Still ticked off from the Vick situation, I decided to....

[Vikefantam]

Get a custom-made T-shirt that says, both front and back, "Michael Vick is a dog killer." Nothing more, nothing less. I have worn it twice and have had so many compliments from strangers.

Perhaps I am still just a little devastated that we had to put my rescue down last week. As weak and lethargic as he was, he didn't flinch when they put the needle in his arm but when they injected the medicine, he howled, like he knew it was the end. Yes, I am still very sensitive right now and the tears still come.

However, my T-shirt is not a reflection of Toby's demise. It is a reflection that I will not let people forget what Vick has done. As much as I hate to see McNabb go down, the human part of me can't wait to see Vick in there, getting his a** handed to him by the NFL player dog lovers out there.

Yes, I believe in second chances. I am a recovering alcoholic and if it were not for the good Lord, I would not be sober today, and I am lucky to have a second chance. However, some NFL fans' memories tend to be short and I will make sure they are reminded what he did. He does not seem remorseful and his comments about not belonging in prison really angered me. He committed a crime and deserved to do the time.

People who harm children and animals ought to have a special place in hell.

RIP, Toby Bear. Mommy will miss you, you little goofball.

Michael Vick - I wish they'd put a shock collar on you like some people do to dogs. When you blow a play, fumble, throw an interception or incompletion, they could shock the daylights out of you. I hope you rot in hell.

Thanks for letting me vent.

[PurpleMustReign]

Perhaps I am still just a little devastated that we had to put my rescue down last week. As weak and lethargic as he was, he didn't flinch when they put the needle in his arm but when they injected the medicine, he howled, like he knew it was the end. Yes, I am still very sensitive right now and the tears still come.

I'm sorry to hear that!! I know that is a difficult thing to do. My mom had to put her cat down a couple months ago, and that was a hard time.

Yes, I believe in second chances. I am a recovering alcoholic and if it were not for the good Lord, I would not be sober today, and I am lucky to have a second chance. However, some NFL fans' memories tend to be short and I will make sure they are reminded what he did. He does not seem remorseful and his comments about not belonging in prison really angered me. He committed a crime and deserved to do the time.

People who harm children and animals ought to have a special place in hell.

I understand and that is the one thing that bothers me about this while thing, He didn't serve the time he should have. Killing animals should be the same (or at least similar) to killing people, especially when it is done for fun.

That being said, I will be interested to see how Michael Vick handles the next coming years, and if he can stay out of trouble. If he can do that, we can know whether he learned from his mistakes or not.

[Vikefantam]

I understand. and that is the one thing that bothers me about this while thing, He didn't serve the time he should have. Killing animals should be the same (or at least similar) to killing people, especially when it is done for fun.

That being said, I will be interested to see how Michael Vick handles the next coming years, and if he can stay out of trouble. If he can do that, we can know whether he learned from his mistakes or not.

I hope he has changed, but what bugs me is that during his press conference, he seemed drugged uninspired and showed a lack of remorse. That is, my opinion, however, and YMMV. Some may say he only looked subdued but I just got the impression he popped a couple or few Xanax or Valium prior to the interview.

After a couple of years in jail, what he said at the news conference showed at least to me me he is not remorseful. Let me take that last part back - he IS remorseful but only because he got caught. His words, such as "I hope to help more dogs, animals than I hurt" seemed scripted by his publicist or someone else, and I honestly think he will do very little to make up for what he's done . I think once in awhile, he'll make a contribution to the ASPCA or whatever and make sure it is publilicized I almost wish that he got attacked and mauled by one of his own dogs while it was being taught to fight. I'm not wishing for death, just a really bad bite to his arm, foot or leg.

Being a recovering alcoholic, as I have mentioned, I am truly a believe in 2nd chances and I felt he deserved one (though not in the NFL). However, he just seemed to have no regrets about what he did. I am remorseful pretty much daily over the people I hurt with my drinking. I was lucky enough not to kill or harm anyone but myself (drunken falling accidents), but I did hurt my family a great deal. Also, Vick said twice he did not belong in jail for his crimes, that it was "ridiculous" he should have to spend time behind bars for this crime. If you're going to commit the crime, do the time and if you don't want to spend time in jail or prison, lead a lawful life. He knew it was against the law and still did it. I don't want to hear any of the "it's part of my culture" BS either. Vick was a multi-millionaire playing starting QB in the NFL. Once he joined those ranks, he left his childhood/teenager culture behind. Or at least he should have.

