 |
||||
 |
 |
|||
 |
||||
PAYBACK FOR THE QUARTERBACK By Stacy Karron 11/07/07 "Never, ever be afraid to do what’s right, especially if the well-being of a person or animal is at stake. Society’s punishments are small compared to the wounds we inflict on our souls when we look the other way.” - Martin Luther King, Jr. My devoted brother, Jonathan, a fellow vegetarian and guardian to his beloved dogs, Dante & Taz, has been living in Atlanta, Georgia for over fifteen years. He has been a steadfast fan of the Atlanta Falcons for about that long. He is such a devoted fan that when his schedule allows, he flies around the country too cheer his team on when they play away. He’s got plenty of memorabilia, including a Michael Vick football jersey. My brother was thrilled when the Falcons drafted Michael Vick, for his amazing athletic abilities and how he might secure a super bowl victory for the Falcons. My brother is supportive of his team as they are not responsible for the actions of one of its members. While O.J. Simpson was acquitted in criminal court, he was found liable in civil court for the deaths of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown-Simpson and her friend, Ron Goldman. Fortunately Simpson has not been able to revive his once gleaming career. Kobe Bryant, while not found guilty of any crime but rather guilty of moral inequities, a personal matter between he and his wife, has been able to revive his career and that’s OK. Many hope the same bad career karma that has befallen O.J. Simpson, befalls Vick. In the last couple of years, Vick has been in the spotlight, with less wattage than now for having “flipped-off” fans during a game, using an alias, drug possession and for having infected several women with a sexually transmitted disease. Michael Vick has been indicted and has copped a guilty plea for his participation in the brutal “sport” of dog fighting and the senseless killing of at least eight dogs - by means of smashing their skulls, electrocution, drowning or beating them to death because they were “under-performers” in the dog fighting ring. He is also charged with conspiracy to travel in interstate commerce in aid of unlawful activities and conspiracy to sponsor dogs in animal-fighting ventures. He had plead not guilty in July and vowed to clear his name in court in November, however his co-defendants began to bark and now Vick is whimpering. His offenses are punishable by up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, although federal sentencing guidelines most likely would call for less. Five years might be fair only if he were to actually serve all five years. He should also make restitution by rehabilitating himself and lending his influence, if any remains, to help animal charities and causes. This case has struck a nerve in a country where many people treasure their pets as they do their children. Considering how much love dogs and other animals give, not to mention all they do for us, the least we can do is dote on them and try to love them at least half as much as they love us. So it’s no wonder that animal advocates throughout the world are incensed and horrified by the actions of Vick and his co-defendants. The sad reality is that there are many underground dog-fighting rings (and other animal fighting rings) throughout the U.S. and the world. Hopefully Michael Vick’s actions and story will bring greater light to the need for stricter punishment for animal abusers and better protection for every deserving animal. How vicious, greedy and heartless can one be who revels in (and profits from) the barbarism of dogs fighting to the death? Yes, in nature, animals battle to the death but only for survival of the fittest, not for sport or money. Vick procured a fruitful football contract not to mention lucrative endorsements. He was not short on cash. With all the money he earns, did he really need additional income? Three of Vick’s co-defendants, one whose surname is unfittingly, Peace, agreed to testify against Vick. Testimony from co-defendants along with video footage showing Vick on his property, observing dogs in training and fighting, don’t make for a good defense. If we could channel the spirit of the late Johnny Cochran, even he’d advise the top draft pick to cop a plea. This is an example of how certain dog breeds fall victim to the “hands that breed”. “Pitbull” is a generic term for similar type Bull Terriers, such as the American and English Bull Terrier or the American Staffordshire Bull Terrier. There are many myths about pitbulls – locking jaws, innate viciousness or that they are physiologically different than other breeds. Pliable pitbulls, like any dog reared by loving hands, grow up to be incredibly sweet, loyal, loving companions. Despite the benevolence of dogs and other sentient creatures, despite all that animals have done for us for millenniums, animal abuse and neglect is not declining. We live in a so-called civilized society, yet there’s no shortage of monsters who do unthinkable things to innocent animals, with many abusers getting a mere “slap on the wrist” as punishment for their awful actions. I beg the question, “why is the abuse or torture of an animal any less punishable than the punishment is for someone who abuses another human being? A different question that also begs an answer is “are serial killers born bad seeds, predisposed to their hideous destiny or are these malign souls cultivated”? The abuser must be punished for his or her actions, not punished based upon food chain hierarchy, whether or not the victim walks upright or on all fours. I read a story about a fifteen-year old boy who stole his ex-girlfriend’s dog to “get back at her”. He decapitated the dog, placed its head in a gift-wrapped box along with a Valentine’s Day card and candy, leaving it at his ex-girlfriend’s doorstep for her to discover, in absolute horror. I felt ill to my core for that poor dog and hope that it did not suffer terribly, as I imagine it did. It