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Michael Vick to address Congress on animal fighting
Digital Journal ^ | Jul 18, 2011 | Lynn Curwin

Posted on 07/18/2011 4:51:53 PM PDT by kanawa

Michael Vick, the American football player who served 21 months in prison for dog fighting, is scheduled to appear on a Capitol Hill to speak about legislation which would penalize those who support animal fighting.

The Morning Call reported that a bill, titled H.R. 2492, was recently introduced by U.S. Reps Tom Marino and Betty Sutton. It is designed to penalize those who finance and/or attend dog and cock fights and impose additional penalties on those who bring children to such events.

Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) president and CEO Wayne Pacelle is also scheduled to be on Capitol Hill on Tuesday.

When Vick's prison sentence was almost completed, his representatives approached Pacelle with the idea of having them take part in some work together. A decision was made to allow him to contribute time to do what he could to prevent more dog fighting from taking place.

The HSUS said that Vick is not a spokesperson for the organization or their anti-dogfighting campaign, but they felt he could help because "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."

Earlier this year he added his voice to Pacelle's in speaking out against an Android app called "Dog Wars."

“I’ve come to learn the hard way that dogfighting is a dead-end street,” the Calgary Herald quoted him as saying. “Now, I am on the right side of this issue, and I think it’s important to send the smart message to kids, and not glorify this form of animal cruelty, even in an Android app.”

Best Friends has information on its website about several of the dogs who arrived at their sanctuary terrified and scarred after being rescued from Vick's dogfighting ring. Some of these animals are still struggling with issues resulting from the abuse they suffered.

Writing on Pet Examiner, Howard Portnoy expresses doubt about Vick's motives, but supports the proposed bill, saying that, "Perhaps if Michael Vick had been unable to attract other people who share his sickening blood lust and lack of compassion for animals, dozens of innocent dogs would have been spared."

In a press release about the bill Pacelle said: “Spectators are participants and accomplices who enable the crime of animal fighting, provide a large share of the funding for the criminal enterprise through their admission fees and gambling wagers, and help conceal handlers and organizers who try to blend into the crowd when a bust occurs."


TOPICS: Pets/Animals
KEYWORDS: dogfighting; doggieping; vick
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To: Recovering Ex-hippie

I trust HSUS less than I trust Vick. They have an agenda and it’s not one most Americans would agree with if they actually understood it.


41 posted on 07/19/2011 6:05:32 AM PDT by brytlea (Someone the other day said I'm not a nice person. How did they know?)
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To: Salamander

What is a rape rack?


42 posted on 07/19/2011 6:19:52 AM PDT by brytlea (Someone the other day said I'm not a nice person. How did they know?)
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To: Osage Orange
.Will bake them tomorrow..evening. With a nice grouping of veggies too....

Got your 11 herbs and spices? If not, see the Colonel.

43 posted on 07/19/2011 8:02:42 AM PDT by Ole Okie (!!)
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To: brytlea

Well, by all means, then...let’s not use any opportunity to make ANY kind of impact on ghetto kids in a positive way...I trust Coach Dungy. And since you are not aware of what had been done, I am sure its best just to denounce ANY positive influence even HSUS may have, even incidentally.


44 posted on 07/19/2011 8:09:14 AM PDT by Recovering Ex-hippie (where is the Great Santini when we need him??)
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To: kanawa

In related news, the shades of Jesse Woodson James, John Dillinger and Willie Sutton will be testifying on banking.


45 posted on 07/19/2011 8:10:19 AM PDT by PzLdr ("The Emperor is not as forgiving as I am" - Darth Vader)
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To: Ole Okie

Have not ate there in 20 yrs or so....


46 posted on 07/19/2011 10:10:13 AM PDT by Osage Orange (HE HATE ME)
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To: Recovering Ex-hippie

It’s like trusting progressives to do some good things. Do you? Or do you always suspect they has another agenda? Just because Coach Dungy may not know HSUS’s other agenda doesn’t mean they don’t have one. I would never for one second support a single thing they do. Nothing. Nada. Zip. If their hands are on it, it’s dirty.


47 posted on 07/19/2011 10:16:19 AM PDT by brytlea (Someone the other day said I'm not a nice person. How did they know?)
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To: kanawa

This must be satire.


48 posted on 07/19/2011 10:18:50 AM PDT by Dante3
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To: brytlea

A contraption they strap the female dogs to, theoretically, for forced breeding.

From what I’ve heard, it was also a source of “voyeuristic entertainment”.


49 posted on 07/19/2011 11:19:34 AM PDT by Salamander (I'm your pain.)
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