The really sad thing is that now Pitties have a nasty reputation (which may pass, because the same reputation has belonged to Dobermans, then Rotties). Pitties are some of the sweest, most loving (and beautiful) dogs around. A local town around here, Youngstown, Ohio, has banned the breed from the neighborhood because of all of the pit bull dog fighting rings and attacks by pit bulls (most likely ones who have been trained to flight). The vicious attacks on kids and adults by Pitties are most likely from Pitties trained to attack, flight and kill.

Kudos to the judge who didn't just wave him off with a warning, giving him probation. Vick must have a huge ego. I personally don't think he's a very good QB and though I don't want him personally injured, I will laugh with joy every time a defender cleans his clock. A lot of NFL players out there have dogs and from some of the segments I've seen on TV where they interviewed the player with his dog at his side, I've seen some really dog-loving, devoted owners. Players are human too and I believe they will be out to get him.

Also, the "good things" you keep hearing about Vick doing this or that for charity seem to be blips from certain media.

Thanks for your condolances on Toby. He was almost 9. He was born in a puppy mill near Cincinnati and was adopted as a puppy by a couple who had him for a couple of years. Then, they decided on having another baby, so the cat stayed, the dog was booted. Since he was a puppy mill dog, I can can tell he had some horribly bad genes - puppy mills have no regard as to the breed standard. They're out to sell puppies, many of which die in transit to the local pet store. The next time you go into a store that sells dogs, ask to see a few. The should have a birth day on their collar and quite often, that date reveals they were taken away from their parents around 4 weeks of age or so. Puppy mills breed brother and sister, mother and son, father and daughter and as a result of this, Toby was not a great example of a pug as far as breed standard - too tall, too long, his tongue always stuck out about 2 inches from his mouth (he had a normal dog-sized tongue but the pug short face, which caused his tongue to hang out), he had unpreferred ears. But he was so sweet. I cried like a baby when they put him down. I buried him the same day, which was interesting trying to use the shovel with my left foot (cannot use right foot because of the fracture). I took his cold, stiff body next to me right before I bured him, and cried and told him I was sorry if I had failed him in any way. I covered his grave with cinder blocks so no wild animals would dig him up, and I put lots of flowers on his grave.


Anyway, enough rambling. They're offering overtime at my at-home medical transcription job and they pay by the line. I don't want to pass up an opportunity to make more money.

May God bless you all and keep you safe!

[Arjuna]

Sounds like you took what he did extremely personal. It would probably be healthier for you too just let it go. People make mistakes, he made a horrible one. Why do you even care if he is remorseful or not, let god do the judging when Vick's time comes. The fact Vick got busted doing this, in the long run will end up doing a lot more good for animals and animal rights than negative. This has brought gigantic amounts of attention and support to animal rights that they would have never gotten if he hadn't done it(not to say its justified). Also don't forget this harms Vick's family more than it does Vick himself. I don't know if he has kids or not but his whole family is probably extremely embarrassed and probably catch tons of sh1t every time someone realizes they are related to him. My best friend's dad murded his girlfriend, I will never forget the hell my friend went through in school, and he was a good person.

What Vick did was wrong and disgusting, no animal deserves that and no one will argue against it, but to hold a personal vendetta against the guy?

And sorry about your dogs. I grew up with a chow/lab mix, most gentle protective dog I've ever seen, had her for 13 years, grew up with her from when I was a little kid, so I do know where you are coming from.

[thatguy]

^He definitely doesn't deserve to play NFL football...makin millions and playing a game for a living.

I know I've posted this before, but how could anyone rationalize giving him only 2 weeks suspension for a haneous crime...and give the Williams Wall 4 weeks for using a legal supplement?

My condolences for your dog Vikefantam. I've never had a dog (I hope to get a weiner dog some day [so cute]), but I know how it feels to lose pets (even small ones).

[glg]

I know I've posted this before, but how could anyone rationalize giving him only 2 weeks suspension for a haneous crime...and give the Williams Wall 4 weeks for using a legal supplement?

It's not only 2 weeks suspension. He's getting credit for time served too.

[thatguy]

^oh...and that too lol.

