Animal rights organizations are saying that the announcement today that Falcons quarterback Michael Vick will plead guilty to federal conspiracy charges related to the Bad Newz Kennels dog fighting ring will send a message to anyone else involved in dog fighting.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals said the Vick case proves that law enforcement takes dog fighting seriously.
if a celebrity with Vick's money and teams of lawyers has to serve time for dog fighting, then anyone else who fights dogs had better head for the hills.
The statement from the Humane Society of the United States said the Vick case has made more Americans aware of dog fighting:
"This case has opened America's eyes and jolted its conscience," said Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The HSUS. "The resolution of this federal case is no cause for celebration-many dogs suffered terribly, and a gifted athlete and his bright career have been damaged, perhaps irreparably. The only good that can come from this case is that the American people dedicate themselves to the task of rooting out dogfighting in every area infected by it."It's incredibly difficult to measure how prevalent dog fighting is, but the Humane Society estimates that 40,000 Americans are involved in the activity. It seems likely that the Vick case will cause some of those people to decide that the risk of serious legal consequences outweighs whatever pleasure they get from pitting two dogs against each other.
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Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 4)
1. Give me a break people. Dogs!!! there are people killing kids and other humans, and they get less press and hatred then this guy. Hello, there's a war going on. shouldn't we be more worried about that then dogs fighting. Yea, it's mean, but so is sending our young men and women to fight a war that's not ours, and the price of gasoline, the jobless rate,and lack of health care for all who need it. I don't see anyone picketing about that. Face it, Michael Vick is a fool for jepordizing his Career for some stupid pass time. Now maybe he'll get the chance to live like the rest of us do. Broke, unemployed, and w/ healthcare.
Posted at 7:43PM on Aug 20th 2007 by tina r
2. Know what I love? While reading this article which summarizes as "Football player caught dog fighting; going to serve time", on the right side of the page there is a picture of a bullfighter with 3 knives shoved into a bull in Mexico. Its not okay to fight dogs in America, but feel free to stab bulls in Mexico. Now keep it straight!
Posted at 7:44PM on Aug 20th 2007 by Amy
3. Give me a break people. Dogs!!! there are people killing kids and other humans, and they get less press and hatred then this guy. Hello, there's a war going on. shouldn't we be more worried about that then dogs fighting. Yea, it's mean, but so is sending our young men and women to fight a war that's not ours, and the price of gasoline, the jobless rate,and lack of health care for all who need it. I don't see anyone picketing about that. Face it, Michael Vick is a fool for jepordizing his Career for some stupid pass time. Now maybe he'll get the chance to live like the rest of us do. Broke, unemployed, and w/ healthcare.
Posted at 7:46PM on Aug 20th 2007 by tina r
4. They need to take his ass and hang him, strangle him, electricute him, and drown his ugly self and see how it feels to be tortured. what is wrong with people was his fame and fortune not enough.
Posted at 7:47PM on Aug 20th 2007 by Brenda Holseth
5. There is something called law here in the United States. It is there to protect us all. Even animals. The crimes committed by these people were cold blooded and disgusting. If they commit these acts against animals without guilt could you or your children be next? They broke the law, pay the price. I think they should get more time and in the football player's case, an infinite ban on playing any professional sport. Dirt Bag!!!!
Posted at 8:02PM on Aug 20th 2007 by KB
6. today's society is something of the dark ages. When people kill another for control. I've noticed alot of this attitude in our inner- city people. They dont seem to think any of this type of cruelty is
anything unusual. Even with the kids constantly beating each other. Killings from gangs,neihborhood thugs, the boyfriend and etc. It's sad to see our society, which once was so great. Fall too such ignorance.
Posted at 8:15PM on Aug 20th 2007 by scott thompson
7. Michael Vick should be banned from the NFL and ever owning an animal as long as he lives. Much of America is sitting back to see if the NFL will do what is right and ban him from ever playing again. Obvisously being the 2nd highest paid NFL player wasn't exciting enough for him - heck, gambling on and watching two animals tare each other a part wasn't exciting enough for him - he wanted it all - including being a part of torturing these dogs until death when they didn't perform up to his standards! I like how he is "taking responsability" for his actions - by blaming those he hung around and their bad influence in his life. Come on - give me a break!!! I don't think prison time or fines is near enough punishment. Thank God this horrible criminal act is now a felony. Maybe with Michael Vick getting time, it will make others think twice. We can only hope.
Posted at 8:25PM on Aug 20th 2007 by Marsha
8. To the first person who commented on this article, Tina, I believe is her name: She said, " Give me a break people!Dogs!!"
SHE SOUNDS LIKE A LOW LIFE DOG HERSELF....I THINK THEY ARE REFERRED TO AS BITCHES!
YES, TINA, DOGS!!! They have BRAINS!! They have MEMORIES!! They have HEARTS WITH LOVE AND COMPASSION AND FORGIVENESS !! SOMETHING A LOT OF HUMAN BEINGS DON'T HAVE!! I've known of dogs who DID MORE FOR HUMAN BEINGS THAN OTHER HUMAN BEINGS HAD EVER DONE !!
Sure there are human beings killing other human beings, and a war going on.....and they're all being caused by people who like to be CRUEL, EVIL, AND INHUMANE, WHETHER IT IS AN ANIMAL TODAY, OR A HUMAN TOMORROW!!! WAKE UP, GAL ! INHUMANITY IS INHUMANITY !! LOCK IT BEHIND BARS !!!
