Michael Vick's legacy--dog finally has a good home

[DWB1960]

Originally Posted by rcarreiro

Also, do not believe any of the hype about dog fighting. Very few people grow up around it and it is certainly not an everyday thing or a common occurrence in 99.9% of the country.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dog_fig..._United_States

Rhonda Evans is a sociologist and associate professor in the department of criminal justice at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette who has published four academic articles on dog fighting. She stated in a story published by the Palm Beach Post that she had found that owners of high-dollar fighting dogs spanned all walks of life and social classes, with a common link of "a machismo mentality." Evans said "For them, tough dogs are a symbol of manhood... and by winning, the dogs build up their owners' ego. They see it as a valid, legitimate sport that is no worse than boxing or football."[19]
Rap and other urban music also seem to glorify dog fighting. Jay-Z shows dogs being prepared for a fight in the uncensored version of his music video, 99 Problems. A powerful-looking pit bull is on the cover of a CD by rapper DMX that is titled Grand Champ. "Grand Champ" is said to be a reference to a dog that has won five dogfights.
Madison Avenue advertising firms have capitalized on the same theme. When Nike was criticized about an ad featuring a growling pit bull and Rottweiler about to face off, the company denied the ad encourages dog fighting. The representative went on to state, however, "People have to understand the youth culture we cater to. Our market is the urban, edgy, hip-hop culture."



And I'm not giving Vick a pass. I'm just not going to single the guy out as the "King of All things wrong with animals being killed as sport".

[stratzrus]

Originally Posted by rcarreiro

So you cant call Vick out because other people are doing it?

What Vick did was reprehensible, but again, I see nothing about animal cruelty around here until Vick's name is mentioned, and then all the outrage is focused on Vick, not those who continue to perpetuate the atrocities.

Call Vick out all you want, but it isn't helping the dogs that are still being hurt.

[airwarrior]

Originally Posted by Donnie B.

How do you all feel about bull fighting which is a way of life in Spain and Mexico and a lot of other places?

As long as it is still practiced, I think bullfighters should be gored more often.

[rob2001]

Originally Posted by stratzrus

This is what I don't understand.

Why all the hate for Vick and not a word about the hundreds of other people still involved in dog fighting? No call for a special investigation, no call for funding for prosecution, no call for a national zero tolerance policy, not a word about dog fighting for months until Vick's name is mentioned, then total outrage.

I don't get it.

Agree. I think it's safe to say Mike isn't doing this any more....

[DaveG]

I saw a show a while back that showed the 44 Vick dogs being rescued, and followed some of the dogs as they recovered & were adopted out. There were only a few out of the 44 that had to be put down, the rest were felt to be adoptable with some rehab. Many were adopted out fairly quickly, and were doing great with their new families. Best Friends Shelter got the most severe cases.

Fortunately, Pits are amazingly resilient and incredibly social dogs. Our newest pup, Bella Grace, has too many scars to count, and was either beaten by a previous owner, or used as a bait dog. She's one of the sweetest dogs I've every seen, loves people and other dogs, and it boggles my mind that someone could mistreat her:

[rob2001]

Originally Posted by rcarreiro

You simply cannot compare this to all the sick shit Vick did. I see where you are going, but it aint the same thing. The problem with Vick is that it goes WAY beyond just putting two dogs in a ring to kill each other. You are talking about torture, rape, killing, drowning, electrocution and much more.

OK, I admit I didn't hear every gory detail of what happened with Vick........rape?

[jimfog]

Originally Posted by rcarreiro

Im not defending bullfighting, but giving Vick a pass because other people do sick shit does not equate with me.

Who gives him a pass?? No one has ever said what he did wasn't wrong. Putting it in context doesn't excuse it.

Plus, the man did 2 years of jail time and lost countless millions of $$$$. I'd say he paid for his crimes (as he should have).

I'm a big believer in consequences for one's actions.....but I'm also a believer in a chance at (circumspect and cautious) redemption and forgiveness.