[Vikefantam]

Sounds like you took what he did extremely personal. It would probably be healthier for you too just let it go. People make mistakes, he made a horrible one. Why do you even care if he is remorseful or not, let god do the judging when Vick's time comes. The fact Vick got busted doing this, in the long run will end up doing a lot more good for animals and animal rights than negative. This has brought gigantic amounts of attention and support to animal rights that they would have never gotten if he hadn't done it(not to say its justified). Also don't forget this harms Vick's family more than it does Vick himself. I don't know if he has kids or not but his whole family is probably extremely embarrassed and probably catch tons of sh1t every time someone realizes they are related to him. My best friend's dad murded his girlfriend, I will never forget the hell my friend went through in school, and he was a good person.

Thanks for your condolences, and you're right about bringing attention to the injustices of things like dog fighting. Putting one of your babies to sleep is a rough thing to go thru. I've had other pets but never a dog until 8 years ago. I've had guinea pigs, hamsters, iguanas, etc. but nothing that ever showed such unconditional love like a dog does. And to have to make that decision that you're the one to end it's life, well, it's hell. But everyone I've talked to, especially the vet, said it was the right thing to do. He was suffering. And it's been a sucky summer. I was stupid enough to let a urinary infection go for 10 days before getting treatment and ended up very very sick with sepsis, kidney infection, kidney stones, pleurisy, costochondritis, etc. I was very ill for almost 3 months, on constant antibiotics, steroids, etc. and ended up in the ER where they inserted a contaminated IV which gave me blood poisoning running up my left arm. When I finally started feeling better, I started catching up on housework and broke my foot carrying laundry down the basement steps. It's the bone that's right where the top of the foot connects to the ankle (navicular/talus) so I've been in one of the hot/clunky boots since August. I've been crabby, nasty, judgmental and just not a nice person to be around lately and I apologize for that. Seeing injustices like Vick and then losing my dog was just a bit much on top of everything else. Summer is my favorite time of year and I pretty much lost out on this entire summer. No gardening. No flowers. Just dog walking (I was allowed to walk in that cam boot).

How sad for your friend. Guilt by association. It's sad that Vick's family will deal with that too. And it looks like Vick will come out of all of this squeaky clean. Memories are short. How many still think about Ray Lewis and his crime? Heck, we have senators and representatives who don't even get into trouble for not paying taxes. I guess it's who you know.

But I'll still have fun wearing my T-shirt.

[Vikefantam]

My condolences for your dog Vikefantam. I've never had a dog (I hope to get a weiner dog some day [so cute]), but I know how it feels to lose pets (even small ones).

Be prepared to have your heart stolen. I had no idea what I was in for with my first pug. I wanted to return him for the first 3 months we had him. Pugs are terrors as puppies. He regularly drew blood with his teeth and scratched me. He tore up/ate part of the carpet and destroyed furniture. He howled if I crated him. He followed me everywhere, biting my toes all the way. He refused to be housebroken. Somewhere along the way, I fell so deeply in love with that dog, though. I talked to other pug owners and they assured me he would calm down and he did. He is now 8 and is so mellow. We got Maggie because we loved him so much and we got Toby (the rescue we just put down) because we loved the other 2 so much. I didn't grow up a dog person. My dad would freak at the thought of an animal hair in his sterile house so I was only allowed outdoor cats growing up, that got hit by cars pretty quickly. I never knew I could love an animal so much until Bumper came into my life.

I hope you get that weiner dog soon. Be prepared to have your heart stolen. And quick.

[Hunter Morrow]

At the risk of losing all of my a-hole cred at the board (LIES!) my mother was a farm girl growing up before she moved to the city and became a teacher. You can take the girl out of the farm but you can't take the farm out of the girl so she started breeding these dogs called "Golden Doodles", half golden retriever, half poodle. For some reason though, yuppies will pay hundreds of dollars for these mutts/mongrels/pound hounds so she makes decent money with it.

So I don't get the fury of Tammy brought down on me, this is NO puppy mill. Its only 2 or 3 females who get bred out seldomly, they live in the house and have the kids in the house, and the little babies live in a kiddy swimming pool until they are old enough to roam outside. At which point they are promptly treated like royalty and pampered by second graders until they go to live in some yuppie McMansion. Bastards live better than I do!

Still, they're really cute.