kind, or his supporters. But there will be that day when JUSTICE will demand an answer and a payment. That does not mean that we shouled still not keep up the good fight, but in the end, I truly believe that justice will prevail here on this earth or elsewhere.
Aw, thanks Nancy! No, sometimes it’s anything but easy to write almost daily but the more awareness that can be created, the more people know and share, the more that can be done. There too much that people just do not realize, even now.
Hugs,
D.
That is sure the trueth, especially when the media doesn’t have the gumption to call a foot a foot, who allow all this avoiding and side stepping that convienently leave key imformation out.