Unbelievable!!! I’ve supported HSUS for years now thinking we are helping to save precious animals who do not have a voice for themselves from any harm and danger! I’ve not gotten over the fact that Michael Vick was so tortuous to animals but yet, welcomed back to the NFL as a hero. They even stated how he turned his life around and was supporting these Animal organizations. I see now how his support is. All those pretty ,so called, words of Wayne Pacelle is just hog-wash to me now. I have lost respect for him for letting this tragedy happen all over again! This horrible person should be removed from his official office and get someone in there who cares for our animals not the $$$$. As far as Michael Vick is concerned…......He needs to be kicked out of the NFL and put back in prison!

Let me start by saying that Micheal Vick only provided the “finances” to purchase the dogs and that he never was hands-on in any of the raising of those dogs involved. he was a spectator and an investor…nothing more. I think allowing him to have a dog as a pet may help him to further realize that animals have feelings too, and also to help him in his effort to change. I do not uphold animal abuse but I do believe the man is truly sorry, and “believed” that dogs were “tools” used to make money. Yes it was wrong!...but now that he has a better understanding and has been “re-programmed,” the world should give him a break!!

Concerning Michelle Chatman’s post. Please check your facts. Michael Vick was CONVICTED of torturing and KILLING at least 8 dogs with his bare hands. He was NOT just a spectator and investor.

Anyone who attends and is a spectator of, or invests in, or raises dogs in preparation for the cruelty of dogfighting, also has no business owning dogs in my opinion.  With their actions, they have chosen a “side”... that of promoting violence.  That is not FOR animals, and no person who has done any of that, should not be trusted WITH them. 

I am replying in part to a commentary posted by Michelle Chatman on 12/20 at 3:56 pm.  While I appreciate her comment that allowing Michael Vick “to have a dog as a pet may help him further realize that animals have feelings, too, and also to help him in his effort to change” I feel he should be actively engaging in anything that shows he is sorry for his crime.  If he is really sorry, he will do things for them even without having one as a pet, and be active for animal causes and help them, that later might make me feel more that he can be trusted with a pet of any kind. 

Perhaps it may help him to realize what he did was wrong on so many fronts, but I don’t want to see him with a pet in his possession, as he has put it in theirs and our faces, that he did not care about them by participation in this awful, heinous ‘sport’... I don’t want to take the chance that that one animal may be treated badly or killed if he should become angry with it.  Better that he be allowed to go to shelters and care for some of these animals, and witness what happens to them when there are not enough homes and they must be killed.  That, certainly might help him further realize that animals have feelings, too. 
As usual, and obviously in Mr. Vick’s case, many human action is taken because of pure greed.

@ Michelle

Yea He’s re-programmed all right. Just like Jeffery Dahmer the serial rapist and killer, Bernie Madoff or any other criminal who got caught and convicted. He’s sorry he got caught and his name smeared!
Who are you anyway?
Pacelle’s sweetie trying to smooth things over. Your comment is just as disgusting as Pacelle’s. How much are you getting paid!

Our children grow up with athletes bieng one of thier biggest role models. They idolize them, want to be them. Vick should be made to live and die as he made those dogs. Pacella I never heard of until today. My opinion is he should recieve the same as Vick. Lets see how money eases HIS suffering. Until we hold people accountable no one will take responsibility. So if a child rapist/killer donates $50,000 to child welfare groups should he be allowed around kids again? Same thing only worse. Animals CAN’T EVER tell anyone. Good job Pacelle, Vick, and the Eagles. Thanks to all you pit bulls will continue to have a bad rep and killed both in the pit and in shelters. Sleep well. I know pit bulls wont.

@ Michelle
Are you even remotely serious right now??? You defend Vick as if only “financing” isn’t somehow as bad as doing the fighting and abusing in the first person. Well, to me, it’s much worse. Funneling money into a situation like this as if it’s some kind of fast food franchise to make a few extra bucks should be criminal. Oh wait….it is. As a matter of fact, it’s a felony for which he served not nearly enough time for.  And by the way, considering the millions he makes from football, it’s obvious he was involved in this because to him it’s a hobby. This is fun entertainment for him, oddly enough. At this point, I’m not sure which is worse….being Vick…..or defending him. Education is key here, people.

HSUS will never get a dime from this person!!!!

Michelle:
you might note the the HSUS pushes for even spectators at any animal fight to be charged with a felonious crime so their ” forgiveness” of Vick is a scam of the worst sort..  Friends Don’t let Friends Donate to the HSUS

Thanks to HumaneWatch.org, my eyes regarding the HSUS were opened long ago, and I haven’t sent them a dime in over a year, and never will again. My animal rescue donations go to Best Friends and to local no-kill shelters. That this widely respected organization can be so easily bought off is sickening, but unfortunately not surprising. Keep up the good work, HumaneWatch, and we’ll keep spreading the word.

I’m just curious are there ever any animal welfare activists who go to the Eagle games carrying picket signs? This scum bag animal abuser needs to not have a job or a roof over his head, unless it is back in jail…he did not serve enough time for what he has done to those poor dogs. HSUS also needs to be hit hard for standing beside this dog abuser, but “birds of a feather flock together.” The best way to get them is through their wallet. Donate to a place that actually help animals instead of stuffing their own wallets full of money.  Donate to local shelters.

Most people probably don’t know that fighting dogs was the least of his transgressions. He severely tortured his dogs. He is a sick, cruel guy. If there is any outrage, it would be twenty-fold if more people knew what he is capable of and what he has done. Unfortunately there are some things which cannot be rehabilitated. His skills as an athlete do not negate his failure as a human. O.J. Simpson was an excellent athlete as well.

