Vegetarian Star » Michael Vick

Greta Van Susteren Host Michael Vick On “On The Record” (Video)

Vegetarian Star — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 19:00:02 +0000

Michael Vick established a relationship with the Humane Society of the United States after he was convicted for his involvement with dog fighting activities.

Since then, he and HSUS CEO Wayne Pacelle have traveled across the country, making in-person appearances to teens in at-risk areas and appearing on national television shows to educate the public.

Greta van Susteren recently hosted Vick and Pacelle on her Fox News show The Record.

Here are a few highlights:

VICK: In the community I grew up in it was prevalent. It was something I was involved in and exposed to. A lot of the older guys exposed myself and others to it. So it was just something that we learned to do. I didn’t know whether it was right or wrong. We were just involved and never got any type of indication whether it was the right thing or wrong thing to do.

VAN SUSTEREN: You guys seem like an unlikely duo based on your history. I guess if you read the book, you stand you met him first in prison.

PACELLE: Mike reached out through some of his people and said he wanted to do some anti-dogfighting work with the Humane Society because we have the most developed programs on the law making and prevention side. Mike knows this. It was with a great deal of conflict I went out there, because our community and constituency was very down on Mike and what he did, understandably so.

The full transcript can be read at Fox News.

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Michael Vick Wants Tougher Laws For Dog Fighting Spectators

Vegetarian Star — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 20:16:48 +0000

Michael Vick is joining the Humane Society of the United States to fight for legislation that cracks down on attending dog fighting events and imposes additional penalties for getting minors involved.

H.R. 2492, the Animal Fighting Spectator Prohibition Act, is a bipartisan act introduced by Reps. Tom Marino, R-Pa., and Betty Sutton, D-Ohio.

“Too many kids get involved in dogfighting, and it’s time to break this cycle. Animal fighting is a dead-end road for the young men, and there’s nothing but terrible outcomes for the dogs placed in a pit to fight,” said Vick. “Since my case came to light, the laws against animal fighting have been upgraded, and here’s another opportunity to strengthen the law and establish an even stronger deterrent.”

According to the Humane Society, targeting spectators of dog fighting helps to curb the problem at several angles. Spectators provide revenue to fund fights and motivate participants in the crime. Large crowds also enable dog fighters to easily hide and escape during police raids.

“Spectators are participants and accomplices who enable the crime of animal fighting, provide a large share of the funding for the criminal enterprise through their admission fees and gambling wagers, and help conceal handlers and organizers who try to blend into the crowd when a bust occurs,” said Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The HSUS. “We hope that Congress will give law enforcement additional tools to crack down on the entire cast of characters involved in animal fighting spectacles.”

Photo: PR Photos

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Dogs Deserve Better Will Purchase Former Michael Vick Home

Vegetarian Star — Wed, 18 May 2011 22:16:59 +0000

A Pennsylvania based animal rights group is getting ready to close a deal to buy Michael Vick‘s former home that was the headquarters to dog fighting activities he was convicted for.

Dogs Deserve Better had originally tried to raise enough money to purchase the 4,600-square-foot house and 15-acre property in Surry, Virginia by March, but failed.

Like several of Vick’s former dogs that were given a second chance on life, Dogs Deserve Better has been given another opportunity to purchase the home and is expected to close the deal for a loan towards the end of May.

The group plans to use the home as a rehab center for rescued dogs until they can be placed in adoptable homes. It has already raised over $175,000 for the cause to open Good Newz Rehab Center.

“We are ecstatic to get on the ground and start the transformation of this property and the entire community which was brought to its knees by the brutality that occurred,” the group’s founder, Tamira Thayne said. “It’s a new day; we are sending a message that animal abuse is out of line with what our country’s citizens want. Dogs are family members, part of the pack, and we must honor and respect them as such.”

For more information and to learn how to donate to the cause, visit DogsDeserveBetter.org.

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“Dog Wars” Pulled From Android For Trademark Infringement

Vegetarian Star — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 19:00:57 +0000

Dog Wars has been pulled from the Android market, according to The Hill.

The app, which allowed players to partake in illegal dog fighting, has been pulled, “based on a trademark infringement complaint,” a representative from Google, the owner of Android said.

There is no statement available on the obvious animal cruelty issues being a part of the decision to pull Dog Wars, but there have been plenty of well known names publicly condemning the app. Even convicted dog fighter Michael Vick, who is helping the Humane Society raise awareness of the issue and prevent youth from following down the same road he did, issued a statement.

After its release, Kage Games, the maker of the app, responded to the criticism of the game by downplaying the seriousness of it, calling it “satire about the ridiculousness of dogfighting” and even claiming all money raised from it would benefit animal organizations.

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Michael Vick Speaks Out On “Dog Wars” Android App

Vegetarian Star — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 01:19:03 +0000

Michael Vick has issued a statement on the new Android app “Dog Wars” that enables users to pit their dogs against others’ in fighting competition.

“I’ve come to learn the hard way that dogfighting is a dead-end street,” Vick said. “Now, I am on the right side of this issue, and I think it’s important to send the smart message to kids, and not glorify this form of animal cruelty, even in an Android app.”

