Out of the Big House and Back in the Dog House—Michael Vick Wants a Dog

A lot of debate has been generated by media reports that Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick wants to once again own a dog. While it’s clear that Vick has made an extraordinary comeback on the football field since his release from prison in 2009, we would argue that it’s far too soon to suggest that his turnaround on and off the field serves as any indication that an animal would be safe in his care.

Vick’s contention is that owning a dog would assist in his rehabilitation, and in demonstrating that he has changed:

"I would love to get another dog in the future. I think it would be a big step for me in the rehabilitation process. I think just to have a pet in my household and to show people that I genuinely care, and my love, and my passion for animals."

Unfortunately, Vick’s “passion for animals” is all too well known to the public. We’re all aware that he was never a poster child for the ASPCA.

Vick is to be commended for the strides he has made in turning his life around. But the simple fact remains that the idea of putting an animal in the hands of someone who has so viciously mistreated the dogs he previously owned is unconscionable. By his own admission, Vick personally strangled, drowned and electrocuted underperforming dogs after pitting them against other dogs in his illegal dog fighting ring, The Bad Newz Kennels. Vick served 18 months in prison after being convicted in 2007 for his involvement in these heinous crimes.

Playing football and overcoming adversity on the field is one thing. Erasing the memories of the activities of Vick and his friends, and of the brutal and unbelievable images from the kennel, is a completely different matter. A dog, after all, has no vote in whether it should be put in the hands of someone with Vick’s track record, without supervision and without any way to monitor the situation to ensure it’s treated humanely.

Vick says he understands the error of his ways, and that having a dog would be a big step in his rehabilitation process. We’re unable to accept the contention that allowing someone with Vick’s background to obtain a dog is a legitimate therapeutic measure. By the same argument, pedophiles should be able to adopt a child to help in their therapy and rehabilitation. Behaviorists would argue that such a move would make no sense, and would put the defenseless child at risk. In the same way, allowing Vick to adopt a dog would put the defenseless animal at risk.

We expect this topic to continue to be a subject of heated debate. But most animal lovers will remain firm in insisting that, at least for the foreseeable future, Vick does not deserve the unconditional love and devotion that dogs are prone to give their owners. He lost that right when he became an active member of the Bad Newz Kennels.