The news is everywhere. Yesterday Roger Goodell, the commissioner for the NFL conditionally reinstated Michael Vick to the NFL. Everyone by now knows that Vick served 18 months in prison but it wasn’t for cruelty to animals. He pled not guilty to that and those charges were ultimately dropped in exchange for a guilty plea for running a dog fighting ring.
Vick was also banned from the NFL indefinitely by Commissioner Goodell. Apparently, indefinitely means only until you get out of jail. The conditions of his reinstatement are admittedly rigid and to quote Commissioner Goodell “Needless to say, your margin for error is extremely limited".
This is Gypsy, one of the Vick dogs. Can a man be forgiven for causing this to a defenceless innocent creature? His crimes against these animals besides forcing them to fight for profit include hanging, electrocution, forced breeding (rape), and drowning.
As a society, we believe in redemption. In second chances. Fortunately for Vick’s dogs, rescue organizations like Best Friends in Utah gave them their second chance. Their redemption. It brings to joy to my otherwise cynical heart when I see the stories of the “Vicktory dogs” being rehabilitated, fostered and eventually put into forever homes where they are loved like the big babies they are. Click here to read my favourite success story.
In my opinion, Vick has shown no remorse whatsoever for what he did. He’s only sorry he got caught. He is probably really sorry he went bankrupt! I ask would he get involved with dog fighting again if he was guaranteed to not get caught? I believe he would. Therefore no redemption. No forgiveness. Not from me anyway.
That being said, I can’t help but be moved by a comment on the Best Friends’ Facebook page yesterday that asked the question “What would Vick’s dogs do? They would forgive him, of course. Because that’s what dogs do.”
So let’s see it how goes with Vick’s reappearance on the football field. The conditions attached stipulate that he won’t be playing in any real games for awhile anyway so I suggest we all just wait and see what he will do. Most certainly, a team will pick him up. He was a star quarterback after all. But the repercussions to that team from dog lovers should be interesting to watch if it happens. And I am assured by the dog rescue organizations that Michael Vick is right smack in the middle of their radar. He will be watched carefully.
But only one more chance.
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That’s all it took for me – I’ve watched my last NFL game. I don’t give a damn what they do – I will NEVER watch another game again ever. I will boycott any NFL sponsors unless they withdraw their support before the fist game of this season!
i think its fuking discusteing i mean how can you put a dog throue all of that its crul and horroble.
the dog needs someone to look after it proply.