Wayne Pacelle, CEO and President of the Humane Society of the United States, who is currently working with Vick on anti dog fighting campaigns, added to Vick’s statement:

“Android should drop ‘Dog Wars’ from its online market and join the national movement to save dogs from this violent practice. Because “Dog Wars” actually instructs players on how to condition a dog using methods that are standard in organized dogfighting, this game may be a virtual training ground for would-be dogfighters. Its timing and message are all wrong.”

The app’s availability has already motivated some people to start a petition online at Change.org. The petition urges Google, the owner of Android, to terminated the app immediately.

According to the petition, the developers of the app, Cage Games, doesn’t appear to be issuing an apology any time soon.

“If you have a bug up your b*tt about the game concept, remember: It is just A VIDEO GAME…” is what was reported to be written on the game’s website.

But it’s more than a game. It has the ability to influence millions of people about the temperament of pit bulls, not to mention youth who may be tempted to partake in what is illegal in real life.

Mike Tyson On What Should Happen To Michael Vick

Vegetarian Star — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 18:19:39 +0000

Most of the sports world already knows how MLB player Mark Buehrle feels about Michael Vick. If you didn’t hear Buehrle’s comment, it was something along the lines of Vick being the football that gets thrown at the next Eagles game.

During an interview with ESPN, Mike Tyson gave his thoughts on how Vick should be treated.

“Listen, listen. I don’t know why people do what they do. What should we do with Michael Vick? Really, really: Why don’t we castrate him? Why don’t we do something bad to his children to teach him a lesson? Is that really the answer?”

“Or instead, we can say, “Hey, you’ve been given the wrong signals all these years, and you didn’t realize you were destroying God’s animals.” So we have to change his way of thinking. Not kill him, not assassinate him. We have to kill his way of thinking in that particular area. So yes, we should give him another chance. And so far he’s taken great advantage of it.”

Tyson’s Animal Planet show on racing pigeons, Taking on Tyson, premiers March 6, 2011. Tyson, a vegan, could easily come under the criticism radar from animal welfare advocates as pigeon racing often forces birds to race in adverse weather conditions. They also get sick and require medication.

A video interview with Tyson on the series can be viewed below.

Photo: PR Photos

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Simone Reyes Tweets Theory About Michael Vick Cancelling Oprah Interview

Vegetarian Star — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 21:11:28 +0000

For some reason, Michael Vick has decided to cancel his appearance on “The Oprah Winfrey Show.”

There are two different stories circulating about the reason Vick turned down O. One, is that he did so for “personal reasons” and another is that he cancelled because the Eagles told him to.

Then there’s the rumored reason Tweeted by Simone Reyes, star of the now completed Oxygen channel’s short series, “Running Russell Simmons.”

“Rumor has it @Peta was prepping @oprah w/ the tough questions for Vick.”

No, PETA has never “shook hands and made up” with Vick and refused to work with him as part of his rehabilitation unless he took tests the group believed could detect if he was a sociopath.

PETA even points out on its blog that Oprah is such a dog lover herself, surely she wouldn’t need any coaching to look Vick in the eye and ask him the tough questions. She’s aired episodes about the terrible conditions in puppy mills, adopted several shelter dogs and has even received an award for her contributions bringing animal welfare issues to the spotlight.

Oprah might have taken on a role other than that of an objective journalist when speaking with Vick. A role that may have made him look less the heroic in front of millions of people.

What’s your theory? Is Vick scared of the Oprahmega Influence curse?

Photo: PR Photos

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Michael Vick Former Home Could Be Dog Rehab Center

Vegetarian Star — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 02:39:42 +0000

Yes, everyone in the animal activist community is tired of hearing about all things Michael Vick related, but like it or not, he’s still making news. And as long as he is, there’s always the issue of how to right what went wrong at Bad Newz Kennels where dogs were pushed into the brutal world of fighting.

One organization would like to buy the former headquarters of his dog fighting operation for their animal non-profit.

Dogs Deserve Better has until March 20 to raise the $600,000 to buy the property located in Surry County, Virginia that’s home to a 4600-square-foot house, five bedrooms, 4.5 baths, two fireplaces and an attached two-car garage.

Eventually, the group would like to put 3 million into the home and turn it into a rehabilitation center for dogs, renaming “Bad Newz Kennels” to “Good Newz Rehab Center For Chained Dogs.” Dogs Deserve Better would also put its offices inside the home.

This news comes shortly after a Dallas City Council member was criticized for giving Vick a key to the city.

“Michael Vick is a convicted felon. He committed horrible, atrocious crimes, violent crimes,” Jonnie England, of the Metroplex Animal Coalition, told CNN affiliate WFAA. “He has done nothing to deserve a key to the city of Dallas.”

Even the mayor of the town disapproved, telling the Dallas Morning News: “We don’t condone it and clearly didn’t approve it. It’s unfortunate, and I would rather have not seen the situation.”

Photo: PR Photos

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