Thursday, August 13, 2009

Vick, Unbelievable

Well, we knew it was only a matter of time. But knowing it doesn't make it any easier to swallow: The Philadelphia Eagles have signed convicted dog abuser Michael Vick to their team.

ESPN reports that the first year of the deal is for $1.6 million deal with an option for the second year at $5.2 million.


Vick pleaded guilty to his crime only after his three co-defendants told of how he participated in the killing of dogs that didn't perform well in test fights by shooting, hanging, drowning or slamming them to the ground.

Our respect goes to Leo, the former Vick dog who turned his life around to become a therapy dog.


23 comments:

  1. cruelty pays. very well.
    shameful

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  2. Arrrgh! Maybe HSUS should charge Vick a finder's fee for helping him get the job.

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  3. *Sigh* Where is the vomit emoticon on these blogger things? That's about all I can say to Vick's being picked up by anyone right now and still be nice and professional. Unbelievable... I honestly wanted to have more faith in humanity and the NFL than what they've clearly shown here that they deserve.

    Leo... you keep doing what you're doing my man! YOU are one heck of a guy and I can only hope that one day I'll get to meet you in person and give both you and your "mom" the kudo's and hugs you deserve. We love you Leo!

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  4. Contact the Philadelphia Eagles and tell them what you think...

    http://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/fanzone/ContactUs.html

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  5. Great idea Anon!!
    New Hope you are welcome anytime at all!! Leo says thanks!

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  6. Oh God...
    I do have a theory though... My mother always said God works in mysterious ways.
    Now what if God is putting he-who-does-not-deserve-a-name out on the football field because that is the most dangerous place for him to be.
    This may be the best thing that we could hope for. Serious, serious injuries happen out on those fields.
    That sounds really awful I know but it's the only thing that helps me sleep at night.
    And God help us when he comes to Nashville.
    I'll be out there with my pitties protesting away.

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  7. I've seen the excerpts from 60 minutes....no real emotion if you ask me. This is just so hard to understand, why the Eagles did it? I thought he just might not get picked up or have to go to the UFL...its just so werid.

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  8. **Hugs** to LEO. I'm so sorry for this day. And I bow my head for the dogs that didn't make it, didn't get a second chance.

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  9. I was mumbling and grumbling while reading the article about the Eagles signing Vick to a one year contract and was suddenly stuck by the notion that I have to give him the same chance I gave my rescued Pit Bull. I want people to see her for the wonderful dog she is thanks to a second chance which included guidance, training, discipline and lots of love.
    I'm going to hope he means what he says - that he's sorry for what he did and wants a second chance to do better. If he does better - great, and if he doesn't that's on him. What he did will always shadow him along with another public fall from grace if he fails. I'd like to believe he has no choice but to go up from where he is.
    He can't bring the dogs back that were killed, perhaps he can stop someone else from going down the same road. Most of the dogs that were confiscated during the bust are safe and living much better lives - like Leo. Vick's fall from grace gave Leo a life he couldn't have imagined - and look how many lives he touches daily. This may not be a popular opinion - I think I have to live what I believe. I'm going to let Vick prove himself while feeling happy about Leo and his second chance.

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  10. Hey Maria!
    Thanks for posting!
    I don't disagree at all at giving someone a second chance. My question is whether or not he's remorseful and truly sorry for what he did. I'm not even saying he isn't I'm saying I don't see it. In this, I worry that our youth will get the idea you can SAY you're sorry but don't have to feel for the pain of sentient beings or really feel remorse and then you can just go back to what you were doing before without TRUE change. If he really WAS changing and was sorry I would feel completely different about this.
    This is the way I feel now. If things were to change and he began to evolve and did begin to feel something truly for the dogs then I would completely turn around on this and support this but I haven't seen that. I'm not closed off to the idea that he may come around, if I was that type of person I wouldn't be able to be a dog trainer. So I do see what you're saying, I just want Vick to see this too and I have questions about it.I'm not saying he can't change - I've just not seen it yet. My question is here to all is (and this is not a statement but a real question) should a goup allow him back in if they haven't actually seen it yet either?

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  11. Maria,
    Wonderful post. You're inspiring as is Moo and so many others who have gone beyond their past.

    Mary

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  12. Accepting this behavior will cause it to continue. Too bad.

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  13. Vick still lies about what he did. He hasn't owned up to anything. He only talks about what he plead guilty to, the financing of the operation. We'll see what happens.

