What is wrong with this picture?

What Is Wrong With This Picture????

The following is a statement that known and convicted animal abuser Michael Vick has recently released:

"I understand the strong emotions by some people about our family’s decision to care for a pet. As a father, it is important to make sure my children develop a healthy relationship with animals. I want to ensure that my children establish a loving bond and treat all of God’s creatures with kindness and respect. Our pet is well cared for and loved as a member of our family. This is an opportunity to break the cycle. To that end, I will continue to honor my commitment to animal welfare and be an instrument of positive change."

I have no doubt in my mind that Michael Vick did not actually prepare this statement on his own.  I believe this is the work of his highly paid and skillful publicist.  I take exception to this entire statement for more than one reason. I would like to break this statement down, and discuss my thoughts on each and every sentence in this statement. 

"I understand the strong emotions by some people about our family’s decision to care for a pet.”  Ok, so, he “Understands” the strong emotions of some people out there about his family’s decision to care for a pet.  I am not so sure he “Understands” anything from anyone except for his own thoughts.  He is part of his family unit.  Wouldn’t you think that his family would think it is not such a good idea for handing a known and convicted animal abuser another animal to “care for?”  To me, it is like handing an alcoholic a drink.

“As a father, it is important to make sure my children develop a healthy relationship with animals.” Really?  He should have thought about that before he decided to fight, drown, beat, shoot, starve and electrocute the animals in his care. Did he not think that his children were witness to all of this abuse? Now, these children think it is OK to do this. They think it is OK to see an animal as disposable.  What a lovely example he set for his children.  And NOW, because he got caught and most of the free world is on his tail, calling him out for all of the horrific, not to mention illegal things he has done, he wants to make sure his children develop a healthy relationship with animals? Ok….and I have a bridge in Brooklyn to sell him as well….

“I want to ensure that my children establish a loving bond and treat all of God’s creatures with kindness and respect. “  I especially have to let out a laugh at this line.  If this is what he wanted to ensure, then he would not have done the things he did in the first place.  I am not even going to get into the “God’s creatures” thing.  Children learn by example, and what a fine and mighty example he set while he was drowning and electrocuting animals that HE deemed useless.  What was that about God again Vick? Unfortunately, he is one of God’s creatures too. I wonder if God will deem him useless as well.

“Our pet is well cared for and loved as a member of our family.”  Might I remind Mr. Vick, just because you are not torturing your animal, does not necessarily mean that his pet is well cared for.  A pet is a lifelong commitment.  Being that his pattern is one of disposal, I am not so sure I am buying this line especially.  What is going to happen if that animal has an accident on the new carpet? Scratches his million dollar furniture, or eats a leg off of a kitchen chair? Will it suffer the same fate as his other “well cared for” animals? I would think so. He has done nothing to prove otherwise. 

“This is an opportunity to break the cycle.”  I highly disagree.  The horrific behavior he displayed is in him.  A real opportunity to break the cycle would be for Mr. Vick to humble himself , admit what he has done was unconscionable, and try to make things right by advocating against dog fighting, and abuse of animals - every chance he gets.  It does not break the cycle by giving an animal abuser another animal.  It is obvious by his selfish and violent behavior that he needs some kind of counseling as well. 

“To that end, I will continue to honor my commitment to animal welfare and be an instrument of positive change.”   Ok, let’s call it what it is here.  He got caught. He is only sorry because he got caught.  There is no doubt in my mind that if he would have never got caught, he would still be fighting and executing dogs.  His “change of heart” is solely because he was caught.  He has to honor his commitment to animal welfare because he HAS to.  If in fact, Mr. Vick can be an instrument of positive change, as she so states, then great. Be an instrument of positive change.  That still doesn’t mean that he should have ANY animal in his care.  It still does not change the fact he has done some pretty horrific things to “God’s creatures” as he called them.  Whatever the opinions are out there regarding Mr. Vick and his violent antics, this is mine.