My Questions for Michael Vick. . .

[TBF]

Michael Mountain was president of Best Friends Animal Society when they were given 22 of the dogs who’d been rescued from Vick’s dog-fighting kennels – the ones who were most traumatized and needed the greatest care. As Vick's release date from prison approached, Vick’s PR people called to see if Best Friends would like to invite Vick to the sanctuary as part of his rehabilitation. He turned them down, explaining that it would not be good for the dogs to be visited by their tormentor. He explains that apart from that they also "wanted to see, at very least, some true remorse on his part – not just a public relations campaign."

On his current humanitarian website, ZOE, Michael writes "Rehabilitation starts with acknowledging what you did. So here are some of the questions someone still needs to ask and that Vick needs to answer. To the best of my knowledge, no one has ever asked Vick any of these in a formal, public interview. And if the HSUS is so close to Vick, and they really believe he’s a changed man and that he should have a dog, then they need to start by sitting their protégé down in front of a camera and doing the interview that needs to be done, once and for all.

Here are a few of the questions to get started with:

“Michael, describe to us some of the things that took place at your kennels. Let’s start with the dogs who had no teeth when they were rescued. Who pulled them out and why?”

“Many of the dogs were so terrified of people, when they were rescued, that they wouldn’t even walk on a leash for months? What had you done to them to make them so afraid?”

“Tell us exactly what you did with water to the dogs. Did you drown them? Explain how and why.”

“And what were the electric cables for? Did you electrocute them? Again, explain how and why.”

“Please describe what a rape stand is and what you used those for?”

“Tell us, in detail, some of the things you personally did to the dogs yourself. Tell us what, in retrospect, was the worst thing you ever did.”

Only when someone asks questions like these and gets some real answers – or, better yet, Vick steps up himself and tells us the truth without having to be prompted – can any true rehabilitation begin. Until then, we don’t want to hear any more apologetic drivel about how he’s a changed man."

Excerpted today from a much longer post by Michael: http://www.zoenature.org/2010/12/my-questions-for-michael-vick/


(edited to add photo of crime scene - Vick's kennels)

[gratuitous]

1. Those aren't the questions Michael Vick or his fans like

They prefer questions like, "How great are you, and is it as cool as it looks when you throw a touchdown pass?" or "Is winning a football game a matter of life and death, or is it more important than that?"

[AndrewP]

2. Exactly. Not a deep group. n/t

[TBF]

4. I don't love that he returned to the NFL, but I am willing to concede that he is good at playing

football - and it keeps him gainfully employed. So I've come to terms with him playing again. I can't come to terms, however, with him demanding to own a dog again after what he did. Personally I'd lock him up and throw away the key, but Michael Mountain's approach is far more adult so I thought I'd share it. I would love to hear Vick's replies to these questions.

[niyad]

8. a former friend, who I thought knew better, thinks it is okay for him to play ball, because, after

all, it is the only thing he knows, and he was really a sad, unknowing person who just didn't understand what he was doing to those dogs.

[TBF]

9. I have a different reason for supporting his career. With his violent

tendencies I'd hate to see him unemployed. How could one not understand torturing and killing another being? Folks are alarmingly good at coming up with excuses for the bad behavior of celebrities.

[HelenWheels]

3. Women on the View

Were stumbling all over each other to say it should be okay for Vick to have a dog now. He's done his time and says he is sorry. He's crying because his daughter wants to know why they can't have a dog. Gee, maybe he should tell her.

[TBF]

5. He's actually allowed to get one in 2012 -

which I didn't know until I did a search to find out how old his daughter is. Now that I know she's three I feel even more strongly that this has absolutely nothing to do with having a dog - this is Michael Vick trying to be sympathetic (all PR). And I can't figure out why he should EVER have a pet again.

Here's the story from CBS that lays out his parole conditions - http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-20025938-504083.html

[cottonseed]

14. So the reason he was talking about a Yorkie was a secret plot to start a new dog fighting ring?

With Yorkies..? And why are you searching about information Michael Vick's daughter?

[TBF]

16. I searched to find her age. I have two children myself and know that 3 is not an age when

they are coherent enough to sit around begging for a dog (my daughter at five certainly did though). This is a publicity stunt. The breed of dog does not matter, with his violent tendencies I would not entrust ANY animal to his care.

[Goblinmonger]

35. Yes it is.

Plenty of 3-year-old want a puppy.

