Mar 08 2010
Michael Vick Makes Me Sick. Why Does He Make HSUS Smirk?
We have absolutely had it up to here (*hand motion at the forehead*) with the Humane Society of the United States promoting Michael Vick.
What is it with these people? Why is HSUS Chief Operating Officer Michael Markarian escorting him to an NFL awards dinner on Tuesday night?
HSUS spends tens of millions of dollars every year making the case that animals deserve the exact same level of legal and conscientious protection as people. Now imagine if a child-services advocate tried to arrange a death-row video hookup so that Richard Allen Davis (remember Polly Klaas?) could make a series of remorseful "don't do what I did" speeches. We think you get the picture. It's the hypocrisy that gets to us.
While we're on the subject, why did the NFL allow Michael Vick to win a "courage" award in the first place? And why is BET giving him a reality show?
We have the distinct feeling that if HSUS hadn't made the Faustian bargain to get out in front of this sick publicity tour, Wayne Pacelle would be putting rhetorical body-slams on any other animal rights group that chose to take the lead.
Our heartfelt apologies to Philadelphia Eagles fans, but when the Phillies won the World Series in 2008, that was something to be proud of. Michael Vick isn't. Rather, it's what Advertising Age called "a comprehensive public-relations scheme to rehabilitate his image." And HSUS is at the center of it.
We can think of only four reasons why HSUS has embraced this convicted dogfighter and started him on a slide toward (*shudder*) respectability:
- HSUS's fundraising arm believes exploiting Americans' love of dogs is good for business; or
- HSUS's public-relations department believes the resulting media coverage will be positive for HSUS; or
- HSUS's policymakers genuinely believe a contrite and thoughtful Michael Vick can persuade the next generation of thugs to stop beating up on their pit bulls (and perhaps only kick the crap out of each other); or
- Someone from the Philadelphia Eagles hurt Wayne Pacelle's feelings as a child, and now he's trying to get even by making the team universally reviled by sports fans with functioning consciences.
Are we missing anything?
Let's throw out number four, just for starters. (Too obvious.) But a little historical recap is in order if we're going to make sense of what happened. Bear with us, as some of this may be new to you.
Michael Vick was indicted for his dogfighting operation on July 17, 2008. By the very next day, HSUS was making an online fundraising pitch, asking Americans to:
... make a special gift to help The Humane Society of the United States care for the dogs seized in the Michael Vick case ... your gift will be put to use right away to care for these dogs.
Two weeks later, The New York Times reported that HSUS wasn't “caring for” those dogs at all. HSUS didn't know where they were, and had no intention whatsoever of seeing them rehabilitated:
Wayne Pacelle, the president and chief executive of the Humane Society of the United States, said in a telephone interview Tuesday [that] ... "The fate of these dogs will be up to the government, but we have recommended to them, and believe, they will be eventually put down."
Pacelle said the Humane Society normally advocated that fighting dogs be put down shortly after being seized.
“Four months is a long time, a long time to be warehoused,” he said. “They may be walked only once a day, if that. We don’t know how well they are being kept. They are likely being held in cages for months on end.”
But Pacelle said his organization supported the government’s efforts. “It is lose-lose for the dogs,” he said. “They either die a gruesome death as a dogfighter in action, or they will be killed because they are not adoptable.” (emphasis added)
Several animal rescue groups disagree. While it's clearly an expensive and time-consuming challenge to rehabilitate fighting dogs, many believe it can be done. (Click here and here for examples of two organizations that are re-socializing Vick's dogs today.) We're made to understand, for instance, that the Best Friends Animal Society sued both HSUS and PETA in order to keep Vick's dogs alive.
At any rate, "Operation Hug Michael Vick" doesn't seem to be much of a cash cow for HSUS—other than the $50,000 the group got from the Philadelphia Eagles.
What about the publicity angle? It's true that HSUS has been on CNN talking about rehabilitating Michael Vick (instead of his dogs—how's that for irony?). But the usual strategy in these things is for HSUS to cast itself as the champion of Good, aligned against some easily targeted Horrible Villain. Like a Canadian seal hunter or a fur farmer.
In this case, HSUS is siding with the villain. That can't be good for anyone's image, no matter how heartfelt his apologies may be.
