Being In The NFL Rots Your Brain

If you're an animal lover, and even if you're not, you're probably horrified by the allegations of dog fighting and animal neglect against Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick. Not only is dog fighting illegal in all 50 states, the type of abuse and outright viciousness perpetrated against these animals cannot be tolerated.

People have found violence to be entertaining for centuries. Crowds gathered to throw stones at sinners, hangings and executions were social events, and even today, Ultimate Fighting has a huge following. But I just do not get how watching two animals fight to the death is supposed to be fun? I've seen the aftermath of dog fights--torn ears, punctured eyeballs, gnawed limbs, and lots and lots of blood. It ain't pretty.

This is not the kind of world I want my kids to grow up in. If you treat animals like this, how will your kids grow up to be loving, gentle, caring people?

Some people call for a ban on pitbulls and other "at risk" breeds, but I think we should ban bad owners instead. I've had my share of close calls, bite wise, after so many years of working with animals, but the vast majority of those were small dogs. I have never been bitten by a large dog. Ever. Did you know that a recent study showed that people who fight dogs are more than four times likely to have a criminal record than people who do not fight dogs? The owners are drawn to the breed, not the breed drawn to fighting. There are a lot of pitbulls in Baltimore, and a lot of news coverage about fighting and bite incidents, but considering the astronomical crime statistics, it's a logical conclusion that the people who own these dogs are not upstanding citizens.

Some of the articles I read about this online contained quotes from some of Vick's fans. One pointed out that this is just another example of sports figures thinking they are above the law, but one went as far as to say that the fame and money got to Vick, and that he wasn't raised with the skills to cope.

So...fame and money affect your sense of right and wrong so much that you electrocute, shoot and hang dogs? Sounds like Vick isn't the only one who has been tackled too many times.

Stories like this bring the morons out of the woodwork. Take, for example, the statements of the Washington Redskins Clinton Portis. According to him, it's Mr. Vick's dog, he can do what he wants with it, and dog fighting is more prevalent that people think. Police and judges probably do it too.

Hey, if that's the case, why are all those child abusers in prison and why am I required to keep my grass mowed and my car in good working condition?

Congratulations, Mr. Portis, you are today's lucky recipient of the Shut The Hell Up Award.