I think what Vick did to those dogs was horrible, but the "he's a sociopath" is a little overplayed. Yes, I watch enough Criminal Minds to know that killing dogs is the first step for many serial killers but I also know enough that it isn't a 100% correlation (not to even get into the realm of causation) and what was happening with Vick, while horrible, was not step one in his sociopathic rampage against society.

[butterfly77]

30. I won't stumble...

he should have a dog like anyone else who has done the same thing. I could care less about a damn dog. Many dogs are and have been treated better than people in america. Where are the tears for the children who have been attacked by these monsters.

[superduperfarleft]

32. Um.....thanks for sharing?

[lukasahero]

6. I cancelled my montly donations to HSUS over this

I'm adding it to my donations to Best Friends instead.

Thank dog someone knows what contrition really involves.

[niyad]

7. why has nobody asked him these questions? WHY is there ANY discussion about the possibility of him

EVER owning another dog? using his daughter as some kind of sympathy ploy is just disgusting.

(I thought I had heard everything about the vick case, but the words "rape stand" just horrified me. I don't even want to know what that means, because then I would be of a mind to do something in kind to ANYONE who would do that to ANY animal. personally, I hope he rots in hell. I don't give a damn about his ability with a ball--he should get the same treatment he dished out to those poor dogs.)

[TBF]

10. The most vulnerable in our society, children and animals, have few legal rights -

which is actually very telling about our society as a whole unfortunately.

[lunatica]

25. The female pit bulls were strapped to them so they couldn't avoid coitus

and the female dogs' teeth were pulled so they couldn't bite and maim the male dogs while in the process.

Facts are a good thing to know. Not pleasant and pretty, but good to know.

[CitizenLeft]

11. “Please describe what a rape stand is and what you used those for?”

Oh no. Please tell me...

My Dalmatian rescue dog Chloe had been removed from her home by the police. She was sickeningly emaciated and her growth permanently stunted. She had rectal tears. Years had to pass before she even let me touch her tail without flinching. She was so traumatized that she was declared unadobtable at the age of ONE. ONE years old - too hostile to adopt. She was scheduled to be put down. We brought her home anyway. Her hostility - growling and snapping - was entirely bluff. The moment we let her out of her crate, she scrambled onto my lap, whimpering and trembling and terrified of my other two dogs, who were thoroughly confused by her terror. And she had a terrible fear of men. Women, she was fine. Men terrified her.

I lost Chloe in February, at the age of 15. She remained what most would call a little neurotic for most of her life, yet her will to live for every moment - play with me, PLAY WITH ME NOW, DAMMIT - was strong right to the end. I couldn't have wished for a sweeter, more loving, goofy, affectionate - and non-aggressive - dog. My sweet kooky little nuthead is sorely missed.

I wish there were a hell, so that this bastard could burn in it for fucking eternity.

[TBF]

12. Illicit supplies found in Michael Vick's "kennels" -

http://www.slate.com/id/2170734/

"A federal grand jury indicted Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick on Tuesday, charging him with taking part in a dogfighting operation. When police raided his rural property in Virginia in April, they discovered dozens of pit bull terriers. They also found a "rape stand," a pry bar, treadmills, and a fight pit, all of which authorities said pointed to the illicit sport. What is this equipment?"

Read the story for more detail, including some links to photos. It is revolting.

[CitizenLeft]

15. yes - revolting.

That was painful to read.

I wonder if that's what happened with my Chloe, except that the other dog that asshole owner had was a huge Rotweiler and she was a 20-pound malnourished Dal. Was he trying to breed her, or... WTF? Rectal tears?

I can't stand this.

[beam me up scottie]

17. Chloe was very young and probably only had dim memories of her abuse.

What she experienced when she lived every day with you was pure joy. And love. Family. Security. And again, love.

I know it's not much comfort but I believe that's what matters.

[TBF]

18. Agree with that -

we adopted a Lab this summer that is very sweet, but minor abuse, and definitely neglected. The vet determined that he had bad fleas at one point (hair didn't grow back in one prominent spot), a collar that was too tight for a long time (obvious hair missing there as well), and suffered from a pretty bad case of heartworm.

