Quoth the Raven

The trial of Vick continues...while the real victims continue to suffer

Isn't it crazy the media frenzy revolving Micheal Vick? I can't believe it, no, wait I actually can believe it and it has definitely helped the cause in bringing the existence of dog fighting to the forefront, and that has to be good news. I guess it also means we don't have to listen to trivial media reports about Hilton or Lohan. Gee, now those uneventful articles were certainly getting old.

Now Vick has used everything in the onset of this trial, from pulling the race card (and if you read comments on ESPN.com, YouTube, and even MySpace you will see that some African Americans may agree with him that this was never about dogfighting and all about Vick being a black man), or people thinking he has been picked on because of his celebrity status, or even that he was never a willing participant, but just succumbed to peer pressure. Yeh, now that was a good one. You know it happens to me all the time, I will be hanging with my friends and as much as I resist, and resist, and resist, every now and then I just can't say no to a quick round of dogfighting. Pleeeeese, give the public credit for having some intelligence. What decent person would even associate with people who organise and/or participate in dogfighting rackets?? They wouldn't. Hey, any respectable human being wouldn't know a thing about dog fighting events in their neighborhood!

So the other day I was wondering when Vick would lose the gag order and actually say something, anything, in order to give the public something other than his smug mugshot to judge. Well, last night I got my wish and managed to see Vick's public appearance and can't say that I was too impressed. Ok, so he definitely won't win an academy award for best actor, but you have to give the guy credit for trying to sound credible. Actually, I wouldn't give the guy any credit at all, and all I could judge by watching his performance is that he is not only a lousy actor, but that he did not show even a hint of remorse for the atrocities he commited against the pitbulls involved. This guy is complete scum and all I thought as I turned off the television was that the only remorse he feels is the remorse for himself at being stupid enought to get caught!

Just lately I have heard talk from various people stating we must now forgive Vick for his crimes. Well, all I can say to that philosophy is that it is obvious that these ignorant souls have no idea what really takes place at a dog fight, and have not had the opportunity to view the dogs that lose in these blood sports OR winners who also walk away with serious wounds. I am actually beginning to think that the losers that are killed are far better off than those losers that are dumped along desolute roads hoping that someone will find them, or the winners that must continue suffering from these sick individuals. The lucky ones are found and rushed to vets in the hopes that they can be sewn back together again, much like a jigsaw puzzle.

These images are disgusting, but this is the realty of dog fighting; the reality of the sport that Vick and others like him chose to participate in. For more information checkout The Working Pitbull, a great website founded by Diane Jessup that is anti-dogfighting, but is pro American Pit bull terrier. You can also see the amazing work she does in training pit bulls for work such as Search & Rescue, Tracking, and most of her dogs will end up working with law enforcement agencies through LawDogsUSA.

ve s of brutality and unspeakable cruelty at the hands of those who gamble on their deaths, while betrayal and death await them at "humane" societies if they are "rescued".

These animals are victims of cruelty.

Don't support "humane" groups that don't include these dogs in their circle of com

The life Vick's pits never got a chance to live!

Thus saith Letterman...

Top Ten Michael Vick Excuses

10 - "House came with a dogfighting pit, and it seemed like a shame to waste it"
9 - "Wanted to distract the public from crooked NBA referees and
cheating baseball players"
8 - "Judgment was impaired by playing with lead-based Chinese toys"
7 - "I was training the dogs to...uhhhhhh...get Osama"
6 - "Always wanted to be quarterback for a prison team, like in 'The
Longest Yard'"
5 - "Steroids made me all crazy"
4 - "Eddie Brill told me I needed something big to close on"
3 - "Oh like you've never run an illegal dogfighting ring"
2 - "Thought I could get out of it by buying Kobe Bryant's wife a diamond"

and the Top Michael Vick Excuse -
"Fights weren't worse than what you see on 'The View'"

Just another pitbull in the news?

When a co-worker told me I should check out this article, I initially thought I would have to defend this wonderful breed again because yet another irresponsible pit bull owner's dog is unrestrained and has attacked someone. Well, I couldn't be more wrong about this article and my colleagues intentions on making me aware of it. As I viewed the horrific image with my colleague all he could say was he was amazed at how calm and docile this dog appeared in spite of her injury. Now, if you know anything about the breed that has come to be represented as pit bulls (aka American Pit bull terrier, American Staffordshire terrier and Staffordshire terrier) then you will know they are a happy, devoted and energetic dog that would do anything to please people. Of course, this is not the image the media represents because it really doesn't make for exciting news. Who wants to see a news report about a pit bull owned by responsible middle class owners who adore their dog enough to take her to rental parks (because they worry about their dog being attacked at dog parks) or pay for hourly swimming sessions in a doggy pool, rather than allow her to swim in a dirty lake. People don't want to read about these people, more specifically our dog, as this is boring and doesn't inspire feelings of fear and paranoia - the characteristics that journalists thrive on.

People want to believe that pit bulls are bad dogs. That these dogs are the only ones that will attack. These people live with a denial so great that they will refuse to believe that other breeds of dogs are capable of attacking people or other animals. This is a comfortable place for these people to live as it means that the world is far less scary. I mean what are the chances of someone bumping into a pit bull in their local neighborhood? Well, if you live in the Ravenna area then there is a very good chance of you bumping into me or my husband as we take our pit bull on her 2hr daily walk AND there is every chance that Zoe will wiggle her tail and her whole body when she sees you walking towards up, even if you are a block away. It is also very likely that she will want to smother you in kisses, if you give her any indication that you will pat her. This may not be the image people are accustomed to associating with pit bulls, but this is the reality of pit bulls and their wonderful temperments which will only make this news article more disgusting and begs me to ask the question, "Why is this country putting so much effort into Breed Specific Legislation while sickos like this one roam the streets and threaten the safety of people and our animals.