And how does HSUS square its support for a convicted dogfighting kingpin with its financial support for something called "The Committee to Protect Dogs"? Yesirree—HSUS spent over $500,000 to ban greyhound racing in Massachusetts. But Michael Vick's dogs are different. They deserved to die. And their tormenter is apparently not such a bad guy. The mind boggles.
Then there's door number three, which a less cynical blogger would have been rooting for all along: Was HSUS's heart in the right place, even though the rare human beneficiary of its compassion (in this case, Michael Vick) didn't deserve it? Did Michael Markarian, Wayne Pacelle, J.P. Goodwin et al honestly think they could leverage the Vick case into a societal good?
Here's what HSUS writes on the subject:
Vick was a role model for many young people, and he lost everything because of what he did to dogs. His story is the strongest possible example of why dogfighting is a dead end. Just as former drug addicts are able to reach people struggling with addiction, former dogfighters are some of the most effective voices against this crime. We realized the potential that Vick has to reach at-risk youth and pull them out of the quicksand of animal fighting.
... or perhaps to suck them in faster.
The Philadelphia SPCA reported on Friday that dogfighting investigations increased more than threefold between 2008 and 2009. There's clearly a Michael Vick factor here, and it's the direct opposite of what HSUS wanted to see. KYW News reports:
The number of animal fighting investigations, the vast majority of them dogfighting, has gone up from 237 in 2008 to over 800 last year - three to four times more. George Bengal, director of investigations for the SPCA, says some of the owner offenders have been drawn to the sport by an idol.
"Michael Vick in my view definitely enters into the equation. A lot of the younger generation looks up to him as an idol and they idolize him and try to mimic the things he had done, which is not good."
If there were only a slight uptick in investigations, we'd consider the possibility that Michael Vick's presence in the City of Brotherly Love has made people angry enough to report every dogfighter in their neighborhoods. But this is a gargantuan increase.
So the way we see it, there's absolutely no redeeming value in HSUS's partnership with Michael Vick. None. Zilch. HSUS has clearly bet the farm on the wrong team this time, and the "courage award" escort looks like HSUS is doubling down with bad cards.
But Vick will get his award, HSUS will declare victory, and maybe Nike will re-sign him for an endorsement next year. Which is too bad.
Yes, Michael Vick has apologized. Yes, he paid the legal penalty for what he did. Yes, he admitted to lots of crying on 60 Minutes. But recognizing your character defects doesn't mean you've suddenly transformed from a violent felon into a "courageous" guy who's worthy of hero worship.
Becoming self-aware enough to deal honestly with your flaws is merely a sign of exiting adolescence.
And Michael Markarian is his prom date. That's a paparazzi photo we might actually buy.
Posted on 03/08/2010 at 07:05 AM by the HumaneWatch Team
Animal Fighting • Celebrities • (19) CommentsComments
You write, “Yes, he paid the legal penalty for what he did.” I respectfully disagree. As part of his plea bargain, he pled guilty to illegal gambling/racketeering charges, and the animal cruelty charges were DROPPED. He never served a single day or paid a single dollar for what he did to those dogs.
Excellent article, very thoughtful. Back in December, when I first heard about the Ed Block “Courage” award being given to Michael Vick I was outraged - and tried like the dickens to find out if the public was really being ‘punked’. Not so, sadly. The Block Foundation provides safe houses for abused children - HELLO! - animal abuse/child abuse, proven links. I truly believe that the Philadelphia Eagles PLAYERS are the real thugs here, thumbing their noses at the fans who were outraged at the original charges. Many regular folks have forgotten how many of the most serious charges were dropped in plea bargains, and that Vick’s celebrity bought him a lot of passes that any other common criminal would never get away with. I’m with you - completely fed up with HSUS and Two-faced Wayne Pacelle’s well dressed thugs. As we speak, the HSUS has written a law for our state that would seize animals and bypass our constitutional right to due process in a case of vague cruelty charges with no conviction necessary. Micheal Vick, a violent criminal, can apologize his way back to a life of fame and fortune after a FELONY CONVICTION, while average people can lose everything over a false charge related to animals because they are unable to afford to prove their innocence. Where is common sense?
Me? I’m sick of the whole Michael Vick subject.
