Alert 11/20/07 Requiem for a Fighting Dog REDUX

Thanksgiving is here with all the warm thoughts of family, fond memories, good food, love, warmth. A time of peace for most of us.

But there is next week.

We will be brought back to reality which isn’t very pretty. And it’s dogfighting, and it’s the Michael Vick case again.

On next Tuesday, 11/27/07, there will be a hearing to set the trial date for Mr. Vick and his colleagues, Quantis Phillips, Anthony Taylor, and Pernell Peace.

These are state charges brought by the Surry County Commonwealth Attorney, Gerald G. Poindexter, against these four men.

The hearing will not be in Surry County, but because of Surry renovations, will instead be held in the Sussex County Circuit Court at 15088 Courthouse Road (Route 735) in Sussex. It will start at 9 am if you want to attend.

All this brings back so many sad and painful recollections of what happened to Mr. Vick’s fighting dogs, and to all other fighting dogs, some now dead but some still fighting.

Remember them this Thanksgiving. Remember them and the tragic circumstances of their lives.

Here are some of the words people wrote to be posted about these dogs. If you wish to share your thoughts, let us hear from you.

from Ellen and Bob Barker:

Let us hope that the notoriety surrounding this much publicized case will improve the welfare of animals throughout our country.  If so, these poor creatures will not have lived and died in vain.

from Nancy Bland:

Dear Mr. Vick,

I'm writing to you not to vilify nor to judge you.  I have something to say to you about redemption, and how you get it.   

I watched with interest your press conference a few days ago.   What puzzled me most about your apology was to whom it was directed: not the dogs you were responsible for torturing and killing, nor the animal lovers who care about them.   You apologized to the people who pay your salary.  

Based on that, I question your sincerity.   I have to wonder whether you're sorry you did it, or just sorry you got caught doing it.   In all honesty, wouldn't you still be fighting dogs if law enforcement and the media had never gotten involved?   I also question your understanding of the issue.   Perhaps you were raised believing animals have no feelings and no rights.   Perhaps you thought your money and fame put you above the law.  

Perhaps you're giving that a lot of thought now.  

We all know that you are just one of many, many people involved in dog-fighting all over the country.   Unfortunately for you, your celebrity made you a media target.  That may seem unfair to you, but you can't blame those of us who love animals for being happy that your fame has finally focused a glaring spotlight onto what has been a closely-guarded and ugly secret.  

Your exceptional athletic prowess was a rare gift.   You could have chosen to funnel it into something positive, as many of your fellow professional athletes have.   Instead you misused it.   But for that talent, today you might very well be a nobody, no different from anybody you'll meet in prison, anybody you might pass on the street.   You might never have gone to college.  You might be waiting tables or washing cars right now, wondering how to make ends meet.   You might be just like most of us nobodies.

You would probably, however, be a free man. 

By your own admission you chose to do the crime.   You are responsible.   If you want to show genuine contrition, voluntarily contribute $10,000,000 to the animal welfare organization(s) of your choice.   To borrow a phrase from a well-known charity: Give 'til it hurts!    Putting this into perspective, even after the legal fees and fines, and the signing bonus you may have to return, even if you ultimately must forfeit any future pro football salary, you've already made more money than most honest working people could make in ten lifetimes. 

So I'm asking you to cooperate fully with federal prosecutors to bring to justice others involved in dog-fighting.  I'm asking you to speak out in public against dog-fighting and similar cruel bloodsports, and work hard to eliminate them.   Actions speak louder than words.   If you're truly apologetic you'll have to prove it, by directing your considerable celebrity and wealth toward making a real, concrete, positive difference for those unfortunate animals still caught up in dog-fighting.   

These actions on your part may open up for Mr. Goodell and Mr. Blank an acceptable avenue to send you back to the Atlanta Falcons as a team member.   Animal lovers all over this country might begin to believe you're truly sorry, and football fans who are also animal lovers might begin to feel less conflicted about you.   

You will never again have the same life you had before the dog-fighting story broke.   Accept that as what you rightfully deserve.   Take the actions necessary for redemption.  

After the dust settles, I hope you'll have become a better man.  

Sincerely,

Nancy Bland

from S. Call:

Always remember the Pitbulls, and all of the bait dogs, cats, kittens and rabbits, and any animals who have suffered and will suffer at the hands of abusers.  It is for them we work to change the world into a suffer free place.

from Sonja Eckhart:

The fact that helpless animals are made to fight to the death is horrible, the fact that heartless people killed the losers is beyond horrible.  These animals were not born vicious, just trained that way.  My heart goes out to these animals who have never heard a word of praise or a touch of kindness that was from the heart.  I know the survivors must die, but the owners and betters should suffer also.  They care nothing about the animals, greed drives their lives.  The dogs deserve our sympathy and tears, the owners our scorn and punishment.  Someone who treats an innocent animal so callously will also treat his fellow humans with the same scorn.  May justice prevail for the innocent dogs who must die.

from Jessica Stovall:

Jessica Stovall was among hundreds who booed Michael Vick as the Atlanta Falcons quarterback exited a courthouse in Richmond after pleading innocent to federal dogfighting charges.