He's somewhere around 5-7 yrs old, and has developed Kidney disease. We've got him on special food from the vet and he's doing well, but the prognosis long-term is not great with his mis-shapen heart. We're in the suburbs near a lake. I've invested in a senior memory foam bed and lots of toys (he likes to carry them around). I guess we're at least providing him with a loving retirement at the end of a life that wasn't so great. I'm happy we can afford to do that, and wouldn't hesitate to adopt another senior dog.

[beam me up scottie]

19. Okay now you made me cry.

I wonder how many people wrote him off before you came along?

If we had money, (like mv did and will have again) imagine how much more we could do to ease the suffering.

[TBF]

20. Sorry, didn't mean to do that -

I know that so many older dogs don't get a second chance, and they can be a great choice if you have younger kids (already trained, calm when they're older, etc...). I am a stay at home mom and he follows me around all day while the kids are in school - really cute. I'm in my mid-40's with arthritis so we just take long walks together and nothing too strenuous. I feel incredibly lucky to have found him.

[beam me up scottie]

21. 's okay, good tears. Reminded me there's a lot of good people out there.

Your dog knows how lucky he is, and compared to kids and spouses it takes so little to make them happy, really. :D

[CitizenLeft]

26. I used to fantasize about winning the lottery...

...buying a huge farm, then emptying out the kennels and pounds. I would love to do that.

[beam me up scottie]

28. I know all about that.

When I've run out of room, run out of money and run out of tears I've always been told I can't save them all.

Like that's supposed to make me feel better.

There are very few no-kill shelters here, I know very well what happens to the ones who can't find homes. At least some are offering low cost spay/neuter services.

[CitizenLeft]

34. I still remember Sparky...

...a huge Dalmatian male that I came across in the local kennel. He was so sad, scared, and sure that I wouldn't take him home. It broke my heart. He was just too big for my house and my two other girls, it just would've been chaos. I still think about him, even though it's been 13 years. He's long gone now, but I just hope he was adopted and not put down. I'll never forget him, and that look in his eyes. It killed me.

[CitizenLeft]

24. bless you

the thing about rescues is that they KNOW you saved their life, and they know how much you love them, and they're so grateful that they can't show you enough. As much as I love puppies, I don't think I'll ever buy one in the future, I'm going to stick to rescues.

My first Dal was a resuce named Scooter. She'd also suffered minor abuse, nothing like Chloe. She was 7 when we got her, but we lost her after only 2 years. She developed a liver disease. She was one tough cookie - she didn't seem to like affection, it was one of the things her owners had "discliplined" out of her, we were told. But she was loyal and elegant and we loved her. She loved to play football, too. This dog could catch one of those toy footballs in mid-air, and, while airborn, adjust her descent to make sure she didn't hit any furniture and still make a perfect landing every time. What a cool dog she was. Was very good to Chloe, too, when she joined the family. Dogs just KNOW.

Here's hoping that your sweet Lab still has plenty of happy days ahead.

[CitizenLeft]

22. thank you for that.

I think she was a happy girl too. She used to climb on my lap - all 40 pounds of her, once she got to her normal weight - and I'd say her name in a high slow falsetto over and over. She'd rub her head against my cheek and groan in the wierdest dog "voice" - she loved that, LOL - made me and my Mom crack up. What a nutty little dog. Loved - love - her to pieces.

[beam me up scottie]

31. Such vivid and wonderful memories, you're still grieving.

Any dog that shows you that side of herself was definitely happy.

She was a member of your family for so many years, I'm sorry for your loss.

[CitizenLeft]

36. thank you so much for your kind words

Yes, I am still grieving for her. She was special - they were/are all special - but all her life, as I watched her live every single second to the fullest, demanding to be loved, petted, played with, that she came within a week of being put down. I can't imagine the world without such a sweetheart. I used to call her Freakazoid, and the name fit. :silly: Bless her little brave heart.

I'm thinking of writing a book about her, about all of them.

[beam me up scottie]

13. "for the animals, it is an eternal Treblinka."

~ Isaac Bashevis Singer

[JoePhilly]

23. Can't we just burn a scarlet A on his forehead???

[smiley]

27. it would't do him justice

[superduperfarleft]

29. Are you looking for volunteers? n/t

[Lugnut]

33. Oh, no.

I want to see him looking up at the sky unable to get off the field under his own power in every remaining game. I'm counting on the animal lovers on the opposing teams to effectively take him out. That's not enough justice for him but the pain he suffers might remind him of the pain he inflicted on helpless animals.