- . Digg It
- . Sphere It
- . E-mail This
- . Save to del.icio.us
- . Permanent Link
The Dog in Me
Michael Vick's crime shines light on efforts to stop dogfighting
Media-savvy animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals has a knack for celebrity endorsement, signing on stars from Pamela Anderson, who stripped to protest fashionable furs, to Chrissie Hynde, who blasted Pamplona's running of the bulls. Yesterday's guilty plea by Atlanta Falcons star quarterback Michael Vick for felony conspiracy to promote dogfighting has served PETA as a reverse endorsement, shining a spotlight on an issue that PETA, the Humane Society, and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty against Animals have long been fighting in obscurity. Making the most of the moment, each organization has stepped up their campaigns.
PETA has launched a letter-writing drive, asking sympathizers to pressure the NFL to add "cruelty to animals—in all its forms—to its personal conduct policy." They've also released a new public service announcement featuring heavyweight boxing champ Lamon Brewster, denouncing the "sport" as deadly and pointing out that he may choose to step into the ring, but the dogs don't have a choice.
Then in The Peta Files blog yesterday, PETA revealed that they had been talking with Vick's legal team and advisers "for weeks," urging him to speak out against dogfighting and keep children from following his path. Those are probably exactly the moves his advisers would want him to make if he's ever to have a chance of returning to the NFL. Still, in his apology yesterday, Vick did indeed utter the words "dogfighting is a terrible thing" and, for the kids, "I hope that every young kid out there can use me as an example to use some better judgment."
Over at the Humane Society, there's a long-running letter-writing campaign called The Final Round, aimed at eliminating all forms of animal fighting for entertainment through tougher legislation and enforcement. In Chicago, where as in many urban areas dogfighting has emerged as a street phenomenon among gangs and drug dealers, the Humane Society has enlisted gangbuster Tio Hardiman to send out "violence interrupters," community members who can mentor young men likely to get pulled into dogfighting culture. Post-Vick, the Society has sponsored a Knock Out Dogfighting contest, where viewers can vote on the best user-generated anti-dogfighting vids.
In a letter from the website editor, the ASPCA announced that they had a hand in making the case against Vick, revealing that ASPCA forensic veterinarian Dr. Melinda Merck "participated in the excavation of the graves, and examination of the remains" killed by the QB and his associates.
Back in February 2005, well before the Vick brouhaha, the ASPCA enlisted Russell Simmons to launch the Cruel's not Cool campaign, with a poster and PSA of the hip-hop mogul speaking out about the mistreatment of animals in general. Never one to miss out on a celeb's passion, PETA more recently convinced Simmons, along with Rev. Al Sharpton, to write a letter to the NFL condemning animal cruelty.
The biggest celebrity anti-endorsement, however, remains the one from Michael Vick himself. The judge warned that he might throw down a tougher sentence than the year or so of jail time Vick pleaded for, and the Atlanta Falcons not only suspended the player without pay but are already making moves to recoup some $20 million in bonuses he earned on the field as part of his six-year contract. Dogfighting is not just looking cruel and uncool but — what might actually give wannabe dogfighters pause — it's being prosecuted as a serious criminal offense.
Celeste Fraser Delgado is The MOLI View's contributing editor for Worthy Causes.
PETA has launched a letter-writing drive, asking sympathizers to pressure the NFL to add "cruelty to animals—in all its forms—to its personal conduct policy." They've also released a new public service announcement featuring heavyweight boxing champ Lamon Brewster, denouncing the "sport" as deadly and pointing out that he may choose to step into the ring, but the dogs don't have a choice.
Then in The Peta Files blog yesterday, PETA revealed that they had been talking with Vick's legal team and advisers "for weeks," urging him to speak out against dogfighting and keep children from following his path. Those are probably exactly the moves his advisers would want him to make if he's ever to have a chance of returning to the NFL. Still, in his apology yesterday, Vick did indeed utter the words "dogfighting is a terrible thing" and, for the kids, "I hope that every young kid out there can use me as an example to use some better judgment."
Over at the Humane Society, there's a long-running letter-writing campaign called The Final Round, aimed at eliminating all forms of animal fighting for entertainment through tougher legislation and enforcement. In Chicago, where as in many urban areas dogfighting has emerged as a street phenomenon among gangs and drug dealers, the Humane Society has enlisted gangbuster Tio Hardiman to send out "violence interrupters," community members who can mentor young men likely to get pulled into dogfighting culture. Post-Vick, the Society has sponsored a Knock Out Dogfighting contest, where viewers can vote on the best user-generated anti-dogfighting vids.
In a letter from the website editor, the ASPCA announced that they had a hand in making the case against Vick, revealing that ASPCA forensic veterinarian Dr. Melinda Merck "participated in the excavation of the graves, and examination of the remains" killed by the QB and his associates.
Back in February 2005, well before the Vick brouhaha, the ASPCA enlisted Russell Simmons to launch the Cruel's not Cool campaign, with a poster and PSA of the hip-hop mogul speaking out about the mistreatment of animals in general. Never one to miss out on a celeb's passion, PETA more recently convinced Simmons, along with Rev. Al Sharpton, to write a letter to the NFL condemning animal cruelty.
The biggest celebrity anti-endorsement, however, remains the one from Michael Vick himself. The judge warned that he might throw down a tougher sentence than the year or so of jail time Vick pleaded for, and the Atlanta Falcons not only suspended the player without pay but are already making moves to recoup some $20 million in bonuses he earned on the field as part of his six-year contract. Dogfighting is not just looking cruel and uncool but — what might actually give wannabe dogfighters pause — it's being prosecuted as a serious criminal offense.
Celeste Fraser Delgado is The MOLI View's contributing editor for Worthy Causes.
What People Are Saying…
Leave a Comment