Michael Vick hung dogs that performed badly in the dog fighting ring “by placing a nylon cord over a 2 X 4 that was nailed to two trees located next to the big shed.” He also “drowned approximately three dogs by putting the dogs’ heads in a five gallon bucket of water.”
He lied to investigators, and he lied to the court, refusing to take responsibility for his actions. He has recently denied he electrocuted dogs although a participant in the rehabilitation of some of the dogs rescued from Vick’s property, said, “Jumper cables were clipped onto the ears of underperforming dogs, then, just like with a car, the cables were connected to the terminals of car batteries before lifting and tossing the shamed dogs into the water.
Most of Vick’s dogs were small – 40lbs or so – so tossing them in would’ve been fast and easy work for thick athlete arms. We don’t know how many suffered this premeditated murder, but the damage to the pool walls tells a story. It seems that while they were scrambling to escape, they scratched and clawed at the pool liner and bit at the dented aluminum sides like a hungry dog on a tin can.”
I can’t find statistics on recidivism for animal abusers … perhaps none exist. According to one study, the recidivism rates for men who commit domestic violence is about 39% (legal intervention only) or 36% (legal intervention and therapy).
Recidivism among animal hoarders, a form of animal abuse, is nearly 100%.
And strangely, the Humane Society supports Michael Vicks’ desire to own a dog someday despite their own policy: “Strong, carefully considered sentencing that includes incarceration, psychological treatment and a ban on pet ownership is the most effective available tool for reducing recidivism and interrupting the cycle of criminal behavior.”
Michael Vick committed crimes of the soul, revealing his basic nature. I hope for wisdom of those supervising Mr. Vick’s probation. May he be allowed access to a living animal only after long consideration … if ever.