This is how an animal welfare organization should talk about Michael Vick

I've had a hard time with the way the big animal organizations have issued their lame little statements mewling that they sure do hope Michael Vick has learned his lesson and will be a better person from now on. ("Hard time" is the phrase I came up with after I deleted the language I can't use on this blog.)



Note to the big animal welfare groups: You are not on this earth to speak for Michael Vick, or advocate for him. He has PR hacks to do that. He has his NFL babysitter, Tony Dungy, to do that. He has the whole NFL and Philadelphia Eagles' media machines -- and apparently almost every sportscaster in America -- doing it.



You guys are supposed to speak for the dogs. Remember them?



So if you'd like to know how it should go, this is what real animal welfare advocates, the folks on the ground in Pennsylvania, have to say:



Sue Cosby, director, Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals:

Philadelphia is a city of dog lovers and, most particularly, pit-bull lovers. To root for someone who participated in the hanging, drowning, electrocution and shooting of dogs will be impossible for many, no matter how much we would all like to see the Eagles go all the way.

Bill Smith, founder of Main Line Animal Rescue in Chester Springs, Pennsylvania:

Michael Vick is coming to a city with some of the strongest and most outspoken animal advocates. In a city where thousands of pit bulls are destroyed every year because we don't have the resources to rehabilitate them, it's shameful that we are willing to rehabilitate Michael Vick.

Tom Hickey of the Pennsylvania Governor’s Dog Law Advisory Board:

Over the last three years, Pennsylvania has made historic strides in bringing attention to the abuse and neglect that so many dogs suffer in this state and throughout the country. For the Philadelphia Eagles, knowing the heinous crimes committed by this man, to sign him is unconscionable.

HSUS, ASPCA, I hope you're taking notes.



Photo of Johnny Justice, one of the rehabbed Vick dogs, courtesy of Bad Rap -- who had this to say about the Eagles signing Vick.

Comments

[rugbymom]

I am horrorified and appalled by the actions of the NFL and the Eagles organization. I plan on boycotting any product or service that sponsors the eagles. Greed won out once again. Anyone, who hurts an innocent animal has no soul and is beyond redemption.

[Susan]

Unfortunately, Governor Rendell appears to be keeping any horror he feels strictly private. I'm not sure how to put a link in these comments, so check out the lead article in today's Philadelphia Inquirer.

[elaine]

While I wish the HSUS wanted to send a better message to the public than it has by partnering with Michael Vick, at least those who have been thinking "animals are the first priority" for the organization can now see that any disgusting situation will be embraced and exploited if it has fundraising potential.



How I wish the HSUS valued morals over money. But the "rescue" of Vick may lead many potential donors to ask the important question that Dr. Tony Johnson put so eloquently in his introduction: "Why no pants?"



elaine

[The OTHER Pat]

Katrina, all you have to do is copy/paste the URL into what you type here. It posts as a link automatically.

[Katrina]

The Best Friends Statement is a good one too. They focus on the dogs and state that perhaps folks should contribute the money they would spend on a game ticket and concessions and momentos to a shelter or rescue instead.



I don't know how to connect links, otherwise I would put it here.

[Leslie K]

I would think Gov Rendell is horrified. He's done a lot to change the laws in PA to go after puppy mills. He did a lot in Phila to help end dog fighting also,so I don't imagine this will be his favorite new Eagles player.

[Susan]

I'd love to know what Pa. Governor and former Philly Mayor Ed Rendell, who currently lives with three rescued dogs (not Pit Bulls) thinks about all this.

[May]

Punish this Micheal Vick! I m from Malaysia and also heartbrokened by what he has done to the poor dogs!

[Colorado Transplant]

Gina, if you want to delete this comment, I won't get insulted.



I say, having Michael Vick be a spokesman for any animal welfare group is like Hitler being a spokesman for Jewish people.



Michael Vick's cruelty is so horrendous that he will never redeem himself in my eyes!

[Shellie]

There was briefly some talk about the Steelers signing Vick; as a lifelong Steeler fan, I vowed (and e-mailed Steeler administration stating as much) to never watch another game, and to burn all my Steeler clothing and accessories if they picked up this reprehensible criminal. Luckily, we were not in need of a quarterback, and Vick's presence in Philly will only make it easier for this Pittsburgher to hate the Eagles.

[EmilyS]

Anderson Cooper tonite: "we don't care about Michael Vick; we care about the dogs". and then with a nice piece about some of his former dogs featuring "Jhumpa" (whose otherwise wonderful owner unfortunately expelled the "Vick deserves a second chance" notion)



At least there's ONE TV "journalist" looking at the other side

[Colorado Transplant]

To: The OTHER Pat



By copy/paste the URL do you mean like putting in www.petconnection.com?



Is that how it works?

[The OTHER Pat]

This blog - written back in May of this year - makes me want to hurl:



http://www.bulletproofblog.com/2009/05/04/michael-vick-begins-the-long-journey-back/

[Gina Spadafori]

I [heart] Johnny Justice.

[Katrina]

Not sure if this will work since it's on thier Facebook Notes page. But here (if it works) is Best Friends Official Statement.



http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/notes.php?id=25372476424

[Bonnie]

Bingo! I think we need to post the contact info for the Eagles' management and owners. Let them know how we all feel.

[EmilyS]

HSUS and ASPCA speak for the money. When did they ever not?



