Wayne Pacelle Explains Position On Michael Vick Owning Another Dog
Written by Vegetarian Star on December 17th, 2010 in Animal Issues, Athletes-Games-Sports.
Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States, is making headlines in the news for saying he thinks Michael Vick should be able to own another dog one day.
Restricted to a one line quote in most media outlets, Pacelle felt he didn’t get the chance to elaborate on his stance and recently took to the Humane Society’s blog to explain. No, Vick isn’t getting a dog anytime soon. Pacelle knows it’s not time yet and the courts won’t allow it. But, given the work he’s seen Vick accomplish, Pacelle thinks one day Vick can prove himself as compassionate and responsible. Some highlights from his post.
On Convicted Animal Abusers Owning Pets Again:
“It’s now a well-established principle within our movement that those convicted of malicious cruelty should not be permitted to have pets, at least for a number of years after a cruelty conviction, and sometimes even for life. That’s my policy for Vick, too. But the court did not decide to impose a lifetime ban, and based on the work for animals he has undertaken since his release from prison, I don’t believe he should be forever banned from adopting a dog for his two daughters.”
On How Vick Has Worked To Change Himself:
“Vick has been undergoing weekly psychological counseling for the last 18 months. He’s also been speaking out against dogfighting, and in his public appearances alone he’s reaching thousands of young people with a cautionary tale about dogfighting and animal cruelty. He and I recently did a program in late November in New Haven, and together we spoke to 2,000 at-risk kids.”
On How Owning A Pet Again May Be A Step In Vick’s Full Recovery:
“It would be a natural next step for him to interact positively with animals in a public setting. If a perpetrator serves time and gets counseling, and if they show they can be an upstanding member of society, then maybe, under the right circumstances and after several years of not being allowed to have a pet, then they could have their pet-keeping privileges reinstated. Where the human-animal bond has been broken, we want it to be restored.”
More at the HSUS.
Photo: PR Photos
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August 18th, 2011 at 7:23 am
Sorry Pacelle, I couldnt disagree more. He not only knew about the dog fights, he personally killed dogs with his bare hands. He electrocuted and drowned dogs. he is a sociopath and pacelle is nothing more than a politician.