Vegetarian Star

Has Michael Vick been elevated to sainthood?

The NFL player convicted for his involvement in dog fighting activities is scheduled to host a celebrity party at the MI-VI Club at Gulfstream Park Racing & Casino in Hallandale Beach in Florida where his guests will be met by protesters, according to an article in Palm Beach Post.

But representatives from the Humane Society of the United States say Vick’s work with the organization has actually steered youth from following down his path.

“He has been effective in helping young men choose a better path,” said John Goodwin, the Humane Society’s manager of animal fighting issues. “He is the example of how dogfighting is a destructive, dead-end activity with enormous consequences.”

(more…)

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Michael Vick was recently awarded the Ed Block courage award for his “sportsmanship” and “courage,” but not everyone who attended the event was supportive.

Several people gathered outside the facility, holding signs that read “No awards for dog killers” and “Cowards abuse animals.”

Each year several players receive the award if they are chosen to be “role models” that “exemplify commitments to the principles of sportsmanship and courage.”

One protester, according to the Baltimore Sun, said, “I find it appalling to give this to someone that has gotten enjoyment from hurting dogs,” she said. “What is he courageous about?”

A spokesman for the foundation awarding Vick, Paul Mittermeier said, “People have the right to voice their opinion.”

Vick has served time in jail for his involvement with dog fighting and has partnered with the Humane Society to discourage dog fighting in communities, especially among youth.

Is it time for activists to let go and focus on other campaigns?

Or is their constant presence in the midst of Vick’s comeback needed as a painful reminder that society should choose better role models.

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Who wants to see Michael Vick naked?

You don’t have to raise your hand just yet, but the people at Playgirl magazine have already put money on the table for Vick to bare all if he donates $1 million to PETA.

“I sent the request to Michael Vick on Wednesday,” Daniel Nardicio, Playgirl rep tells Life & Style. “But we haven’t heard back yet.”

“I figured he paid back society for dog fighting, but what about the animals?” said Daniel.

“This way he could donate a large sum to PETA and all he’d have to do is pose for the magazine! It’s kind of a win-win situation!”

For a real win-win situation, Vick could keep his clothes on and Playgirl could still donate money or time to animal causes.

Vick has voluntarily partnered with the Humane Society to  help deter youth from participating in dog fighting activities.

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Michael Vick’s documentary of his fall from grace due to dog fighting activities, The Michael Vick Project, premiered this month on BET.

Animal activist or not, the line separating those that believe he’s truly remorseful or just expressed regret as a publicity stunt is pretty deep, and it’s doubtful these clips will do anything to change their opinions.

One interesting note: Michael Vick played football at Virginia Tech, the same state as PETA territory.

One could guess Vick didn’t get the same “Be Cruelty-Free” pamphlets in his dorm mailbox as some other college students did.

Watch the clip below for highlights of the show.

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Comedian and Celebrity Apprentice competitor Carol Leifer spoke with  Miami New Times when she confirmed the rumor that she really does have a copy of Michael Vick’s apology for his involvement with dogfighting.

“Yes, we have it framed in our house,” Leifer said. “I had heard that the Humane Society had put it up for auction, and I thought this could be a double whammy of what us Jews call a mitzvah. I plan on selling it again when the time is really ripe, and I’ll donate the money again to another animal rights group.”

Leifer said Vick’s handwriting is horrible, along with his spelling.

Ouch!

Leifer shares company with another famous vegan lesbian comedian, Ellen DeGeneres.

“It’s funny because I had been vegan for about six months when I went to a taping of Ellen’s show. She had heard that I was vegan and was inquiring about it. Lesbians are really known for being animal lovers. Gay women always have so many pets.”

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Wayne Pacelle, CEO of the Humane Society of the United States, has blogged on what he feels were the biggest stories of the decade relating to animal welfare.

Sadly, some of the most newsworthy stories aren’t necessarily good ones, like the Michael Vick dog fighting incidents uncovered in 2007.

However, there were plenty of celebrities looking out for the animals in the past decade and Oprah Winfrey’s been awarded her set of wings for featuring an episode of her show that criticized puppy mills.

“Since the broadcasts, we’ve rescued thousands of animals from puppy mills,” writes Pacelle. “Just this year, 10 states have approved legislation to impose tougher standards on large scale dog breeding operations, and the new standards have prompted a number of deficient puppy mills to shut down. And a raft of protests has cause pet stores to close or at least to stop selling puppies from mills.”

And O even featured some four legged stars on the cover of her magazine after visiting PAWS, Chicago’s largest no-kill animal shelter.

Let’s hope the next decade is filled with more trendsetters like Oprah and less of the history one would rather forget.

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Chris Rock was on the The Jay Leno Show recently when he started talking about Michael Vick.

According to girliegirlarmy.com, Chris said:

“What the hell did Michael Vick do, man? A dog, a pit bull ain’t even a real dog. A pit bull, that’s the white stuff. Dogs are white mans best friend – dogs have never been good to black people.”

Wow.

Talk about cruel, offensive, and plain stupid.

We bet the inner city kids benefiting from the anti-dog fighting outreach efforts of the Humane Society would say their pit bulls are their best friends and they’re thankful someone other than Chris Rock taught them about how to love a pet.

But heck, why are we even paying attention to Chris Rock?

He’s not even a real comedian anyway.

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In another attempt to redeem his image, Michael Vick will be in a reality TV show on BET, tentatively called The Michael Vick Project.

“I just want people to really get to know me as an individual,” Vick said. “What I want to do is change the perception of me. I am a human being. I’ve made some mistakes in the past, and I wish it had never happened. But it’s not about how you fall, but about how you pick yourself up.”

A great way for Vick to show he’s changed is to continually feature animal issues on the show.

Maybe give a different animal charity a shout out weekly, letting viewers know how they can support it?

Or an adopt an animal clip, with a different four legged “star” each episode.

How do you think Vick can use his reality TV show prove he’s worthy of the public’s praise?

via Ecorazzi.com

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