The Gist: Hello VegNews Book Clubbers! I hope you had a great Mother's Day weekend, and enjoying your reading of The Bond by Wayne Pacelle. We still have some copies of the book on the VN Store, so if you don't have one already, be sure to pick one up!For this week's discussion, we read the next two chapters, which are in the second part of the book. The first chapter talks about the abuses of the Hallmark/Westland Meat Packing Company in Chico, Calif., in which HSUS investigated and helped to shut down. Pacelle also relates HSUS's fight to pass Proposition 2 in California, which addressed some of the worst confinement practices in factory farming. In 2008, the proposition passed, which was a huge step for the humane treatment of animals.
In the second chapter, Pacelle talks about the cruelties of animal fighting, specifically dog and cock fighting. Specifically, he talks about his work with Michael Vick, the NFL football player who ran a dog-fighting ring in Virginia, until it was raided in 2007, and Vick was sentenced to prison for 18 months. Near the end of his sentence, Vick contacted Pacelle and expressed interest in working with HSUS to help it's anti-dog-fighting campaign. Pacelle was very skeptical at first, but explains that he saw an importance in working with Vick to help get the message across about the cruelty of dog fighting, especially to the impoverished youth of America, who are more prone to these types of activities. Vick is still working with HSUS, and by the end of 2010, he had spoken to 10,000 kids in communities that are at risk.
The Discussion: Here are two discussion points to help get the conversation started. I look forward to hearing from you!
1. Do you think that it was a good idea for HSUS to work with Michael Vick after he did such cruel things to animals? Why, or why not?
2. As Pacelle mentions, animal fighting is very low on the radar for most people, even though it is quite prevalent. Why do you think this is?
The Assignment: Please read the next two chapters of The Bond for our discussion on Monday, May 16. And don't miss Pacelle on The Today Show tomorrow!
~VN Book Club Hostess Lyndsay Orwig
1. Do you think that it was a good idea for HSUS to work with Michael Vick after he did such cruel things to animals? Why, or why not?
ReplyDeleteAfter reading the chapter, I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s probably a good idea, within limits. I serve a lot of disadvantaged young people in my work, and like it or not, they’re not going to relate to Wayne Pacelle in his snappy suit. A disgraced former sports star, who has seen this world and has accepted punishment for his role in it, is a different story.
When it comes right down to it, that’s the real goal. To keep kids OUT of this ugly world of animal fighting and prevent all the cruelty that goes along with it.
And think about it. The AR movement includes former vivisectors and former factory farmers, among others. We’ve all seen the videos. Are the abuses Vick’s dogs suffered really much different than the pain endured by factory farm and lab animals? Where do we draw the line?
2. As Pacelle mentions, animal fighting is very low on the radar for most people, even though it is quite prevalent. Why do you think this is?
I think it’s because it’s not something mainstream middle America encounters. Animal fighting operations are clandestine by nature, so even if a non-informed person catches a glimpse of one aspect of it, they may have no idea what they’re seeing. The end product of animal fights—the mangled, ripped-up roosters and pit bulls—are generally only seen by animal control and shelter workers, as most end up being euthanized.
I agree that animal fighting isn't in mainstream view because the images and end result stay out of the media more often tha not(although I do think people are beginning to wake up)
ReplyDeleteI see the benefit of HSUS working with Vick much more clearly now that I read Pacelles argument. Vick deserves the same compassion we show everyone else that gets a second chance. After all, John Sulley became a vegan after buying a fur coat for his wife and is now one of the most outspoken vegan celebs. Maybe this chance is what Vick needs to start his own awakening.
Hi everyone,
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments, Sock and Victoria! The Michael Vick story hits close to home, because I grew up in Virginia, close to Newport News. I also studied at the University of Virginia, which is the rival of Virginia Tech, where Vick played football. His brother played football while I was in school, and he got in a lot of trouble, and was very violent, which made me have a bad view of the Vick family to begin with. When I found out about the dog-fighting ring, I became outraged. I do understand Pacelle's point though in working with him. However, I am still very angry that Vick has been allowed to play NFL football again—I think he should have never been given that privilege again. What do you guys think?
Thanks for the discussion so far, and I look forward to reading more. I'll be wrapping up on Friday!
~VN Book Club Hostess Lyndsay Orwig
I think that working with Vick was a tough decision to make, but ultimately the right one. It definitely makes a bigger impact when kids see people that they look up to admit that what they did was wrong. It doesn't excuse their actions, but ultimately, when the goal is to get those who are fighting animals to see the error of their ways, it helps to hear it from someone like Vick.
ReplyDeleteAs far as animal fighting being low on the radar, I agree that it is because most people don't see these things very often. When they do, it seems to be and isolated event, or it doesn't seem to directly effect the greater population in the way that abuses of factory farming do.
I agree that Vick should not have been allowed back into the NFL and was also outraged when he was brought back. That being said, I lost respect for professional sports leagues long ago. There was a time when athletes weren't allowed into the Hall of Fame for gambling for pete's sake! My, how times have changed.
ReplyDeleteI agree that he should not have been let back into the NFL. Talking to kids about his cruel choices and subsequent punishment is one thing. Becoming a sports hero again is another. He should have lost that chance when he started participating in dogfighting.
ReplyDeleteHSUS had no business working with Vick, a man who killed and tortured dogs with his bare hands. This man deserves to be a pariah, yet he is again making big money playing football. Does it occur to anyone that Vick used HSUS to rehabilitate his public image? Does anyone really believe a person who committed the sorts of horrific acts Vick did is capable of real change in such a short period of time? Would anyone accept OJ Simpson as a spokesperson for domestic violence? Those poor dogs. Have we forgotten how they died? I think anyone who posted in favor of HSUS working with Vick should look again at the details of that case. It might change their minds. I'm sure there are many respectable, compassionate professional athletes who would be happy to talk to children about the evils of dogfightng. Use one of them.
ReplyDeleteSince Blogger was down last night, I was unable to participate in the discussion.
ReplyDelete1. Do you think that it was a good idea for HSUS to work with Michael Vick after he did such cruel things to animals? Why, or why not?
I think it was a good idea for HSUS to work with Michael Vick because we need to have as many voices as possible speaking for the animals, since they can't speak for themselves. I also agree that Michael Vick should not have been allowed back into the NFL, since that is a privilege and he is being portrayed as a "hero."
2. As Pacelle mentions, animal fighting is very low on the radar for most people, even though it is quite prevalent. Why do you think this is?
I think "out of sight, out of mind" is an applicable phrase to use here. Most people don't go out of their way to learn about what is really going on behind closed doors, they only hear about things in the media, or word of mouth. I think it's also easy for some people to turn away and ignore things they don't want to see or hear about because it's too difficult for them.