Each time Goodwin/Pacelle/Norred and Co. open their twisted little mouths on the subject of “pit bulls” and/or Vick, it’s another nail in the coffin of APBT’s everywhere.
BDS
Oh, and as someone who knows a little bit about working bulldogs and the people that love them, “Maneater and Pet Breeder” I think your loyalty is misplaced. Pitting dogs and electrocuting the ones that don’t come up to scratch? Are you kidding? Sometimes people get what they deserve.
The whole Vick scandal shows the sad state of public humanity. People see poor black boy beating the odds sadly sucked back into his ghetto roots, involved with pitbulls(dogs of EVIL influence) gambling and part of ghetto upbringing. REALLY?! Just out of curiousity- I would like to know how much of this activity he did BEFORE his success! and 30 years ago- pitbulls were NOT ghetto dogs! ask around- before fighting was banned- pitbulls were scarce, they were a sporting dog and treasured and kept away from hoodlums more interested in the dollar than the “sport”. Now in todays society- anything 30lbs-200lbs with short hair and jawls is considered a pitbull. I’m not sorry that fighting is illegal now- but its a shame the class of people now attracted to these animals. Banning and killing the breed is not a suitable answer but I do believe some sort of regulation should be required- I wish more people would return to the mindset of treasuring and regulating the home placement. Michael Vick is just the presonification of whats wrong with society. There ya go Vick- have THAT stamped on your pride-plaque! What a wanker.
Vick didn’t do a single minute in prison for what he did to those poor dogs. It positively makes me ILL that anyone would be supportive to that man in any way whatsoever. Meateater, do you have any idea of the ways he tortured and killed his own dogs that didn’t have enough killer instinct to be valuable as a fighter? He and his cohorts killed the losing dogs by electrocution, shooting, strangulation or drowning.
Excellent article, David!
Michael Vick is a prosimian troglodyte. He and the HSUS are a perfect match, in light of the fact he hates animals and women almost as much as they do.
I sincerely hope Philadelphia Eagles fans will get past their “yay, team, no matter what” mentality, rediscover their morals and consciences, and start heavily pressuring the owners of the Eagles to help this vicious thug on his way to the complete obscurity he so deeply deserves.
It wasn’t bad enough that the dogs were used for fighting my Michael Vick. He actually killed many of them with his bare hands when he felt they weren’t “living” up to his expectations. Maybe that should be a penalty for his loosing a football game. I think he got a slap on the hand period. Those kids he is suppose to be setting an example for, they will see the example. They will see he got away with it. They will think it is no big deal. After all he is right back where he started from, none the less for wear and tear.
To Meateater and Pet Owner/Breeder—this article is not about Michael Vick, and whether or not he has done his time. This article is about the HSUS capitalizing on Vick’s high-profile case to suck charitable donations from well-meaning, but misinformed dog lovers based on a LIE. The HSUS never helped Vick’s dogs—they never even tried to. But that didn’t stop them from lining their bank accounts by using Vick’s name—which they still continue to do. Oh, and as a professional dog trainer, I am appalled that you would try to equate earth dog or gun dog training with pit fighting. Talk about apples and Winnebagos! Puh-leeze!
I think the scary part is if HSUS gets their way, we could all end up being a Michael Vick. What is now legal could be considered just as bad as dog fighting, and get the same penalties.
I feel like Mr. Vick is a VIC-tim. A victim of HSUS. Guess at least he is guaranteed a good attorney if he needs one. Better not knock on that door though for educated, scientific info on agriculture and animals though.
I too am disgusted and losing trust in a lot of orgs that take contributions. I’m constantly hearing about the fraud going on but I was greatly disheartened to hear that this supposed “animal rights” org is only out to pad their pockets. They didn’t give to Hurricane Katrina like they were supposed to and made a LOT of $ off that deal; The head of it, W.P. hires all his ATTORNEY friends (living high lifestyles) and NOT people w/ education and experience in animal welfare, care and agriculture.
They’re experts all right! Experts in taking advantage of animal lovers, espec. the elderly and if they had their way, they’d do away w/ dog shows too—- and call them “animal slaves”—- YET, they seem to get a lot of money & appeal to these same people….I will NEVER again give to them and now that I found out my local Humane Society is NOT part of HSUS, I will give double to them!!
