I just finished watching The National Geographic Channel's Dogtown
show that focused on the rehabilitation of the Michael Vick dogs. I was
one of the thousands that followed with disgust this case. I had
wondered what happened to the animals that were used so violently for
the greed of a man that had millions. This show was an amazing look at
what the power of love and training can do for these dogs.

One
of my favorite dogs was Cherry. A male dog that was suspected to be a
"bate dog" in order to train fighting dogs for competition. The dog
would "low crawl" when out of his cage and would slink back in a corner
in his cage. I instantly felt sick to my stomach when I realized how
brutal this fighting is AFTER the match. The female champion fighter,
Georgia had her teeth professionally pulled so she could be forced to
breed at times. Who has the ability to do this kind of harm to an
animal.

There were several things that crossed my mind. The
first is with the dying down of media coverage Michael Vick is now
playing prison football and "keeping in shape" with the hope of
returning to pro football. I have heard the argument that one can not
be stopped from making a living and by banning him from the NFL his
rights were being violated. I would have to say that he has NO right
to play professional football. Playing a professional sport for a
living is a PRIVILEGE! There are thousands of talented people who
never get the opportunity to play professionally. This man abused a
privilege given to him by many poeple, including the fans that put
money into him and his team. He still has the RIGHT to get a job, just
not one that will put him in mansions and give him the life of luxury
that he so greedily squandered.

The other issue that struck me
was the process of rehabilitating these dogs. In order to begin some
sort of treatment they had to address the situations in which these
animals had been in for so long. I was shocked to see the types of
training and abuse these dogs go through. These people who use dogs
for fighting do not just stick these animals in a cage and let them go
at it with their "natural" egressions. No, they tie them up and make
other dogs attack them until the dog passed out, they are refused
food, they are tied to treadmills and forced to run (not in the
rehabilitation way) until they pass out. There is even a contraption
called a "rape rack" that pins a female dog down and forces a male dog
to breed her. They take these dogs to VETERINARIANS to have their teeth
pulled so breeding is easier. And what happens when these animals
bodies and minds finally gives out...well then they are not stuck with
a needle and put to "sleep". No this seems too humane of a treatment
for an animal that has already experienced horrid acts of abuse. No
they are hung from ropes, drowned, shot, beaten to death and even
electrocuted! What kind of person does this? I have to wonder is 23
months enough?

This man did not do this for money. He did not do
this to survive or to help others. He did not do this because he had
pressure from outside sources. He meticulously built a compound of 15
acres, painted black to disguise what he was doing, and put money into
this disgusting operation. If he did not do it for money, than one
could assume he gets satisfaction from causing harm to animals. What
does that say about him? What does that say about what he is capable
of?

The upside is that many of these dogs while crippled with
an incurable immune disease passed on through fighting, would be
capable of rehabilitation. I myself have grown up with pitbulls and
was pleased to see the report on how these dogs are NOT violent by
nature, they are trained that way. My faith in humanity was encouraged
when I saw these people giving so much care for these animals, and to
find that 25 of these dogs have already been adopted. While they are as
some would say 'just dogs", they are a symbol of something more in our
society, the innocent the weak and how when the ability to take
advantage of it who does and who preys on them. Michael Vick is a
predator in my eyes and I hope he is never permitted to wear a football
jersey that doesn't have prison numbers on it again!I hope that this story never goes quiet so this man can again profit from a privilege he abused.

If you would like more information on the organization that is featured on Dogtown, Best Friends Animal Society here is the link:

http://www.bestfriends.org/atthesanctuary/animals/dogs.cfm

If you would like to sign a petition on keeping Michael Vick out of the NFL here is the link:

http://www.petitiononline.com/mv0011/petition.html