Posted at 8:36PM on Aug 20th 2007 by Joe
9. First of all i would like to say, truly i love animals as i have pets of my own whom,i would never harm however, i do belive vick should have to pay a fine and be suspended for at least six months to give him time to think about his actions and the actions of the people he thought were his boys, i do not agree with serving jail time esp. when you have murderers and rapist that go without jail time, i value human life first above animals and if we are going to be a society that wants to condemn a person more harsh over an animal over human life, then its no wonder the war is still so popular. Vick you was wrong and you know it but to be punshed as a murderer i do not agree.
Posted at 8:39PM on Aug 20th 2007 by renee
10. Some people think they are above the law. This proves he isn't! His true character is now exposed. For anyone who says this doesn't sound like something he would do just doesn't know the real Michael Vick. Money can't buy everything. I would already be in jail, like most of us. Makes me sick to think anyone could feel sorry for this low life. About time these money-hungry thugs get what they deserve!
Posted at 9:18PM on Aug 20th 2007 by Jamie Parker
11. US HUMANS SHOULD BE MORE LIKE ANIMALS, ESPECIALY CATS AND DOGS. JUST GIVE THEM LOVE AND KINDNESS THEY WILL ALWAYS GIVE BACK THE SAME. ANIMALS DON'T START WARS,THEIR NOT TO BLAME FOR UNEMPLOYMENT,THE PRICE
OF GASOLINE, OR NOT BEING ABLE TO AFFORD HEALTHCARE. I AGREE WE SHOULD TAKE A STRONG STAND ON ALL THESE ISSUES, BUT WHEN A BAD GUY IS CAUGHT LIKE MICHAEL VICK WHO IS NOT ABOVE THE LAW, HE SHOULD BE PUNISHED. WHAT HE MAY GET IS NOT ENOUGH. IF WE DID HIS CRIME THEY WOULD THROW THE BOOK AT US. DONA
Posted at 9:19PM on Aug 20th 2007 by DONA
12. It is a known fact that persons who kill and maim animals are a large percentage of those who would also kill if looked at the wrong way. The same people we are at war with also don't have respect for any type of life. For me they are the one and same type of people.
Posted at 9:24PM on Aug 20th 2007 by dave
13. To Tina R - typical, somehow you have managed to take the subject of Michael Vick and his callous behavior and turn it around to make a negative political statement against our President and our United States Armed Forces (by the way - my daughter is a part of our United States Military). Furthermore, if you hate George Bush, you have a lot in common with the people who are trying to kill us. Also, regarding your comment on unemployment - the unemployment rate is at an ALL TIME RECORD LOW.
Posted at 9:27PM on Aug 20th 2007 by Marsha
14. so you want to do someting about his future? You want to make him pay for his crime financially? Send a letter to the commissioner of the NFL. Copy and paste this link to the humane society and let him know that you want michael vick to be banned from the nfl based on his horrific treatment of dogs...
https://community.hsus.org/campaign/US_2007_dogfighting_nfl2
Posted at 9:29PM on Aug 20th 2007 by Heath
15. MR. VICK, YOU ARE A CRUEL, PERSON WHO EVIDENTLY HAS TOO MUCH TIME ON YOUR HANDS IT GOES TO SHOW YOU THAT MONEY DOES NOT GIVE YOU CLASS...HOW CAN YOU TAKE THESE POOR ANIMALS AND MAKE THEM YOUR VICTIMS OF SICK ENTERTAINMENT. READ THE RESULTS OF THE AOL POLL MR. VICK.. NO ONE WANTS YOU!!! YOU ARE THROUGH GO THROW YOURSELF IN A LION PIT AND IF YOU HAPPEN TO LIVE.. MAYBE SOMEONE MIGHT FIND IT IN THEIR HEART TO SHOOT YOU IN THE HEAD...
Posted at 9:34PM on Aug 20th 2007 by karen
16. Anyone who can train dogs to kill each other, who can organize a gambling site, and fight dogs is capable of far worse. The lack of compassion and moral ambiguity necessary to do these acts could make anyone a rapist, a murder, a child molester, or go knows what else. If marijuana is a gateway drug, cruelty to animals is a gateway to even more cruel and sick behavior. Any organization that employs Michael Vick deserves no business from me or anyone. The man has continuously lied to his fans, his team owner, and to the NFL, not only about this, but about what happened at the airport. Take out the trash, Mr. Blank and Mr. Goodell. May Vick go broke and his family split for what he has done and what he will probably do in the future.
Posted at 9:36PM on Aug 20th 2007 by Adam
17. WAY TO GO JOE !!!!!!!
Posted at 9:37PM on Aug 20th 2007 by DONA
18. Such is the state of our world today! Cruelty to animals and humans alike! I am not an animal owner but I cannot condone the murdering of any life for sport or reasons such as Mr. Vicks. I do believe that his pockets are being targeted by the authorities. And I do say that his friends are cowards because they should've took the blame!
Posted at 9:48PM on Aug 20th 2007 by kevpomp@hotmail.com
19. Are their people getting away with worse crimes than Michael Vick? Sure, there are. Does that mean Vick shouldn't be punished?
As any second grader will tell you, "two wrongs don't make a right."
Instead of caterwauling that Vick should be free, why not demand that all criminals be brought to justice.
Posted at 10:01PM on Aug 20th 2007 by nickstoli
20. Send Vick in the bull pit with all 53 of the dogs and let the punishment fit the crime. As for sending troops into this senseless war, these individuals had a choice and took responsibility and signed up to go into the armed forces, these poor animals didn't have a choice and are being tortured and locked up in cages. People who abuse children are abusers and guilty of violence. People who abuse animals are no less guilty of violence. It is not who or what they abuse, they are vicious, disgusting, lawless scum and it is they that need to be caged so as to stop their violence directed at others. Good Riddance
Posted at 10:28PM on Aug 20th 2007 by Lyne