Apr 18 2011
More Dogfighting in Philly? More Questions for HSUS
Early last week the Pennsylvania SPCA and Philadelphia police conducted three separate raids to bust up what officials called “the largest dogfighting ring they’ve ever seen.”
Watch a brief segment from the news coverage here, and then ask yourself a question: Has Michael Vick’s return to professional football as the Philadelphia Eagles’ quarterback made dogfighting “cool” in Philly?
The evidence suggests an unflattering picture for the Humane Society of the United States (not affiliated with “humane society” pet shelters) and its CEO Wayne Pacelle, whose effort to rehabilitate Michael Vick’s public image following his prison term has been controversial (to put it mildly).
After Vick’s release, he partnered with HSUS for a speaking tour to criticize dogfighting, which—in Pacelle’s defense—may have seemed like a good idea at the time.
But the consequences speak for themselves. Compared with 2008, Pennsylvania SPCA animal fighting investigations tripled in 2009, the year Vick signed with the Eagles. Most of these were dogfighting-related cases in Philadelphia.
Trotting Michael Vick out like a trained pony is a far cry from actually doing something for the hands-on groups (like the Pennsylvania SPCA) that have to deal with the fallout from Vick’s public re-branding.
Perhaps “Bonding” with a dogfighting kingpin wasn’t such a humane idea.
While we’re on the subject, HSUS has only made one grant to the Pennsylvania SPCA since 2002. (Its tax returns show a single payment for just $1,000 in 2006.) This from an organization whose budget is now over $121 million. (Alert readers will also remember that the Eagles paid HSUS a whopping $50,000.)
Statewide, HSUS has made only 15 grants to pet shelters during the past five years. On average, HSUS sends less than $7,000 per year to Pennsylvania pet shelters.
Meanwhile, Pacelle has been in full-fledged Vick promotion mode. He said in December that the animal abuser “would do a good job as a pet owner”—a move that enraged animal lovers everywhere. And in promoting his new book The Bond, Pacelle told NPR: “There is a utility for the animal protection cause in having [Vick] out there speaking.”
In The Bond Pacelle talks about his decision to put Vick front-and-center, right next to HSUS’s logo:
As I sat and listened to Vick, on both occasions, I was thinking, We have to embrace this kind of change. This is what we want. We should not look for reasons to reject it. We can’t afford to …
I don’t know if Mike, now a star again in the NFL, will stay with the program forever, but he is with it now and I am happy about it … I hope he’ll stay with it for the distance.
The decision to rehabilitate Vick’s image was based on the premise that the result would be a touchdown for Philadelphia’s dogs. For their sake, maybe it’s time Pacelle punted.
Posted on 04/18/2011 at 09:50 AM by the HumaneWatch Team
Animal Fighting • Celebrities • (20) CommentsComments
And we are surprised about this???
I’m not. These are his peers, and his followers! Of course this was going to happen!
And the fact that the public has accepted Michael Vick’s “rehabilitation”, shows that they also have by their acceptance of him, 2nd handedly, caused this behavior!
you have to know that the HSUS is so disappointed they were not “in on the action” for this bust.. no fund raising effort.. no M-O-N-E_Y to squeeze from people.. boo hoo
Anne, if someone pays for their actions, they should be allowed to move on with their life. So, if Vick wants to play football, he should be allowed to do so. He did his time. He received his punishment.
I have not “accepted Michael Vick’s rehabilitation”. I cannot do so because I do not believe Vick has been rehabilitated.
@seriously- he DID NOT pay for his actions. he didn’t even serve the minimum sentence. money and fame go a long way, don’t they?
Hi guys,
I’m with Steph! This “person” did NOT pay for anything!! Considering his street counter parts get up to 5 years per charge. I know every body knows about the electrocuted and drowned dogs… but the ones no one remenbers is a little female that had been grabbed by the feet(by vick and friend) and repeatedly slammed to the ground until dead. or another that was kicked until her uterus fell out.. oh what to graphic sorry ! So ““seriously “, vick hasn’t paid for squat ! Maybe if he ended up alone on the street in box starving in the freezing cold ...well maybe…
I guess I agree with people like Dorothy. How do you “pay” for purposefully torturing to death a number of animals? Accidently killing something is bad, killing something out of neglect or ignorance is worse, but purposefully, methodically torturing dogs to death in such a manner is so horrific most of us cannot comprehend it. It wasn’t a “humane euthanasia”, it was killing them in the most painful ways he could, and it wasn’t fast. Think for one moment how those dogs must have felt. I don’t think such a person can be “rehabilitated” so easily. They have to have something seriously wrong within to even be able to do that, and I would worry he could do it again. I sure wouldn’t want to leave my dogs with him, I feel sick to my stomach even considering it. It also shocks me so many folks can so easily embrace him back as some kind of hero.
