Friday, October 15, 2010

Has Michael Vick redeemed himself?



Has Michael Vick redeemed himself?
- Going green segment: Energy smart lightbulbs.

Transcript of this week's episode of The Web-DVM:

Hello again pet lovers, and welcome back to The Web-DVM. I am your host, veterinarian Dr. Roger Welton. Ladies and gentlemen, I am still in a cloud with the birth of my baby girl, Scarlett Isabella Welton, on September 30 2010. She is our second child, and I can tell you from experience, a new baby never gets less exciting. I am thrilled to be back with all of you, however, and I have some more good news. Just the other day, I had the good fortune of being named an official veterinary reporter for the Veterinary News Network, also known as VNN. Aside from giving me a fancy new title, my new affiliation enables me access to a huge stream of relevant news stories and production tools that all of my subscribers will benefit from. By all means make sure you stay tuned, as this new opportunity stands to make my broadcasts increasingly more informative and media savvy.

As for my topic today, having been the recipient of a lot of media attention given his stellar quarterback play for the Philadelphia Eagles as of late, perhaps playing the best football of his career, I return to our old friend Michael Vick. For those of you that did not see my previous pieces on Michael Vick, I was pretty hard on him last season, as well as critical of those who were so quick to cheer for him so soon after he completed a slap on the wrist sentence for the gravity and heinousness of the crimes of animal cruelty he committed. I had concluded that although the time he served did not fit the crime, he had served the time as deemed appropriate by our criminal justice system, and that the man should at least be allowed to work in the only profession he knows: professional football. And while I still despised the man for the cruelty he was responsible for, a second chance is what our justice system mandated, and we might as well have him working and paying taxes. But cheering and revering him as a hero because of a few fancy plays on a football field? That to me was too far, way too soon!

So now we have Michael Vick one year later saying all the right things and exhibiting extraordinary humility as he performs his craft not only to the best of his ability, but to a level never before seen even in his previously brilliant football career. Has the time come that we should feel okay about cheering him, putting him into hero status again? Has he redeemed himself to a point that he deserves such adulation for what he can do on the football field?

My answer is, not yet. Now Philadelphia fans I am sure will disagree with me, but they have proven to turn on their heroes on a dime the moment they may not perform well, while jumping on the bandwagon of any player that offers them the hope of winning, felony convictions notwithstanding. I am convinced that they would cheer Charles Manson if he could win them a Superbowl victory!

For those of us not blinded by the tunnel vision of Philadelphia sports fanaticism, while I can commend Michael Vick for displaying humility and conducting himself well since his return from banishment, he needs to do a heck of a lot more than play good football and behave well for the cameras for me to even consider having any respect for him again. I need to be convinced that he truly is sorry for what he did, that the consequences of his actions have triggered remorse beyond being sorry that he got caught, and that he has earned the second chance at stardom that he is living right now.

To convince me, Michael Vick should be a voice speaking out against cruelty to animals particularly against the blood sport of dog fighting, and use his reinstated stardom to be a voice in support of the animals he once used his fame and money to systemically torture for the jollies of his sadistic cronies. He should be a leader in the fight to end dog fighting and an advocate for animal welfare, and convince me that he means it. The Philadelphia Eagles quickly made a commitment to helping local animal rescue centers to deflect criticism for signing Vick last year, yet Vick himself has yet to make any such overtures. Until he does, he will not have my respect, and he certainly will not have earned the right to have little kids wearing his jersey.

For my going green segment today, I will be showcasing green Energy Smart light bulbs. These spiral shaped light bulbs produce the same amount of light as standard light bulbs while using 75% less electricity. For example, the GE Energy Smart Bulb pictured here is a 20 watt bulb that produces the same amount of light as a 75 watt standard bulb. Even better than a standard light bulb, based on average daily use, these bulbs will last for 5 years, 10 times longer than a standard light bulb.

As you know, most of our electricity is provided by coal fired power plants and the burning of coal is one of the biggest manmade producers of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide. Fitting your household with these bulbs will not only markedly reduce your carbon footprint, but will also save you money on your electric bill, on average, $44throughout the life of each bulb. With the average American home having 45 light bulbs, that is an average savings of just under $2000!

That is our show for this evening. Remember to catch my live call-in radio show Wednesday nights, 9PM EST at webdvm.blogspot.com where I also embed this video, this show’s transcript, and post bonus links and content. Thank you as always for taking the time to watch.

Don't forget to catch my live call-in radio show Wednesdays 9PM EST. Listen via podcast live or archived here:


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Dr. Roger Welton is the President and chief veterinarian at Maybeck Animal Hospital in West Melbourne Florida, as well as CEO of the veterinary advice and health management website Web-DVM.net.

25 comments:

Dog Lover said...

Very well said Dr. Welton. I agree that for Michael Vick to eran the respect back from his fans, he should do public service or atleast show us that he truly feel sorry for what happened. Words are not enough. Actions speak louder than words.

Pet Collector said...