Pit bull stabbed with hunting knife

By JENNIFER BRETT
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 08/15/07

A female pit bull about a year to 18 months old was brought to the Atlanta Humane Society Wednesday morning with a hunting knife stuck in its head.

"I don't think you could see worse abuse than this," said AHS president Carl E. Leveridge. "Somebody has to be a very sick individual."

Veterinarians will attempt to save the female pit bull, who was brought into the Atlanta Humane Society.

Jennifer Brett / Staff

Veterinary technician Ashanti Taylor comforts a female pit bull brought into the Atlanta Humane Society Wednesday morning.

The organization has limited information about the dog, only that it was brought in from a local veterinarian's office. The owner reported he discovered the dog injured Wednesday morning, according to information the AHS was provided. The owner's name wasn't immediately available.

Veterinarians aren't sure of the dog's prognosis, as it was unclear whether the knife was lodged in its brain or sinus cavity. The dog appeared alert as veterinary staff prepared for treatment.

"Hopefully it's going to have a happy ending," said Leveridge, who said the AHS likely will offer a reward for information that leads to the conviction of the guilty party. "We'll do everything we can."

The Blue Angels struck again...

The Blue Angels.

What a strange name to give these jets.

You know when I think of angels, the main thing that comes to mind is peaceful. Quiet. Maybe even solitude. Maybe I even have thoughts of blue beings with wings that flutter around and around and around.

Well, enough of the dreaming already. The Blue Angels are anything but quiet as they soared from one end of Lake Washington to the other end. Hey, I know I was working on the days there were doing practice flights and it was anything but quiet. Ok, so I admit that I watched them for an hour or so (anthing to get out of work) and I did enjoy seeing some of the wicked manouvers across the sky but the noise is absolutely deafening. I really couldn't help but feel sorry for all the dogs who suffer needlessly from the noise every year during this time, and I won't even think about what it must do to the local wildlife. Add to this the ugly color that the sky turns as they continue to pass back and forth overhead and I have to think that maybe these Blue Angels are a menace to society.

Ok, so call me a killjoy if you will, but I cannot help the fact that I have environmental concerns, not to mention the expense of fuelling these aircrafts. But in the long run if the airforce gets some positive publicity and a means for naive youngens to be mesmerized enough to join the ranks, then it is all worth it right? Right? 

The picture above is a shot I took from our office deck. Yes, you may need to click on the image to enlarge it enough to see the detail, but what can I say other than my camera sucks.

The drama that is Michael Vick

Well, it sure has been interesting watching the circus that has hit the headlines surrounding the Vick allegations...Yes, I felt the need to state allegations as I constantly hear people spouting the phrase 'innocent until proven guilty.' Yeh, yeh, we know all that, but the fact of the matter is there is no way Vick did not know about the dogfights occuring on his property - IMO - and it also doesn't help that he was funding a pit bull kennel. Just a coincidence? I don't think so.

When I first heard about the bust on Vick's property it was through a pit bull rescue list that I frequent and although I didn't know about Vick, I have to say that I don't hold much respect for sports figures in general and nothing would surprise me of their illegal activities. But hey, even I didn't think this case would get so much attention, but then again when you look at the outrageous attention Paris Hilton received over a petty jail sentence and then no jail sentence, I guess I really shouldn't be surprised.

As much as I would like any person involved in dog fighting to get exactly what they deserve, whether they have celebrity status or not, I would hate that media attention surrounding Vick would become such a witch hunt that he may get off on some technicality. Look at the O.J. Simpson case. Everyone knew the guy was as guilty as sin, but he was acquitted because people were too eager to try and convict him, and maybe even twist the truth just a little.

I must say I am surprised that PETA are getting involved? Yes, they profess to love animals and I must say I used to be a supporter, even though I didn't agree with all their antics. That changed after adopting my APBT and finding out that they are one of the groups that are behind the breed specific legislation that is ensuring that so many family pets are re-homed or killed in shelters. So really, it seems ludicrous and hypocritical that they would jump on the bandwagon and attack Vick and his cronies. But I guess the more voices that go out against dog fighting, the better it will be for all the abused dogs that must suffer from this tyrannical sport.

Another thing I have notice in the papers is the issue of race that has arisen with this case. Hey, just check some of the ignorant comments posted on sites like MySpace or YouTube if you don't believe me. For some reason, there are many people coming out of the closet to defend Vick because he is African American. This isn't about race people! Dog fighting occurs in numerous countries and by many different nationalities, so don't make this about race. I was surprised and appalled that the NAACP are supporting the man? Really, why would you? It is not like the man was a model citizen for humanity before all this took place, and it is not like he didn't have many interactions with law enforcement in the past. It is obvious that Vick didn't want to leave his shady past behind when he made it big, and now I hope that they make an example of him for all those other celebritie thugs who think they can abuse animals because 'they are only animals' and get away with it.    

Hungry Hungry Hippo

If you know me at all, then you will know that I love animals. All animals. Actually, I don't know if there are any creatures within the animal kingdom that I don't adore...oh, wait a minute, I take that back. Bugs, I hate bugs.  I won't kill them, though I will definitely remove them from my house. I guess the same can be said for spiders. I love the look of the big boys, tarantula's and the like, but I don't really want to handle them. I think I am just fascinated by them, as I am with any other animal. Well, here is one animal that I don't profess to know alot about but they seem sweet in their own huge way. Now, huge is an understatement when you look at the size of this hippo compared to the domestic dogs, and she also seems to think/act like a small creature in much the same way as our 70lb pit bull thinks she is a chihuahua!

So take a look at this wonderful hippo who has chosen to spend her days in the company of humans...and lots of free food!