Michael Vick is not the only one who has gotten a second chance

Happy ending for most of Vick’s dogs

Michael Vick spent 21 months in federal prison, lost a $100 million contract and became a national pariah for his role in a vicious interstate dogfighting ring.

Vick paid his debt to society, he’d no doubt gets a second chance by starting yet again this week.

But what of Michael Vick’s dogs?

It turns out there’s a redemption story there as well. A writer for Sports Illustrated details this story in the just-released book “The Lost Dogs”.

Of the 51 dogs authorities recovered on Vick’s property in rural Virginia, 22 of which went to Best Friends animal sanctuary in Utah.

It’s a book that’s equal parts horrifying and hopeful. And while every person and dog involved would’ve been better served if Bad Newz Kennels never existed, there are plenty of positives coming out of a story that at first seemed to contain only misery.

Forty-seven of the 51 dogs survived. While not all have fully rehabbed, a good number of them live with families; four even work in therapy roles.

If it wasn’t for the high-profile nature of the Vick case and the quarterback’s ability to pay for their postrescue care (Vick reportedly spent a court-mandated $1 million on it), each of the dogs would’ve been destroyed. Dogs which came from fighting busts had previously been considered so far gone that trying to retrain them would take a disproportionate amount of already limited resources.

Ninety percent of the time, they would’ve been put down. Even PETA and the Humane Society recommended it.

The public outcry over the Vick dogs helped change that. An attempt was made to retrain them, and the success rate was so high that the Humane Society changed its official policy.

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Missing the point

Sometimes cosmic forces work in strange ways and hit you over the head and saturate your life events in strange and annoying ways. And then they get people like me to post off topic posts on their blog.

First, PETA had a campaign here in Washington DC where female models clad in chili pepper bikinis were serving veggie hot dogs to locals on Capital Hill.

Provocative? Yes. Attention Getting? Yes. To the point? Maybe not . . .





Then there was the news item of Pamela Anderson’s PETA ad being canceled in Canada, (the Mecca of Prudes) for being too sexy or sexist.

Provocative? Yes. Attention Getting? Yes. To the point? Maybe not. . .





At least when I look at these ads, and campaigns, I am not thinking stop cruelty to animals.

PETA is going for the shock value, but missing the point of getting people, or men, actively supporting or advocating ethical treatment to animals.

PETA and Pamela were saying sexy. Canadian officials were saying Sexist.

Kudos To Canada!

“It is not so much controversial as it goes against all principles public organizations are fighting for in the everlasting battle of equality between men and women.”

Ads and promotions like this annoy me. They are sexist and exploit women. And yes, they are nice to look at but often miss the point of the ad and the purpose of the organization in the first place.



It would have been much more effective if they used a butcher shop as a background to this ad or showed some of the horrible conditions animals are often kept in.







Sex is good. Sexism isn't. Shock is good too. As long as it all serves a purpose.


Or how about this. Here is another PETA salad ad and my butcher shop idea.











Which one would you rather eat?

Even SNL had an offbeat but strangely effective parody which could be used.




I don’t know about you, but I still love good bar-b-que I showed this to my woman lovely wife and we both got the same impression. That chicken still looks good.

Sorry PETA.

But getting back to the wonderful banning of the ad because of sexism.


Perhaps PETA should use male models and fig leaves in their ads on a more equal basis. But, of course, they will not. Why? Because the marketers at PETA know it is a Male world and Males dominate sports and business that use animals.

So, exploiting women to get a mans attention fits their modus operandi perfectly.

I just think it will just get men to want more pictures of Pamela, not to be more active advocates for change.

Then I got into thinking that what I, and PETA, really should look for is a picture or ad that would illicit the same reaction from people no matter who they are, man or woman.

The above male model probably does not do that.

So, did a quick search on the Internet. Now, I’m really trying to help PETA out here and get us guys more involved with animal advocacy. Really.

Unfortunately this is the only universal response picture I could come up with.






















This aptly titled “Creepy Guy” picture seems to generate the same "just sick and wrong” response from everyone.

Sorry again, PETA.

I love good advertising ads and campaigns and appreciate out of the box thinking and eye catching to the point ads like the Discovery Channels Shark week headquarters here in DC.

















