FP News Voices

Winnipeg Free Press - ONLINE EDITION

Michael Vick gets a dog

By: Los Angeles Times

Posted: 10/16/2012 3:48 PM | Comments: 0

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick, convicted in 2007 of running a brutal dogfighting operation, has gotten a dog. "I understand the strong emotions by some people about our family’s decision to care for a pet," he said in a statement. "As a father, it is important to make sure my children develop a healthy relationship with animals."

Can that be right? Should a man who committed such a crime ever be allowed to own a dog of his own? We think he should. Vick served about a year and a half in federal prison, finished three years of probation and acted as a spokesman for the Humane Society of the United States, speaking out, particularly to young people, on the evils of dogfighting. No one has forgotten what led to his guilty plea to federal charges. He helped pit dogs against one another in bloody combat, and participated in the drowning of dogs that didn’t perform well.

But like other criminals, Vick has served his time and should be allowed to re-integrate into society. "Our pet is well cared for and loved as a member of our family. This is an opportunity to break the cycle," he said in his statement. Let’s give him a chance to prove that that is the case. Surely, his neighbours will be watching.

Fact Check

Have you found an error, or know of something we’ve missed in one of our stories? Please use the form below and let us know.

* Required

In which story did you find the error? *
Please post the headline of the story or the title of the video with the error.
What was the error? *
Please post exactly what was wrong with the story.
What should we have written?
Please indicate your source for the correct information.
Who else should we interview to improve this story?
Please include any contact information you may have.
Can we contact you in the future for advice on stories about this topic?
Yes

No
First Name: *
Last Name: *
E–mail Address: *
This will only be used to contact you if we have a question about your submission, it will not be used to identify you or be published.
Phone: *
This will only be used to contact you if we have a question about your submission, it will not be used to identify you or be published.
Colour:
Are you blue? If you can see this, leave it blank and get some CSS support.
Enter the words that you see: * This is to prevent our forms from being filled out automatically.
You have failed to correctly identify the words in the box above. Please try again.

More FP News Voices

Undock

You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.

Have Your Say

New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.

The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.