Michelle - Do you blame the masterminds that fund wars or the soldiers that actually fight the war? Michael Vick was convicted for funding AND killing dogs!  Do you know Vick personally?  Because if you did, then you would know he was involved in both funding the fights and killing the dogs. But since you obviously dont, please dont say “now that he has a better understanding…” You don’t know what he has an understanding of so don’t put yourself out there and make such a bold statement. You should be ashamed of yourself for even thinking that its ok for Vick to have a dog.

Michael Vick got a small punishment compared to the vicious and cruel deaths he sentenced those dogs. Animals and children cannot speak for themselves and need PEOPLE to speak about the horrors that happens to them. Not only is it horrendous that an organization set up to “protect” animals would forgive a crime of this type, but to accept money from a sports team whose only intention is to buy them off. Horrendous. If people really cared about the lives of animals they would protest Michael Vick games by not attending and send a message to the Eagles and the world that this type of horrendous crime should not be rewarded with a multimillion dollar contract. And the subject of Vick wanting to adopt a dog for his kids is ridiculous ! Would you allow a child killer to adopt more children? What’s wrong with Eagle fans? What’s wrong with HSUS ? Thanks HumaneWatch for pointing out this terrible situation.

Michelle: Are you really serious with your comment? How would you feel if someone was merely ‘financing’ and ‘spectating’ child porn??! Not only is your statement factually incorrect, but both financing and spectating dog fighting are crimes in and of themselves. However, Vick WAS hands-on in addition to financing and spectating, and he participated in the torturous killing of dogs that didn’t cut it in the fighting ring. There is no way in hell it will ever be ok for this SOCIOPATH to have another dog. He apparently thinks he’s god now after his successful return to football (which I disagree with as well) and can do whatever he wants. Wasn’t he recently caught on tape saying that if he hadn’t been caught he would still be dog fighting? Yeah, let’s give this guy a dog!!!

The person that wrote he did not actually participate in the raising or fighting does not have the facts.  He and one of his idiot friends picked up ends of a dog that had lost a fight and repeatedly slammed it from over their heads onto the concrete not once but several times until it died.  Get the facts if a dog lost a fight he electrocuted it or drowned it.  He personally used a dog named Mel to bait the fighters by muzzling the dog so he could not fight back and beating the dog until it doesnt bark now.  It cowers in a corner when strangers come around.  He personally killed, abused and traumatized these dogs.  He does not deserve to own anything that lives or breathes.  He should have been neutered before he multiplied.  I will never send money to H$U$ or watch the Eagles play ball both are disgusting money hungry pieces of crap.  Wayne Pacelle and the Eagles owners should take a look at what they have and know maybe not today maybe not next week but someday they will pay for putting money above all else.

Hmm so do you think Mr Pacelle would say that ANY dog fighter who has been convicted and “served their time” should be able to own a dog of their choice.. choke choke.. I think not

It thoroughly amazes me that every farmer in this nation is an automatic animal abuser because they’ve chosen to make raising animals a profession, but a REAL convicted animal abuser can not only make a side business out of it, but wantonly indulge in acts of animal abuse….and can somehow earn Pacelle’s forgiveness. Wonder if we all give Pacelle a big fat check, if we could buy his approval and he’d leave us all alone….

The idea of giving this man a chance to harm another animal is sickening to me, and that an organization that is entrusted with the protection of animals would endorse it is outrageous. I urge people not to stop supporting the organization because those involved within it who truly care for the welfare of animals need those funds. But I do believe that all donations should be held\suspended until Mr. Pacelle is forced to resign; otherwise those donations should go to any number of other organizations out there and I’d be happy to provide a list!

If Vick had abused and killed 8 children would he have gotten the same sentence? Would he be allowed someday to adopt a child after his rehab, jail time? Animals and children do not have a say in the manner they are treated. Vick is paying off people, so he’ll come out looking like a good guy, which by the way he is not or ever will be. He was allowed to return to the NFL and play like nothing ever happened. Vick should NEVER be allowed to have an animal or a child.

Yes, I agree w/Trish. Most people only hear the tip of the iceberg, but you really have to check into the whole story, the abuse, torture, killing, maiming… I wonder if this spills out into his dealings with people, if not now, it’s only a matter of time. Maybe when he’s no longer a football player (when he can no longer take his aggressions out on the field), he’ll show the world what he’s really like???!!!

It’s obvious where Mr. Pacelle is coming from and I question his moral authority to head US Humane society. He initially stated that when the Vick torture ring was exposed that all the rescued dogs should be destroyed along with PETA as they could not be rehabilitated! About half the dogs are living in homes and some are therapy dogs. The other half are living in sanctuaries. Now he says that Vick should be allowed to own one. He should put himself in the position of a dog….if he was a dog would he want Vick as his owner? I think not. I thought we as humans must advocate for our canine companions. I live in a province in Canada called Ontario where all pit bulls are banned because of owners like Vick and over ten thousand have been destroyed. Now that the Eagles have “rehabilitated” Vick, I would suggest that the Eagles should now devote their energy and money in rehabilitating the much maligned reputation of the pit bull. I emailed their public relations department my opinion but I have had no response. We need to push the Eagles to do this. If anything can be called good out of the Vick affair it brings the attention of the plight of these dogs to the public.

so this is what ppl do with $ and this is what ppl do that need $ well shame on everyone of these ppl in the name of $ they all abuse animals.