still boggles my mind that I share the same planet with savages like this. Regardless of how often I hear about the horrible things that happen to animals, it’s still difficult to fathom that such ugliness exists amongst my species. Animal abusers should be punished far more harshly than they already are, even in states like Louisiana and Alabama, the two states with the stiffest, though not stiff enough, jail time and/or penalties for those who abuse animals. Abuse upon animals is a horrible crime that ultimately touches us all, both as a society and as individuals. It is a documented fact that many serial killers began their life of violent crime by abusing animals. While not every animal abuser goes on to be a serial killer, nearly every serial killer has been an animal abuser. The evidence is in and cannot be denied. There is a connection between animal abuse and violent acts against humans - domestic violence, elder abuse, child abuse and murder. If we are ever going to see an end to the escalating violence in our society, we must begin by teaching our children and fellow adults to respect all living things. We must also actively support proposed legislation that treats animal abuse as the very serious crime it is. Animal abuse comes in many forms – senseless acts of neglect and intentional harm, animal exploitation, deplorable zoo and farm conditions. Horrendous laboratory experiments continue to be performed on innocent, helpless animals that endure excruciating pain, to say the least, at the greedy hands of billion dollar pharmaceutical companies and manufacturers like Proctor & Gamble. Animal testing is completely and absolutely unnecessary and many companies have gone “cruelty-free” over the last twenty years or so. I have boycotted Proctor & Gamble for years and will continue to boycott them and any company that partakes in any form of animal testing or cruelty. If mankind is to improve, we must all take our role of guardian of the animals seriously. Over the last 25 years, many studies in psychology, sociology and criminology have demonstrated that violent offenders frequently have childhood and adolescent histories of serious and repeated animal cruelty. The FBI has recognized this connection since the 1970s, when its analysis of the lives of serial killers suggested that most had, as children, killed or tortured animals. Abusing an animal is a way for a human to find power or fulfillment through the torture of a victim they know cannot defend itself. Now break down a human crime such as rape. Switch some of the pronouns and you fundamentally get the same thing. Rape is a way for a human to find power or fulfillment through the control and torture of victims whom rapists' sense cannot defend themselves. With child abuse or spousal abuse, the abuser finds power or fulfillment through the torture it inflicts upon victims the abuser feels can’t defend themselves. My redundancy is intentional. There’s a very fine line separating an animal abuser from someone capable of committing human abuse but many people in positions of power and change still don’t get this. People abuse animals for the same reasons they abuse people. Some people will stop with animals but enough have gone on to commit violent crimes and this is really worth paying attention to. Virtually every serious violent offender has a history of animal abuse in their past and since there is no way to know which animal abuser is going to continue on to commit violent human crimes, all should be taken that seriously. Louisiana, Colorado, Alabama, New Hampshire and Pennsylvania have the strictest laws and stiffest penalties for animal abuse in the U.S., while Alaska, Arkansas, Hawaii, Idaho, Mississippi, North Dakota, South Dakota and Utah do not have felony provisions for animal abuse. Unfortunately some children abuse animals or “experiment” on them. Fortunately most children and teenagers realize that what they did to animals when they were children was wrong and do go on to lead productive lives, many becoming loving, doting pet guardians themselves. It is of course not OK for any child or adult of any age to experiment or hurt an animal. Parents and other adults involved in a child’s development must stress this to their children at a young age, when they are able to understand. Until then, adult supervision is recommended when children and animals are together for the safety of both child and pet. A plan I dream of fulfilling is creating a year-round camp that provides sanctuary for neglected, abused and unwanted animals – dogs, cows, cats, iguanas, llamas and leopards – we’d take em’ all. Animal care specialists, farmhands and the lesser-privileged children for whom the camp will also be created would provide care. We will teach children kindness and compassion to all creatures and to respect the environment, through various programs designed by veterinarians, teachers, biologists, psychologists and animal care specialists. The children will be taught proper animal handling, care and nutrition and gain an understanding of the animal’s emotions and of their emotions as well. We’d farm out dairy products to keep the camp going so we could continue to help the animals, while helping children from low-income homes to be happy campers, who would help the animals, who in turn give these children the unconditional love they desperately need. Fortunately there are more people with warm, open hearts who love and protect their pets and other animals. Fortunately there are less “Michael Vicks” in the world, those who exploit and abuse animals, than there are people who deeply love their pets and other animals. You can make a difference with the vehicle that is your voice. Please get involved by contacting your state representative and senators. E-mail your state representative by visiting www.house.gov. To contact your state senators, visit www.senate.gov or call the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 225-3121. |
||||
|
||||
 |
|
|
|
|