Michael Vick Should Get the Max

When I began writing Text Me Some Apple Pie, I made a conscious choice not to bash people. Individuals who dominate pop culture news and even mainstream news behave badly. But rather than contribute to keeping some people famous, I usually focus on those whom I admire.

There is a difference between being judgmental and taking a stand on one's beliefs. American Heritage defines judgmental as "inclined to make judgments, especially moral or personal ones." I try not to make personal judgments. After all, I have a whole life to manage, without focusing on how others should live there lives.

But maybe I'd stink as a therapist because I'm outspoken about certain moral behaviors. And this is why I speak out and condemn Michael Vick. I hope the judge gives him the maximum sentence on December 10, 2007. Please see my blog of July 27, 2007, called Sad Life for Pit Bulls.

Other news media, including legal pundits, refer to Vick's pending sentence as a threat to his career. Most of them think, including Jeffrey Tubin, Jamie Floyd and Lee Steinberg (per AC 360 on CNN) that Vick can get his career back if he can still run and play good football after serving his sentence of twelve to eighteen months. They say that Americans love a "come-back story."

Coming back from what? A big tap on the wrist from the justice system and from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell? Why is our media invested in a man's career, after he tortured helpless creatures? God's creatures. People in the media apparently believe that this man's life and career are worth redeeming.

After all, Vick accepted responsibility for what he did. Big deal. Any sane PR person or attorney advises their client to apologize and accept responsibility so the American public will like them again. Did you know that Vick found Jesus since he was arrested?

How does someone regret doing something so heinous? Does Vick have a conscious about hurting dogs? Someone who tortures dogs is sadistic. Someone who tortures dogs has no feeling for these beautiful creatures. Someone who's engaged in fighting dogs is disconnected from their feelings. Someone who tortures dogs is more than disconnected. He has a cruel streak.

Did this cruel streak disappear at the time of Vick's arrest? No. Will incarceration rid Vick of this cruel streak? No. Vick did not need the money that fighting dogs may have provided. Why did he engage in this "sport"?

Dog fighting is on the rise in the U.S. When dog fighting rings are broken up, the dogs are confiscated and put down. Anyone involved in dog fighting has rendered these dogs as anti-social. Pit Bulls are listed as the number one perpetrator of serious dog bites to humans from 1982 to 2006, here in the U.S. and in Canada.

People like Michael Vick and others who engage in dog fighting, set off a domino affect in the lives of Pit Bulls. Dogs are a product of their breeding and training. They want to please their owners and handlers. I love dogs, especially big ones. And I am afraid of Pit Bulls.

The above-mentioned CNN program, AC 360, featured a video of two dogs fighting. One dog was yelping and whining. I had the overwhelming urge to vomit, and I had to change the channel. My dog is a best friend. I hurt when she hurts.

I set out to find a short clip of a horrific dog fight. Instead, I found the following slide show, put together by an animal lover. I have screened this disturbing video, and I deem it safe for animals lovers.



Michael Vick not only engaged in fighting dogs. He and his cohorts are accused of drowning, strangling, hanging, shooting and electrocuting as many as 100 of the losing pups. The maximum sentence he can receive is five years. According to the experts, he will not get the maximum. Why not?