Hell is not a horrible enough place for some that could do that dogs that just want to please humans.That is what dogs have been domesticated for. All dogs go to heaven.
I think that what “long time dog owner” said is absolutely ON THE NOSE…well said! I am going to add that I personally cannot support Vick in any manner but, I think God will be the final judge in his fate unless he truly repents. God loves and created all life and he didn’t do it for anyone to kill in a cruel horrific manner.
Vick was not punished enough for what he did, however, what about the other dogs that were seized in this recent bust? Will they get the “News Time” that Vick’s dogs did? Will Animal Planet do a story about them?
I think that people also forget that the majority of serial killers start out killing animals.
I think that people get so wrapped up in whether animals have feelings or saying that “well it’s just a dog, not a person” that what gets overlooked is that he tortured a helpless “lifeform”, that he preyed on the weak and helpless.
We were given stewardship over the animals, He was not a good steward… Even if he makes millions in this lifetime, he will get his “reward” in Eternity!
It sickness me how everyone had forgot about his heinous crimes. Buck has not been punished enough. I believe you cannot change spots on a leopard. In time buck will be at it again. I would not be surprised if discreetly he had a hand I fighting. How vick must laugh at pacelle, making him a spokesman on what he so enjoyed!
I do not believe Vick has changed. He will never change, he will just make sure he is never caught again. he has no respect for animals and I despise him….
There is at least one person on earth who is more despicable than Michael Vick. That would be Wayne Pacelle. What a hypocrite!
I don’t think he should be around animals unless he is cleaning up their waste!!!!
this man vick is a discrace to all humanity!I wouldn’t trust this man with an animal as far as you could throw his big rear end! how can anyone in their right mind even think of ever letting this inhumane trash around innocent, helpless animals?! this is why the world is the way it is!
“If you talk to the animals they will talk with you and you will know each other. If you do not talk to them you will not know them and what you do not know, you will fear. What one fears, one destroys”.
—Chief Dan George
According to this vick must have been pretty damn scared. Animal abusers never receive enough punishment…
I just can’t believe that something that is so popular, such as national football, would even want to be associated with such an ******* as vick. it sickens me just to hear his name or the Eagles!
Reading this just makes me want to cry ... that anyone at all could say he has “paid his dues” simply means they have a deviate a mind as he does ...
WOW,so many resent Vick & his rise in the NFL,me as well, i REFUSE 2 watch oe wear ANY type of eagles gear & i’ve been a fan for yrs. not until VICK is gone,maybe not even then.i feel as thuogh the eagles “prostituted” the team when they signed him. SO tired of looking @ him & hearing his “SORRY"ass voice,every hit he takes is 4 all the dogs he tortured 2 death because they wouldn’t fight! personally i don’t think he is clean of it,time will tell,he took too much pleasure in personally inflicting such pain! HE MAKES ME SICK!!
Michael Vick “blamed” his circumstances on his upbringing…what a joke. He knew it was wrong & I am sure he found pleasure in killing the dogs with his own hands or he would have had someone else do it for him. He is a coward & an abusive creep. I do NOT forgive him just because he did his time. The dogs that lived are still doing time. I WILL NOT WATCH THE NFL AS LONG AS THEY PROMOTE SICK PEOPLE LIKE VICK. It just shows you that MONEY always wins over decency.
Michael Vick should never have been allowed to own, or be near another animal ever. He should never have been released from prison and neither should he have been allowed to play professional football again. His actions were deplorable and he is a disgusting human being.
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I will never watch or endorse or buy any products that endorse the Eagles as long as Vick is still with them. If Vick goes to another team,the same applies.