I realize that's not a very popular viewpoint in today's all or nothing society.

[Route234]

Originally Posted by Donnie B.

And I'm not giving Vick a pass. I'm just not going to single the guy out as the "King of All things wrong with animals being killed as sport".

No one singled anyone out, that is what you dont get. Im still trying to figure out what your point is. You agree with what people are saying about Vick but yet you are upset about people "singling him out"? What does that even mean?

Again, what about Vick says to you that he is not a piece of shit? Why do people calling out a guy for dog fighting have to defend themselves to you when you agree with the fact that dog fighting is sick and crazy?

So everything we say something about some sick bastard we have to add in some bullshit about what everyone else is doing? It makes no sense.

[DWB1960]

Originally Posted by jimfog

Who gives him a pass?? No one has ever said what he did wasn't wrong. Putting it in context doesn't excuse it.

Plus, the man did 2 years of jail time and lost countless millions of $$$$. I'd say he paid for his crimes (as he should have).

I'm a big believer in consequences for one'sactions.....but I'm also a believer in a chance at (circumspect and cautious) redemption and forgiveness.

Not to mention the high profile aspect of his case brought dog fighting to the attention of a lot of people who had blinders on. So without trying, Vick's legacy will probably end up being that more dogs were saved because of him than hurt - I'm not giving him credit for that, but it bears saying.

[Route234]

Originally Posted by rob2001

OK, I admit I didn't hear every gory detail of what happened with Vick........rape?

They had a thing (for lack of better words) that held the female dogs in place so that the male dogs could rape them. It was actually called like a "rape harness" or something along those lines. ESPN showed pictures of it at one time....

[MudPies]

So without trying, Vick's legacy will probably end up being that more dogs were saved because of him than hurt

Our hero!

[dohootowl]

Dogfighting and cockfighting rings are uncovered and the perps prosecuted all across this country. Vick just happened to be a high profile case. That's why in my OP, I stated "people", not just Vick.

And there is a difference between bullfighting and the dogfighting. The dogs go through constant torture for however many days, weeks or months that they are alive. Bulls endure the torture for only a brief period of time. And at least the bull has somewhat of a chance to inflict some pain of his own. I think bullfighting is barbaric, but it is a country's tradition--it takes some type of pressure to get them to put a halt to it, and no one has been willing to step up and say "this is wrong". I don't know why this hasn't happened yet. It's time for Spain and other bullfighting countries to change.

[Roadeye]

He's nothing but a POS punk. Had potential, but blew it. Next.

[dohootowl]

Originally Posted by Donnie B.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dog_fig..._United_States

Rhonda Evans is a sociologist and associate professor in the department of criminal justice at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette who has published four academic articles on dog fighting. She stated in a story published by the Palm Beach Post that she had found that owners of high-dollar fighting dogs spanned all walks of life and social classes, with a common link of "a machismo mentality." Evans said "For them, tough dogs are a symbol of manhood... and by winning, the dogs build up their owners' ego. They see it as a valid, legitimate sport that is no worse than boxing or football."[19]
Rap and other urban music also seem to glorify dog fighting. Jay-Z shows dogs being prepared for a fight in the uncensored version of his music video, 99 Problems. A powerful-looking pit bull is on the cover of a CD by rapper DMX that is titled Grand Champ. "Grand Champ" is said to be a reference to a dog that has won five dogfights.
Madison Avenue advertising firms have capitalized on the same theme. When Nike was criticized about an ad featuring a growling pit bull and Rottweiler about to face off, the company denied the ad encourages dog fighting. The representative went on to state, however, "People have to understand the youth culture we cater to. Our market is the urban, edgy, hip-hop culture."



And I'm not giving Vick a pass. I'm just not going to single the guy out as the "King of All things wrong with animals being killed as sport".

No, but you should consider him the poster boy.

[jimfog]

Originally Posted by MudPies

Our hero!

Nice selective quoting.