To Forgive Or Not To Forgive.....I say No Part 1

Two words, Michael Vick.

To some he is a sports hero, an icon, a man with a redemption story, and someone who overcame insurmountable odds.

To me and many others, he is a sociopath, a felon, a sick and twisted individual and a sadistic monster.  He is a man, I stand corrected, as no man would do this, admitted as a child that his first dogfight as a child excited him yet still knew it was cruel.  Yet here we are

The first dog fight- Clip from Piers Morgan interview 7/18/12 (You Tube)

I have yet to understand how a man who fights dogs, tortures them in the most horrific of ways, and does so for in his words, "the adrenaline rush of it" become a hero?

But to some he has, to others he is a monster.  There is no middle ground when it comes to Michael Vick.

What can we say about our society when that is the caliber of a human being that people want to look up to and allow their children to look up to?  I for one am disappointed.   Are the sins of this man forgotten because he can throw a football?   This is what constitutes a hero in our society?  To the sports world it does.

You never hear anyone in the NFL arena speak the truth of what Michael Vick did.   It was not just dogfighting as they suggest.  The time he served in prison was because he lied to the grand jury and bank rolled a dog fighting operation.  Furthermore contrary to popular belief he NEVER served one day for what he did to those dogs.   The truth will not go away because someone refuses to tell it.  The truth of what Michael Vick did to those dogs will always be there.

Michael Vick Indictment

The proof is in court documents.  No one made up the things he did.  The "hero" who puts his hands on the football every Sunday... those are the same hands that held a dog's head down in water until it drowned, and the same hands that held on to the legs of a dog along with Quantis Phillips and repeatedly swung the dog over his head bashing its head to the ground over and over until it was dead.

For those of you who do not know you ask,  Why?   The reason, because they would not fight.  Unless they could fight they were useless to him.

Here is a quote from the Lost Dogs, a book written by Jim Gorant.  A book that documents the truth from the beginning to the end of the case against Michael Vick.  After reading it you will realize the real victims and the true hero's were the dogs and those who rescued them.

As [the little red dog] lay on the ground fighting for air, Quanis Phillips grabbed its front legs and Michael Vick grabbed its hind legs. They swung the dog over their head like a jump rope then slammed it to the ground. The first impact didn't kill it. So Phillips and Vick slammed it again. The two men kept at it, alternating back and forth, pounding the creature against the ground, until at last, the little red dog was dead.

Michael Vick is the epitome of Humanity's Shame

The Lost Dogs

When It All Began

As I stated in my introduction post I stated this blog began as an assignment.

 When thinking about what topic to blog about I decided to choose something I was knowledgeable about, something that meant a great deal to me.   It was not long until I realized that animal abuse is both an issue I am passionate about and and issue that others need to be made aware of its severity.

What better place than a blog.

I have always been compassionate where animals concerned.  I was raised being taught that animals are living creatures and they too deserve a level of respect.   I grew with that respect deepening.  If I had to choose an animal that would be my favorite, I guess I would have to say it is the dog.   Do not get me wrong I love all animals and have had many different ones throughout the years, but the dog, had a special place for me in my heart.

As I reached adulthood, I was more aware and even more perplexed at the way people felt about their pets.  People often thought of, and still think about their pets as property more than family. There is also  those who feel their pets are expendable once they got "bored" with them.   Sadly many people who have done this have the perception that because their dog is a good dog it will be adopted quickly. Sadly that is the exception and not the norm.   In reality their dog has a better chance of being put down than being adopted.

That factor alone is why I will always adopt my pets from shelters and rescues.

My passion for this cause has evolved in recent years.   The cases of animal abuse seem to be increasing and those who commit the crimes seem to find ways of not having to be accountable for those actions.

It is in my opinion,  that when our pets are looked at as property, especially in the eyes of the law, that is what exacerbates the situation.  When they begin to be looked at as family members, it is then we can begin to change the perception that people have.

Just a Dog

I have often been ridiculed because of my desire to help animals in need.   "What is the big deal" is what I often hear.  "It is just a dog" is their rationale to the abuse these animals must endure.

Animal abuse has been condoned for so long and pets have been looked upon as property.  This should not the case.

When a family makes the decision that they want a pet it should be because they want that pet as a family member.   These animals are not meant to be lawn ornaments who are chained and left outside. Nor are they disposable to be abused, tossed aside or left in the shelter because they just do not want the dog anymore.

These are living breathing creatures who have feelings and feel pain.  These are animals who want to be loved and love right back.  They do not judge you because of your weight, race or religion, and they do not care about your political preference.  They love you for you unconditionally plain and simple.

But somewhere along the line people have seemed to lose sight of that.   From professional football players who commit the most horrific crimes against these animals to the disgruntled spouse who feels murdering their family pet is a productive way to win an argument is sadly becoming more prevalent.

Thank goodness for the animal rescue community who fervently work together to rescue these animals and fight for laws that are starting to hold those who commit the crimes accountable for their actions instead of having animal abuse be looked at like a petty crime.  Yet any animal advocate will tell you it is not them who rescue these animals, it is the animals that rescue them.

In short Humanity's Shame is the human holding the leash not the animal on the other end of it.

Taken from Google Images

Introduction

This blog was created as a class project for school.  I soon realized it is not just a school project for me.  This is a passion.   Every day I pick up the paper, or I read a story on line about how someone intentionally inflicts pain on their pet or disposes of them like refuse for no good reason.   I have become a voice for these animals and most affectionally the pit bull.   They have no voice and therefore I have become one for them.   They need someone to speak for them and protect them from Humanity's Shame.