Pathetic crooks is all they are, hiding behind their fancy cars & not truly understanding population control and how to actually GIVE the $ people donated, to the correct cause.
This is why pit bulls have a bad name. Our pit bull is the most affectionate dog who also lives with a cat. My town forbid us to have him, although I did lie and said he was a mix of boxer and terrier. They hounded me, got the Post Office to stop my mail, cost me $3000. for lawyer and court fees, that we had to actually sell my house in Mass and move to New Hampshire. When they knew I was selling they stopped giving me grief. Another thing is why I joined today, is that I got a letter from Peta. Don’t know where they got my name as I only donate to the ASPCA. I was ready to donate after reading such sob stories, when my 16 yr old grandson told me not to. He told me stories about them which I could not believe. I guess kids today know more than we give them credit for. I Googled it and that is how I found you. I would like to know if you’re affiliated with Facebook as I have many friends that have domestic animals from cats dogs to horses. I am returning papers to Peta with a nasty letter. Thanks for enlightening me. Joanne D.
To Joanne, Ojymba and others who posted here about their disappointment with HSUS. I’m the last person in the world to give blanket credence to the Humane Society, PETA or any other animal rights group. They’re all flawed , some in ways that are unavoidable for large organizations, others in their basic approach to the causes I support. But, before you buy into the kind of counter-propaganda that you’ll find on this website and others like it, devote a little more thought to your core values.
Do you really want to support eating dogs, as the Chinese do? Or horses, as the French do. Or whales, as the Japanese do? Because that’s the position that this blog supports. The moment I read the statement: “I love dogs, but ...” I know the kind of pernicious hypocrisy that’s going to follow.
From the information that’s been aired on various programs (I believe one of them was Inside Edition) all of the dogs that were removed from Michael Vick’s “fighting operation” were being successfully rehabilitated with the exception of one (based on what the program indicated the numbers were).
I liked when the lady who adopted one of them said “make a mean face” and the dog flops on its back and literally smiles (not in a baring teeth in preparation for attack way) while having his tummy rubbed.
With people who have the right attitude and approacgh who are willing to fight on behalf of dogs whose only crime was being owned by some jerk who used them for fighting - rehabilitation can be quite successful. Are there some animals that cannot be rehabbed after their lives in fighting, yes, sometimes they have been so broken by what people have done to them for ‘entertainment’ that they’re unable to be saved. But. That is not the case for all of them, and apparently if it were up to HSUS and Pacelle’s groupies, these animals would never get another chance for a better life. Instead, they embrace a man who should have been put down for what he did to so many dogs, rather than just pushing for the other way around because they see a chance to make a buck or two hundred thirty four thousand.
That goes to show that the HSUS will hang with anyone if the price is right. $$$$$$$ can you guess how much the non rehabilitated Vick paid to look good?
Msexceptiontotherule, you hit it right on the head. Vick should have never been allowed back in the NFL, never mind being endorsed by the HSUS.
Michael Vick has changed his mind, i think.
I emailed HSUS about their alliance with vick and got an email from Wayne Pacelle and he explained how much good vick has done with his speeches at schools, etc. I told him to cancel my membership and not to ask for any $...today I recieved another plea for money and a key change for my generosity. They just don’t get it.
I don’t believe Micheal Vick did nearly enough time for his crimes..nor has he miraculously been healed..Healing is a process that is ongoing and takes time and “work” on his behalf..Like years of therapy for starters and that’s only if he s the one wanting to heal..The way I see it HSUS is trying something new possibly because there in denial about this guy and the cruelty that exists within him? to give him all the merits he has received is like rewarding Jeffrey Dalmer or any other mass murder.
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I can honestly say I have read the first comment on here I don’t agree with. Micheal Vick has done his time, paid his dues and here you are like so many AR’s lighting another fire under him, ENOUGH already! do you have the same HATE for chicken fighters, what about people who hunt hogs with dogs, or terrier people who hunt terriers underground to battle wild animals? You clearly don’t know much about hunting/performance dogs or the type of people who keep them. Death is never pretty, and the next burger you put in your mouth wonder how it died….. ask yourself if you know or care. If Michael Vick is such a sore spot for you then I am sure some animal rights group has a place for you.
PS many shelters kill dogs in extremely poor ways but I also don’t see you hating them or the people who do it!
this post is a FAIL!