Stovall, in an interview with USA Today, said she is looking for justice. She wants Vick to know what a horrible thing he’s done, and that he is not above the law.

Stovall carried a sign reading “Man’s Best Friend Betrayed”. She and her husband operate a private sanctuary which currently houses “all kinds of animals” including horses, hamsters, parrots and nine dogs.

from Rosewitha:

I was once a Humane Officer and kept local concern for ties to this inhumane, unbelievable act.

It was happening right here in little Front Royal, Va.
No one ever wanted to tackle it and I could not, by myself.
Now even our local animal control is trying hard.
It is not easy as there are people involved with ties to
weapons, drugs, dangerous dogs (they have made dangerous)
money and a deep lust for blood. You can imagine how difficult
it is for any sane person to be amidst these kinds of monsters.

It is truly a time to end this barbarism.

Bless all those who get involved to end this.

Many Thanks..............Rosewitha and family

from Kay:

Thank you for being there.  While I am unable to watch the images on the news, my heart is buoyed by the publicity this atrocity has brought and if it saves some future fighters from the pain and the suffering endured by any animal forced to participate in blood sports, then there is hope.  The dogs that have died and will die yet because of what they were bred and forced to do will be at peace in death - I do not wish peace for those that participate in this cruel sport - I wish them serious jail time, hours and hours of community service, and serious fines.  And I pray that these dog's deaths will not be in vain and that our laws are dramatically changed - animal cruelty needs to be a felony, period.  

Kay  

from Debra Milby:

God brings good out of all situations.  With the national attention this story is garnering, we are making thousands of people aware and educating them on/of the horrors of dogfighting.  The protest was not about Vick.  It was about the innocent dogs.

from Nancy Peterson:

My hope is that this case will draw attention to the horrors of dog fighting and other forms of animal abuse.  Change does not happen until the face of an abused dog is made public, and people are moved to take appropriate actions to end the suffering.  I believe good will prevail over evil, and dogs will be treated as the companion animals they are meant to be.

from Pat Pitts:

As far as the "Rally" last Thursday, July 26, 2007. I was not there, but in my heart I was. My daughter attended and was impressed with the organization and no violence. She was there for the dogs. For me it tears my heart out that there are some individuals in this world that treat animals so cruel. I cry every time I heard the videos on TV of the fighting. If a high profile individual had not been implicated in dog fighting, we might not have been able to get the DOGS' voices heard. Now we have and will continue to do so. I have seen first hand what happens to pit bulls or any breed used for fighting. We rehabilitated Tootsie when she was found close to death. She had been used as bait dog and bred so much her body was playing out. She's minus an ear, scars on her face, and I'm sure in her heart. But she's been with us for numerous years now and loves us unconditionally. God Bless These Wonderful Animals!

from Rose Given:

My response to your request, if you would care to post it, is my humble take on the prayer of a great man and humane advocate, Rev. Dr. Albert Schweitzer.  This is it:

Farm Cor Unum version of Rev. Dr. Schweitzer's prayer:  Hear our humble
prayer, O Lord, for our friends, the animals.  Especially for animals
who are suffering, for animals who are overworked, underfed, neglected,
unloved, or cruelly treated:  for all wistful creatures in captivity who
beat their wings against bars.

For all the unfortunate victims of vivisection, slaughter, animal fighting and any and all forms of mistreatment and neglect.  For any who are hunted and lost or deserted or frightened or hungry or injured, for all who must be put to death. We entreat for them all Thy mercy and pity, and for those who deal with them we ask a heart of compassion, love, gentle hands, kindly words and much, much patience.

Make us exemplary animal parents, stewards and guardians of the truly innocent.  Please make us, ourselves, to be true friends to animals and so share the blessings of the merciful. And Lord, we implore you to bring those who abuse your animals on earth to justice both here and in
the hereafter.

Rewrite of the animal's prayer. - Rose Given, Farm Cor Unum, 2004

from David Waters:

The silver lining in this Vick affair is that a "celebrity" was caught with his hands allegedly bloodied.  Whether or not there is a conviction, there is no turning back from the nationwide attention that has been brought to bear on dog fighting.  Many people who had never heard of dog fighting have been inundated with the disgusting details.  Given the chance to vote on this issue, the overwhelming majority would side with common decency.  Even the most obtuse politician must realize that.