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  14. Just so you know - I'm not lecturing anyone - see my smile =) I'm going to see how it plays out. I'm hoping for the best scenario - that he steps up and does the right thing.
    He probably has a pile of debt and his 1.something million dollar 1 year contract isn't going to go too far. It's up to him to prove himself. All eyes are upon him.

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  15. I see your smile Maria!

    I also see what you mean and agree that we have to be OPEN to the fact that he COULD change. I do see also though that for now it's to get back in the game so to speak and I think kids will see this.
    I'm not lecturing either. Ha! :)))))
    Marthina

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  16. Read this comment yesterday...pretty much sums up the feelings of many...

    Michael Vick has done nothing to earn his forgiveness let alone a second chance to play in the NFL. While the second chance is in the hands of Roger Goodell, we can all choose whether we forgive Vick, and continue to celebrate the NFL, their sponsors, or Vick's role in it.

    I agree, people should have the opportunity to earn forgiveness when they admit to their crime, sin, or transgression genuinely openly and honestly. However, rather than take responsibility for his actions, Michael Vick has consistently taken the path that he believed would lead to the least amount of punishment.

    All of these carefully scripted appearances, closed off to the public and media, unless of course invited by HSUS' Wayne Pacelle and Vick's PR team, just seem way too scripted and completely devoid of sincerity. I see his mouth moving, I hear him rattling off the same phrases each time...and for me, it's just like listening to Charlie Brown's parents. Doesn't make any sense at all, especially when you look into his eyes. I'm just not seeing any remorse in his eyes.

    If Michael Vick was truly sincere and remorseful, he would be talking to federal investigators. Vick has the information which can deal a crushing blow to dog fighters and dog fighting in the United States. He can make a profound impact on the lives of dogs being abused and tortured today. In fact, there could be a dozen arrests and closures of dog fighting rings by now thanks to the information he could potentially provide to HSUS and federal investigators. He knows who the dog fighters are. He knows where the dog fights are held. He knows where they are getting the dogs. He knows where they are getting the animals used as “bait.” He knows where they live. He knows where they keep the dogs. He knows where they buy and keep the instruments of torture. He can stop it. A person as deeply involved in the U.S. dog fighting racket as Vick could implicate many other dog fighters and provide valuable information that could shut them down.

    This is the commitment Wayne Pacelle should have extracted from Michael Vick. Once the investigations were complete, once the arrests were made, once Michael Vick testified against them in court, once they were convicted, once the dogs being tortured were rescued, once the whole bloody enterprise was shut down, then and only then, should anyone listen to talk of remorse or a second chance.

    Personally, I choose to forgo the NFL as long as Vick is playing in it. This is not a protest as much as a choice. Vick made his decisions, Goodell has made his decision, Philadelphia Eagles have made their decision, and now I have made mine.

    And interestingly enough, Philadelphia Eagles have pulled the plug on their corporate sponsors page...yes, it is now blank...hmmmmm...

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  17. Please write nice letters to the sponsors of the Eagles and protest their advertising. The only way to make a statement is to hit them in the pocket book.

    Verizon, American Red Cross, Comcast, Dunkin Donuts, ....

    Lincoln Financial Group
    WYSP 94fm
    ACME
    Budweiser
    Miller Lite
    NovaCare Rehabilitation
    Pepsi
    Sovereign
    US Airways
    Verizon Wireless

    Corporate Partners:
    7Eleven
    AAA
    Aflac
    Best Buy
    CJ’s Tire
    Chrysler
    Comcast
    Dietz & Watson
    Dunkin Donuts
    Gatorade
    Geico
    Heineken
    Idearc Media
    Independence Blue Cross
    Jeep
    Taco Bell/KFC
    MasterCard
    Motorola
    Pepcid
    Pennsylvania Lottery
    The Inquirer/Daily News
    American Red Cross
    ReMax
    RiteAid
    SCA
    Snapple
    Tastycake
    TEVA Specialty Pharmaceuticals
    Jefferson Universal Hospitals
    Waste Management

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  18. I agree with Anon. I see lips moving and so on but not seeing real sincerity.

    Writing nice letters is going to be the way to go here IMO.
    Marthina

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  19. I will not be rooting for the NFL or Vick.

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  20. We'll be talking more after 60 minutes tomorrow.
    Marthina

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  21. I haven't seen any remorse coming from him, but actions speak louder than words. Let's see how much time he spends working with HSUS against dog fighting.

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  22. Vick showed no remorse at all on the 60 Minutes show. It seemed as though he was just saying things he was told to say. I felt like he needed a director, "ok now, say it with feeling Mike".

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