Second Chances?

The holidays are upon us, which means that I am finding myself weepy and misty eyed at the slightest hint of sentiment. It's at Christmas that I believe that anything is possible, that magic really exists and this year, I might actually hear hooves on the roof, win the lottery, or possibly experience world peace. I love this time of year because I feel like a kid again, full of wonder, innocence and delight, at least, until, some asshole like Michael Vick opens his mouth and craps all over my winter wonderland.

Michael Vick

We've all heard how Vick stated that he would "like to own a dog again", I vomit a little in my mouth, at the thought. Vick committed his crimes less than 4 years ago, and just because he is a gifted Quarterback, all seems forgiven.

Why as a society do we forgive people, simply because they have talent? Tiger Woods lies, cheats, takes a blow torch to the sanctity of marriage, loses everything, and then is back playing golf with endorsement deals less than six months after the scandal. It's the same story with Vick, who playing in the NFL two short years after pleading guilty to Sponsoring a Dog in an Animal Fighting Venture among other charges.

I would love to believe that Michael Vick is rehabilitated and that he understands that what he did was sick, sadistic and wrong. However if you spend 5 minutes glancing at Vick's Wikipedia page you find the following:

"At the request of federal authorities before sentencing, Vick agreed to deposit nearly $1 million in an escrow account with attorneys for use to reimburse costs of caring for the confiscated dogs...Experts said some of the animals will require individual care for the rest of their lives.^[58]During his bankruptcy trial, the U.S. Department of Labor complained that these funds were paid at least partially with unlawfully withdrawn monies which Vick held in trust for himself and eight other employees of MV7, a celebrity marketing company he owns."

Fight Scars

Let's get this straight, federal authorities demand Vick pay nearly a million dollars to cover the costs to house and rehabilitate Vick's own dogs.

Vick then, unlawfully, used funds from his celebrity marketing company's trust account, to cover some of the $900,000.00 demanded. Am I the only one left with a bad taste in her mouth? He breaks the law to pay for the last law he broke? At least the U.S. Department of Labor complained, the NFL took him off suspension and it was back to business for Vick.

I honestly believe that people can change, but not so soon, and with so few consequences. What happened to the concept of earning it back? I would completely support Vick owning a dog again, if he earned the right. If he proved, time and again, he could be trusted with an animal. If he took the steps, did the work and put in the sweat and tears. In fact, I desperately wish that was the "Michael Vick Story", facing his disgusting past and working to be a better man because of it. 

It isn't, and for those dogs that were hanged, electrocuted, drowned and beaten to death at Vick's property, justice has been denied. Fortunately, for the 47 surviving dogs, there was life after Vick. 

"25 were placed directly in foster homes, and a handful have been or are being adopted. Twenty-two were deemed potentially aggressive toward other dogs and were sent to an animal sanctuary in Utah. Some, after intensive retraining, are expected to move on to foster care and eventual adoption." Except from Washington Post Article - Saving Michael Vick's Dogs

It's rare to hear of a rehabilitation of this magnitude, simply because historically, fight dogs are quietly and quickly euthanized. Sentenced to death, assumed beyond help, because they were forced into a life of brutal violence.

Vick might be a Football V.I.P., but as far as human beings go, I want to scrape him off my shoe. The heroes that should have our attention, adoration and endorsement deals are the rescues, shelters, vets, trainers, volunteers, foster homes and adopters who work tirelessly to undo the effects of man's cruelty, indifference and stupidity. The people who considered the lives of these dogs and were wonderfully surprised at their resilience.

And, of course, the dogs themselves. Who, even after being brutalized by man, still work tirelessly to please us, to impress us and earn their kibble. It's a character trait, it seems, that Vick, sadly, does not possess. 

Want to save an animal? Adopt, Foster, Volunteer or Donate. 

Rescues and shelters are always in need of help. 




The Story of the Michael Vick Dogs