So, what does all this have to do with sports?

Well, not much. Except tonight my wife and I are going to Charlestown Races and Slots to celebrate our 22nd wedding anniversary.

Yes horse racing. It’s my blog so get over it.

And yes PETA is against horse racing too.

They are against slaughter houses. BTW there are none in the US and yes horses are often sold to international buyers who are not bound by US rules and regulations. Retired racers are an issue with any animal, that is why we adopted a greyhound and also foster for local greyhound associations.

But, PETA is also against racing by being an advocate for better treatment of the animals which is something I am all for. They point out that the mortality and injury rate in Canada and the US is significantly higher here than in other parts of the world such as England. There they are much more strict against the use of drugs and the horses race on natural turf. There the rate is less than 1%. Here it is over 2%. The argument, and it does seem to be true, is that dirt tracks are more dangerous and hard on the horses than grass. In fact, when a race track switched, strangely enough, to a synthetic track, there was a 40% decrease in injuries.

So, when it comes to the sexist ads being used out there, I just do not get it. To me it is just another form of exploitation and does not get people involved with what is the true mission of the organization.

Knowing my luck this week, PETA will be exploiting women in scantily clad bikinis at Charlestown Races handing out propaganda. If so, then perhaps there is a cosmic force telling me I’m missing the point.

I’ll let you know . . .

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Dog Gone Spies

Undoubtedly everyone has heard about the 11 10 Russian spies recently arrested by the FBI. But a new and even bigger story that the FBI is now investigating is yet another spy ring which has infiltrated American society on a whole new level.

The professional sports entertainment industry!

The evidence is overwhelming.

One sees it in all sports and at all levels.

From the NHL,













stars such as the Washington Capitals highly decorated and awarded Alex Ovechkin.

In fact, Ovechkins one time photo of a mystery girlfriend now has a name!
















And her name is Anna! The very same one who is seen in these photos from her Facebook Page!

Here, take a look!



























There are other Russian Connections to the Sporting Spy Ring such as the high profile owner of the NBA NJ Nets and his mansion


















which is said to contain beautiful women for the entertainment of special guests.

The one thing that has stumped authorities to date is the “connection” between the two spy rings.

Yes, Alex, sadly seems to be intimately related to both, but there is yet still another mystery figure still on the loose who is adept at blending in and not only collecting information but passing it along as well!

So the FBI is calling on all citizens who may know something to come forward with any and all information.

It is imperative that authorities connect the dots between the two spy rings before the ultimate prize, the White House, is infiltrated!





















All Nigel pics thanks to Life With Dogs.

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Athletes and Pets

Sports Illustrated for Kids had a great little feature on Athletes and their pets.

Here are some highlights...

VISANTHE SHIANCOE
"I'll turn around for a second and there will be a big bang and a trash can will be knocked over," Shiancoe tells SI Kids of his boisterous ferrets, Smoke and Gee. Despite their rowdiness, Shiancoe is thinking of taking them on the road when he travels.



PATRICK DENEEN
When freestyle skier Patrick Deneen isn't careening down a moguls course, he's living it up on his horse-and-hay farm with miniature donkeys, a donkey named Mr. Don Key, 26 horses and just for good measure, a few dogs.




ERNIE SIMS
You might think pro football player Ernie Sims is posing inside of a pet store, but that's his house. "My parents know not to take me to a pet store," Sims tells SI Kids. "Because if I go to a pet store, I have to get something."




TULLY BEVILAQUA
WNBA player Tully Bevilaqua uses her time off from work to help homeless dogs, volunteering for the Humane Society of Indianapolis. She also is mom to rescue dogs Chips, Aussie and a pet cat.




ROSS OHLENDORF
The Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher has a cow named Marina on his family's longhorn cattle farm, and Marina has been around for 15 years. Among Ohlendorf's many tasks on the farm? Naming the calves.




You can see the whole feature here.

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My Pet Friendly Post

Yes, even us financial and sports guru’s can be quite pet friendly.

Here is a google search listing all of my pet friendly posts.

Also, my wife has a greyt blog here. Hopefully she will enter this blog hop too!

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