Today it was announced that Mike Vick signed a two year deal with the Philadelphia Eagles. He stands to make $6.8 million between the two years with $3 million in incentives. This has caused quite an uproar with dog lovers all over the country. Back in 2007, Vick was sentenced for running a dog fighting ring and THEN lying about it. He used pit bulls to run this operation, who actually happen to be very friendly dogs. Pit bulls have gotten a bad rap as being mean and aggressive animals due to the people that make them that way. Any dog can be made to be mean, but for some reason pit bulls seem to be the dog of choice for any type of dog fighting rings. No matter the breed, dogs are wonderful pets and companions for humans and love unconditionally. Vick along with brother and others gave the opposite to these wonderful animals by treating them in no way any animal should ever be treated. The dogs that underperformed and weren't "good enough" to fight were electrocuted, drowned, hung and slammed to the ground. All of these tactics just to kill them. Do we do this to wrestlers or any other athletes who underperform? NO. So why do this to animals?
At first Vick denied knowing anything about the ring. Then we found out he funded it and ran it. At the time he finally said that he had used "poor judgement" and was ready to take on the consequences he would face and actually accept responsibility for his actions. I wonder what thought even entered his head to begin with to want to start a dog fighting ring to begin with?
He was suspended indefinitely from the NFL and now that he has done his time, Roger Goodell conditionally lifted his suspension. Well isn't that convenient.
Even though Vick became available to play for any team, so many teams did not want to take him on their teams. Good call considering all the bad press they'd probably get for taking him on. But the Eagles coach believes that since he has paid his debt to society, he deserves a second chance.
Let's talk about this for a second. The inhumane acts that Vick performed on these animals were unwarranted and unbelievable. No one could imagine it but yet it happened. I'm sure Vick had a lot of time to think while he was in prison. Think about what he did and why it was wrong. This Sunday on the show "60 Minutes" you can see an interview with Vick where he will talk about the hurt that he feels towards what he did and how he should've been proactive in taking on the role to stop it but didn't. I guess we'll have to watch Sunday to see how sincere he really is but let's assume for a moment that prison gave him the time to think about it and that he really is sorry. Let's say that he has paid his debt to society. That's all fine and good as far as society goes, but how has he paid his debt to the dogs? He can't bring them back to life and cannot undo what has already been done. So where does that leave the animals?
Here's an idea Vick. Since you've already gone through bankruptcy and are standing to make millions between your contract and endorsements and whatever else comes your way, why don't you donate money to the foundations that deal with dogs? How about throwing some cash over to the S.P.C.A. and other places like shelters and specifically to dog groups that focus on the pit bulls? The dogs you killed cannot come back but your money can certainly help save dogs that have a chance worth saving. PUT YOUR MONEY WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS VICK and literally pay your dues to the animals.
Personally I am still trying to figure out how someone, a human being, can intentionally hurt an animal. I really don't get it. How can anyone do that?? I am still pissed that any of that happened to any of those dogs but in reality, nothing can bring them back.
The two years that Vick served doesn't really matter either, he could've stayed in prison another fifty years and it wouldn't bring the dogs back. So if society sees it that he has "paid his debt to society" then so be it because to me, no prison time means anything. They should've done to Vick what he did to the dogs so he could feel the pain he caused to them. Animals don't have voices to stick up for themselves so we have to be their voices.
But let's say society has been taken care of, now it's time to give back to the dogs. Michael Vick should HAVE to pay to these dog foundations as part of his "sentence" for what he did. And I hope that he is NEVER allowed to have any pet of any kind as long as he lives. If he wants to play football, go ahead, play football, make the big money but then get your check book out and write checks to dog foundations and make those checks BIG!!!
I guess we will see how things will unfold but there are also a lot of football fans out there who don't think he should play again and in fact the public relations team for the Eagles were even surprised when it was announced that Vick would be playing on the team. Why are so many people surprised and upset? It's because these people have souls that tell them they don't want to have anything to do with someone like Vick who would do what he did. I know I certainly would not want to be associated with anyone like him. It goes against my morals and how I treat living things like humans and animals. But I don't work for the NFL or the Philadelphia Eagles. And I don't have to deal with Vick. And I am happy about that.
But the good news is that the dogs that were alive when they busted Vick have been rehabilitated and found homes so thank goodness for that. A lot of them were nervous and afraid of humans and it took some time for them to accept that the people they were with were loving and not going to hurt them. I'm very happy that these dogs are being loved the right way and taken care of the right way.
So let's stay tuned for Sunday's interview and see what he has to say. And hey Vick, here's a little saying I want to say to you:"You can't run with the big dogs if you pee like a puppy"...so man up and as soon as you start receiving your paychecks for playing ball, start writing checks out to the dog foundations and keep them coming because although I think you have no soul, I absolutely will take advantage of this situation in trying to save the dogs that can be saved. And always remember one thing, dog lovers are loyal and I don't care if you're 90 years old, we will never forget what you did. But trying to save dogs with your monetary donations will make it sting a little less....and I mean a little.....
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