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Michael Vick has shown a lack of character, a cruel disregard for the pain inflicted on animals and an attitude of superiority way off the football field.

As he is sent to prison for a term of 23 months, we are shown a 5 page hand-written letter he wrote to the judge imploring him for a second chance. He is sorry. He begs for a second chance to reclaim his life. He was always just a boy who loved animals. Dog fighting was simply a part of life around him as he grew up.

Define Love as:

  • Loved using rabbits, kittens and small dogs to tease the pit bulls with.
  • Loved watching each one’s terrifying death as the pit bulls learned to kill.
  • Loved the unfortunate pit bull who lost the fight for life.
  • Loved drowning the pit bull who wasn’t able to “perform.”
  • Loved electrocuting the pit bull who lost the fight.

Or, Define Love as:

  • Loved the money he made off the cruelty to these animals.
  • Loved hiding that from the public just as he hid the fight pits behind his house.
  • Loved breeding dogs to be killers.
  • Loved feeling omnipotent and incapable of being exposed.
  • Loved the charade of his “double life.”
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Common sense indicates how sorry he is. Sorry for being caught. Sorry for losing endorsements. Sorry for losing his job. Sorry for losing his fans and the income they brought him. Wasn’t he wealthy enough without adding a dog-fighting empire for extra income?

How many kids will now think dog-fighting is acceptable if he is welcomed back to his team after serving his relatively short sentence. I look at him and see many shadows following behind him. Shadows of terrified little animals ravaged by the pit bulls in training. Shadows of the pit bulls themselves trained to cruelty and fighting for their own lives. Shadows of laughing people winning money off the pain. People who are themselves as cruel as Michael Vick.

Should Michael Vick’s young fans be encouraged to follow his actions? We’ll see what the world thinks when he is released from his relatively short confinement. Will he be sorry then or will he enjoy a “silent snicker” at a public filled with suckers who are easily willing to forgive him?

I’ll be standing among the group of animal lovers who refuse to buy any product that is remotely associated with the newly “regretful” Michael Vick.