Tuesday, August 18, 2009

The Legacy of Michael Vick?

Micah, dubbed "a drug lord's dream dog" by our veterinarian because of his impressive DNA, is now approximately seven months old. Strong, majestic, loyal, and trusting, his genetic heritage consists of three breeds. Fifty percent Rottweiler, twenty-five percent Doberman Pincer, and twenty-five percent Pit-Bull. If someone like Michael Vick had gotten his hands on Micah, or one of his four other litter-mates, it is entirely possible that this puppy would have become "bait" in a horrendous cycle of torture, known as a dogfighting ring. In the wrong hands, this loving angel of a pup could have become something entirely different. Something filled with desperation and anger and venom. And no one would have ever known that it is in Micah's nature to do nothing but love.
I do not ordinarily write about public figures or major news stories. I leave that to the other bloggers. My world is fairly small, and so I write about the things that directly affect me, my family or my wonderful readers. Most of the time I have a cat snuggled up on my lap, mischievous paws typing miscellaneous combinations of letters on the keyboard, or a dog snoozing securely by my side. I am that kind of person. I don't think I have been completely alone in a room since 1975. To me, our animals are the souls of our homes. And yet, there are individuals out there, like Michael Vick, who think that they can justify the abuse of these wonderful creatures by whining about their own messed up childhoods. After hearing about Michael Vick's reinstatement by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, I looked down at my puppy, Micah. And I felt remorse that somehow, the value of his life had been regretfully downgraded by society. Yes, I understand that Mr. Vick went to jail and served out most of his twenty-three month sentence, but what does all of that mean if he is then released from prison and accepted back into society, as if nothing ever happened? Shouldn't the NFL Commissioner and everyone else who thinks that Vick is such a worthy talent deserving of another chance, wait to see what he does to right his own wrongs? He went to prison. That was societies way of punishing Mr. Vick. An apology, more than likely composed by spin-doctors, worded in a way that should make us feel sorry for him, is just not enough. This man should be shunned, and shunned in a huge way. Talent in one area of someone's life should not excuse them from being a kind and decent and moral human being. Michael Vick is none of those things. He is a cold, heartless, vicious victim of his own circumstances, just like Micah would have been had Vick gotten ahold of him. The major difference is that Vick had a choice. But he decided to become everything that he, himself, disdained about his own upbringing.
Mr. Vick, if this seven month old puppy who was, incidentally, left to starve for the first few weeks of his life by some disgusting human beings much like yourself, can rise above his own start in life, why couldn't someone with the God-given talents that you seem to have, risen above his? I look at the photos of you that are being published in the newspapers and on the Internet. I have looked into your eyes, Mr. Vick. I can see who you are. I can see into your soul. Do you believe that you can really change what is imbedded in your soul?
If the wrongs that were done to us during our childhoods became the basis of how we live our lives, this world would be an even more ruthless place than it is now. It is about choice, Mr. Vick. It is about experiencing the bad, but choosing to live the good, anyway.

Micah has a wonderful life. And in spite of all of the Michael Vicks out there, he will live out his life with love and security and joy. My heart goes out to all of Vick's dogs who are still alive and are healing from the hell that he put them through. May God bless those who worked with or adopted them. Your love is what will heal these dogs.

10 comments:

tj said...

...Oh Miss Debra I couldn't of said this better myself! I saw the interview with Michael Vick, I believe it was on 60 Minutes, both my husband and I said the entire time, "he's lying", "he's lying"... It seemed he had a grin on his face as he was talking about how "different" he is now since his prison term and I don't believe him for a moment.

...I think it's sad that the NFL has reinstated him after what he has done but then looking back they have reinstated drug dealers, drunk drivers, murderers, etc...all in the name of the game. It's just sad.

...Just recently they busted one of the biggest dog fighting rings in the nation and unfortunately a portion of it was located right here in our own county! I see people at our local WalMart with a box of puppies or kittens with a sign that says "Free" and little do they know that unscrupulous people will actually take those puppies or kittens and use them for "bait" to train dogs for dog fighting. I've also heard of these same monsters stealing your own pets out of backyards to use as bait animals in dog fighting... It is sickening.

...Sorry for the long comment Angel Deb but you touched on a subject that tears at my heart and I couldn't agree more with you and this post. Lil' Micah is so blessed to have you and your family to love him and care for him. The only way this world would be any better is if there were a million more people just like you! :o)

...Bless you Angel Deb...

JH said...

Totally agree!

Sabi Sunshine said...

God bless .. i am agree with you too..

Take care
Love
sabi

Mickey (Michel) Johnson said...

...from the beginning we have had a choice...there comes the time that one has to take responsibility for oneself and know that you can be more and that you were destined for more. i once heard that the struggles encountered in life create two kinds of people...those who become bitter and those who because of the struggles becomes better. i hope that mr. vick will begin to search deep within for the light that is in all men and let it overcome the darkness that he seems so ready to be absorbed in. hug sweet micah for me! xo, mickey

Karen Deborah said...

So well said! Most pit bulls are very sweet when treated like a normal dog and given love. ANY breed would be vicious with abuse like what he and others do. I think it is dispicable. Vick should NEVER play ball again and never make that kind of money and he should be closely monitored for his cruel tendencies.
I am glad you rescued your sweet boy, it so cute to see him loving on that cat. Animals behave the way we teach them. If we love them they love...

Jennifer Chronicles (jenx67.com) said...

Michael Vick's conversion experiences makes me uncomfortable. I wish it didn't, but it does - like fox hole confessions. And, if he weren't an athlete, but say, oh, a druggy, nobody would be proclaiming, "Give him a second chance." I'm humbled when people like this come across my path and mind, b/c i realize how unprepared i am to give some people a second chance. =/ Great post, Debbie!

Snap said...

Well done! I believe that people like Michael Vick, who take pleasure in torturing animals will eventually take a human life. They do not value life in anyway shape or form. Michael Vick should not have been reinstated by the NFL. He should still be in prison. 23 months should have been a lifetime.

Debbie said...

It is just cruelty beyond belief. I never will understand why people want to make animals fight. Cock fighting is huge in my area of the country and it repulses me.

Jacque said...

Well said, as always. I can only wish that your words are read by many, give that baby a big hug for me~Jacque

Maureen Hayes said...

What a sad commentary on our society that because someone is considered an star athlete, he is considered a good role model!! How true all you say is, and all I can add is thank God Micah found you and your family. Let us pray that other dogs such as this will be half as lucky. Thanks for having the courage to speak your mind on this issue.

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