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Michael Vick confirms he owns a dog
Former dogfighter says he wants his children to develop a healthy relationship with animals.
Fri, Oct 12 2012 at 11:17 AM
Photo: INFPhoto.com
Back in December 2010, Michael Vick expressed interest in owning a dog again one day.
"I would love to get another dog in the future," he said in an interview. "I think it would be a big step for me in the rehabilitation process. I think just to have a pet in my household and to show people that I genuinely care, and my love, and my passion for animals."
With less than a year under his belt after serving 18 months in prison on a dogfighting conviction, Vick has plenty of detractors who say he should never own a dog again. But Wayne Pacelle, president of the Humane Society of the United States, backs up the Philadelphia Eagles QB. "I have been around him a lot, and feel confident that he would do a good job as a pet owner," he said, referencing Vick's work with the organization to curb the cruel sport of dogfighting.
Fast-forward nearly two years, and Vick has made it official that he and his family are dog owners. The 32-year-old had been keeping the new family member under wraps, but had his cover blown last week after he tweeted (and then deleted) a photo that revealed a box of Milk Bones on the kitchen table. Yesterday, he came clean.
‘‘I understand the strong emotions by some people about our family’s decision to care for a pet,’’ Vick said in a statement.
‘‘As a father, it is important to make sure my children develop a healthy relationship with animals. I want to ensure that my children establish a loving bond and treat all of God’s creatures with kindness and respect. Our pet is well cared for and loved as a member of our family.’’
While the Humane Society of the United States has yet to comment on Vick's new dog, plenty of other people have — both positively and negatively.
"If Vick is truly honest about what he is saying, then I wish him and their new family pet the best," wrote one commenter on ESPN. "All children should learn to love and respect animals; they should also love and respect others."
"Michael Vick is a sociopath who tortured animals by smashing them, electrocuting, drowning, shooting, and burning, them he watched them die painful, slow deaths," condemned another on BleacherReport. "He enjoyed this and did it for six years until he got caught. This is not a role model."
Where do you stand on Vick's decision to own a dog? Let us know below!
Related stories on MNN:
- Michael Vick records Humane Society PSA about dogfighting
- Heineken denounces year-old dogfighting photo
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If Vick wanted to teach his children to have a relationship with animals, he should not have used their previous pets as bait. He is a monster, sick and depraved. Here is the link to the USDA report on him-------www.usda.gov/oig/webdocs/BadNewzKennels.pdf
He's filth and I hope he suffers every agony he inflicted on his dogs.
Be careful when you judge because we're all Michael Vick. View the video that I have posted, you'll bear witness to 'food' animals that are being as cruelly treated as Vick's dogs. Let me know after you viewed the video, if I'm telling the truth or not? http://www.meatvideo.com/
oh look, there's nutbar vegan Julie again!
Welcome Julie! So glad you've joined us. Thanks so much for sharing this eye-opening video.
I believe we should respect all animals AND EAT CERTAIN ONES! LOL...But sum people go way TOO far with these pets! i mean come on yall care more about them than HUMANS! Leave the man alone and let him Live his life! I WONDER WHAT SOME OF YOU P.E.T.A EXTREMISTS HAVE DONE TO HUMANS THAT HASNT BEEN EXPOSED YET!! ARE YOUR HANDS CLEAN? HE WHO IS WITHOUT SIN, LET HIM CAST THE FIRST STONE!
it's about the same as letting a child molester open a day care ....
Vick did pay for his crime of extreme cruelty, the maiming and killing his fighting dogs by his own hands in terrible ways. True, but any man who can do this must be a psychopath. No empathy for the suffering, no compassion and an uncontrollable anger driving him to hurt and kill his dogs if they couldn't fight. Not only should this man be banned from ever owning a dog for life and I wonder what he is really teaching his children. Lying at least.
Well taken care of my ass.... You are a freaking millionaire... Feeding your dog milkbones? Probably Ol Roy, too. I own a Mastiff and a Great Dane... I make under 30k a year and want to know what they are fed? 210lbs of raw food every month.
bdub, many of us are aware of that and are fighting to end it, or don't eat meat/poultry, and there are many cosmetics that can be purchased that do not test on animals. and testing cosmetics is NOT required as many people have been brainwashed to believe. the only cosmetic I was ever allergic to was one that HAD been tested on animals and was supposedly hypoallergenic! Cruelty free is available.
My point is that if you eat meat OR dairy, or buy goods from companies that participate in animal testing, then you are supporting unnecessary animal exploitation/abuse/death. The very thing Michael Vick has been vilified for.
Michael Vick killed dogs with his own hands. What does he know about house breaking/training a dog? He is a horrible role model, and Thompson you are wrong...felons rarely get a second chance at the same job...would you want a convicted felon back working at your bank? Or managing your investments? No, Vick got a pretty good sentence considering, but he can never pay back the pain he caused those dogs. RIP Little Red Dog, beaten to death personally by Michael Vick.
I have no problem with this. For those who do, just remember that the animals you happily eat and wear, not to mention the animals that are tested on by the companies whose products you buy, were treated as bad or worse as the dogs Michael Vick tortured and killed. Think about it.
He did the crime paid for his time. All over us get a second chance in life