In relation to Dog Lover's post, for us to be sure that he has the sincerity of apologizing for what happened, he should prove it by adopting a pet. We'll then see if he can take good care of that pet even if he's busy with his football career.

Animal Saver said...

Why do they have to do that dog fighting thing? For money and entertainment? This is so unjust. We say that dogs are man's best friends. We should also treat them as one of our treasured friends. You human friends might leave you but these dogs will stay at your side and protect you as long as their alive. Now, if he really wants to earn the respect and fame that he lost after the crime, he better be a member of an organization who fights against animal crimes.

Pugsly25 said...

You're right Animal Saver. They're doing it for money and entertainment sake.

NO to Dog-Fighting said...

In this kind of gamble, not only dogs are used and abused. They even use horses,cats and a lot more. That's so unjust. If we want to be respected by all creatures, we should respect them as well. I say a big NO to animal-fighting. If they can't resist themselves from gambling, they might as well go to casinos.

Rottweiler Owner said...

Count me in Mr. No to Dog-Fighting! As a rottweiler owner, i hate to see dogs specially the same breed as my pet, fighting with other dogs for the sake of money. It makes me feel sad.

tomcat1765 said...

Congrats on your new baby girl!! And, we are happy to have you as part of our Veterinary News Network team!!

pw1974 said...

Michael Vick is a cruel little pissant!!! He does not deserve to be allowed back in the NFL, and he sure as shit does not deserve anyone to cheer for him. That kind of cruelty in someone's heart does not go away just because they get caught! He is a piece of shit and I hope he sustains a career ending injury for what he did to those dogs. Anyone with any sense of justice and compassion would agree with me if they saw the pics of those dogs! @#$! him!

Anonymous said...

First of all, Pet Collector - the law forbids pet abusers from having animals (child abusers from having custody or being near a child, etc..) for very good reason. To suggest we test Vicks true heart of remorse by experimentingwith putting a dog in his care is beyond absurd.

Secondly, the only way I would even begin to feel a speck or belief in Vicks words is if he campaigned against dog fighting. Dog Lover is right, actions always speak louder than words.

Pugsly25 said...

You're right pw1974. He's cruel but i think he deserves a second chance

Dog Lover said...

I agree with you Anonymous. He should actually join an organization or a campaign that are against dog-fighting. In that way, he might be able to convince the public that he really feels sorry for what he did.

Pet collector said...

I understand your point Anonymous. And you are right. Well i think, the only thing that he could do to win the respect and fame back is to prove that he's so regretful for what he did by joining an organization which is totally not in favor of dog fighting. :)

Animal Saver said...

by the way, congrats with your new baby!! let's celebrate! :)

Pet's Health said...

Nice blog! Thanks for sharing! And i love the way us pet lovers and defenders interact with each other regarding this topic.

Pugsly25 said...

No to dog-fighting is right! As a matter of fact, here in our place, horses are being abused for gambling purposes. They're unstoppable and that's so frustrating!

Rottweiler Owner said...

Also, since he committed a crime against animal law, he already ruined his name in public. I do believe that the million good deeds that you did can put you into the peak of fame but one single mistake, would give your clean identity stained. That mistake will remain forever in the minds of everyone.

Pet's Health said...

Let's just all hope and pray that these people who use dogs for fun and money would all realize that animals,like humans,have the right to live the way they are.

No to Dog-Fighting said...

Brilliant words of wisdom Pet's health and Rottweiler owner. You inspired me a lot.

Animal Saver said...

Thanks for explaining to us a bit of the law. I agree that Vick should actually take good care of a dog beyond absurd. He should prove to every single person in the world who knew him that he's sincerely feels sorry for what he did.

Rottweiler Owner said...

“Man’s best friend” may fight to the death in dogfights, often with tens of thousands of dollars at stake. Dogfighters sometimes kill the losing dogs, and even winning dogs may die from their wounds. Police often discover drugs, guns, and even murder in connection with dogfights.


- The humane society

Dog Lover said...

Yeah Pug's health, i still have a little hope that this dog fighting would soon reach its end.

Bob said...

The NFL has their priorities all screwed up. Brett Favre faces supension because he sent some chic a text of a pic of his wiener, yet Michael Vick who tortured dogs to get his rocks off is let right back in the league after a joke of a sentence he served. Roger Goodell is an idiot!

catgirl said...

Michael VIck is an evil creep who used his fame and money to torture and maim innocent creatures for fun!!! He should have lost all rights to that kind of fame and money yet, there he is, getting cheered on and having little kids wearing his jersey! This turn of events is a sad commentary on our nation's priorities.

Pet Collector said...

Really Bob? that's unjust and unfair. popular individuals shouldn't be exempted to any law related punishment.

Animal Saver said...

Yes Bob is right. Often times, they give exemptions to afluent people. Despite the fact that they committed a crime, they're still able to get out of the sentence and live freely. I just hope that every creatures in this world would have the chance to get justice fairly.