How odd that we know find ourselves AGREEING with PETA who at least on this issue, has taken a righteous stance. (though only if it was one sociopath recognizing another when she sees him)

[straybaby]

Rendell's comments:



http://www.philly.com/philly/news/homepage/20090815_Guv__I_believe_in_redemption.html

[The OTHER Pat]

Yup - politicking and money wins out again . . . . . . . . . . .

[VJ]

I also feel he should not be paraded in the football league or anywhere else where he gets publicity. That he was signed for $1.6mil....well

see the smoke coming out of my ears!! Why should he be given such a salary after what he's done. Our society is all about greed unfortunately and sadly.

[The OTHER Pat]

Here's a partial list of the Eagles corporate sponsors:

Eagles Corporate Sponsors. Interesting how many of them use animals in some way, shape or form in their advertising:



American Red Cross:

American Red Cross National Headquarters

2025 E Street, NW Washington, DC 20006

Email: [email protected]

Phone: (202) 303 5000



Philadelphia Daily News and Inquirer:

Todd BermanVice President, Marketing & Business Development

215-575-6484



Tastykake:

Tasty Baking Company

Navy Yard Corporate Center

Three Crescent Drive, Suite 200

Philadelphia, PA 19112

1-800-24-TASTY or (215) 221-8500



Budweiser:

Anheuser-Busch, Inc.

One Busch Place

St. Louis, MO 63118

1-800-DIAL-BUD



Papa John's Pizza:

Papa John's International, Inc.

P.O. Box 99900

Louisville, KY 40269-9990

877-547-PAPA (7272)



Snapple/Dr.Pepper

Consumer Relations

(800) 696-5891



7-11:

Customer Relations

7-Eleven, Inc.

Customer Relations

Loc. 231

P.O. Box 711

Dallas, TX 75221

Phone: 800-255-0711



Splenda

McNeil Nutritionals, LLC,

Ft. Washington PA, USA.

1-800-7-SPLENDA (1-800-777-5363)





GEICO

Government Employees Insurance Company

One GEICO Plaza

Washington, DC 20076

Via email: http://www.geico.com/about/contactus/email/

Phone: 1-800-861-8380



Pepsi:

700 Anderson Hill Road

Purchase, NY 10577

(914) 253-2000



AFLAC:

Media Relations email: [email protected] or

Mechell Clark, Media Relations Manager

1-706-243-8004

Customer Relations: Phone:1-800-992-3522



Dietz & Watson, Inc.

5701 Tacony Street Philadelphia, PA 19135

Phone: 1-800-333-1974.

FAX 215-831-8719.



ACME Markets, Inc.

75 Valley Stream Parkway

Malvern, PA 19355

Customer Service @ 1-877-932-7948

email contact form:

www.acmemarkets.com/eCommerceWeb/AboutAlbertsonsAction.do?action=getContactUs



Dunkin' Donuts

Public Relations Department

130 Royall Street

Canton, MA 02021

Phone: 781.737.5200

email feedback form: https://www.dunkindonuts.com/aboutus/contact/Feedback.aspx?type=5



WM Waste Management

1001 Fannin, Suite 4000

Houston, Texas 77002

email: [email protected]

phone: 713-512-6345



Pepcid (Johnson & Johnson/Merck )

JNJ.COM

P.O. Box 726

Langhorne, PA 19047-0726

Phone: 1-800-755-4008

email feedback form: https://secure-www.jnj.com/wps/wcm/jsp/contactUs.jsp



Heineken International

PO box 28

1000 AA Amsterdam

The Netherlands

Telephone: +31 (0)20 523 92 39

Fax: +31 (0)20 626 35 03

Online feedback form: http://www.heinekeninternational.com/contactus.aspx

[Colorado Transplant]

I have sent an e-mail to Aflac and one to Geico.

If I have time, I will continue with more.



Thanks, The OTHER pat, for supplying the web sites above.

[CK0712]

and apparently almost every sportscaster in America � doing it.



everyone EXCEPT ME, i fully stand behind what I say. I will not support anything Vick, or Philadelphia Eagles and it goes beyond the horrendous, horrible, mind burning, heart, gut wrenching things that he and his buddies did to the dogs.....



He's a felon 1st & foremost and a liar........they should not be allowed to play in the NFL at all. Any of them, but alas i am very much in the minority on this.......guess what, i don't care. I will keep on keepin on!



Let him go make a living as any other felon would have to, step by step....week by week. I know felons that are awesome now that they have reformed.......yet they can't get a job flipping burgers because of their record. Vick is making millions again, because he can throw a ball with a completion rate of only 58.3%. HA! you hit the nail on the head with this write up, solid & forth right! THANK YOU

[Colorado Transplant]

He has a whole team of experts to tell him what to say to the media--as admitted on 60 minutes.

Being well-schooled by highly paid consultants, he will be able to play again.



It was hard to believe him when he said that the millions did not mean anything to him.



And then, again, if he can convince other people by going around to schools and spreading the word that dog fighting is cruel, maybe some good can surface.

[perkysmom]

Vick on 60 minutes: I don't believe him when he said he didn't care about the money, nor do I believe him when he said he was "disgusted" with his behavior. A simple "I'm sorry about how I treated those dogs, and I hope America will forgive me" might have helped. He sounded scripted, looked very nervous (was constantly wetting his lips) and had no expression. If he can convince some people to stop fighting dogs, he can redeem himself.

[IndyElmer]

ASPCA responds to Michael Vick's 60 Minutes interview: http://news.prnewswire.com/DisplayReleaseContent.aspx?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/08-21-2009/0005081364&EDATE