** Warning** This post could be disturbing to some. Please read with caution!
I read two news stories today that I was very affected by. I can't get either of them out of my head. They are both extremely sad stories but for very different reasons. They both have to do with dogs and, as I'm sure you all know, I am a huge dog lover.
The first story made me so mad that I literally felt sick to my stomach. It is the story about how Michael Vick, the NFL quarterback and star of the Atlanta Falcons, is involved in a dog fighting ring and owns a kennel where he breeds pit bulls to fight. First of all, any one who teaches and forces animals to fight each other is very disturbed. I don't know how anyone can enjoy seeing two animals bite and tear at each other until one of them dies. It's one of the most horrible things I can think of.
But, this story goes much further than a dog fighting ring. This despicable jerk, who really is a waste of human life, chose to punish the dogs who "didn't perform well" in the ring. But, he didn't just put the dogs to sleep, he tortured these poor animals. Animals that from birth were taught how to be mean and how to fight. Animals that stood no chance in the world. Animals that were bred strictly for this asshole's entertainment. Some of the charges include dousing the dogs in water and then electricuting them, hanging them, drowning them, and slamming them on the ground until they died. Just terrible acts of violence.
I am so disgusted with this story and so disgusted with all the parties involved. I hope the NFL fires him and I hope he is sent to prison for a very long time. Even though his going to prison will never make up for the awful things that he did to those animals, he deserves to sit there and think about it everyday of his life. And I hope that some big bubba finds him in the shower and makes him his bitch. He is a terrible human being and truly a waste of life.
The other sad story of the day also involves a dog but it is sad for a very different reason. If you're an Oprah fan I'm sure you've seen the pictures or the shows of her 3 golden retrievers, Luke, Lana, and Gracie. Unfortunately, in May, Gracie passed away at 2 years old. She died after choking on a plastic ball she found in the yard.
Oprah wrote about Gracie's death in the August issue of her magazine and the story is so sad. She describes what happened on the day Gracie died and what her reaction was. She also went into detail about the kind of dog Gracie was.
The story really touched me because the way Oprah described Gracie reminded me so much of my Daisy. We always joke and say that Daisy has got to be at least partially retarded. The dog is so silly and she just enjoys her life so much. She runs as hard as she can, she swims as much as she can, and boy can she relax when it's time. She knows how to milk it to get her belly rubbed and she knows how to snuggle in at night so that I'll spoon her. I smile every time I think of her running along the pool deck with her tounge hanging out the side of her mouth. She's just hilarious. I love my dogs so much and I can't imagine ever losing them. I tear up when I even think of it. I'm sure that Oprah is devastated, as I'm sure we'd all be in that situation.
So, I came home today and hugged and kissed Daisy and Roxy and let them lick my face and roll around on the bed and I rubbed their bellies for just a little bit longer than usual tonight. We went outside to play their favorite game of fetch. And tonight, instead of complaining that it was too hot or that I was tired and didn't want to stay outside for too long, I watched my dogs running and jumping and playing and swimming and having a wonderful time. I am so happy that we can give them such an amazing life. A life like I'm sure Oprah's Gracie had and a life that Michael Vick's poor dogs never had the chance to know.
If you'd like to read the news stories that I've talked about, I've posted the links here:
http://www.oprah.com/omagazine/200708/omag_200708_mission.jhtml
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=AnKeouqnAHe3JnsM5XNiWPM5nYcB?slug=ap-vickindictment&prov=ap&type=lgns
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4 comments:
I recently read another story related to dogs. People need to watch their dogs very carefully around automatic paper shredders. Unplug them when not in use! A beautiful yellow lab tried to lick the top of a paper shredder and it activated the automatic turn on device and the injury that followed killed him. Here is the link to his picture:
http://www.rescueforlife.org/news.html
I too am disgusted by Michael Vick. Someone should torture him so he knows how it feels!
Em, I read that story too! I dind't know the dog died though. I never would have thought about those being dangerous for dogs but I will definitely be careful with them in the future!
I cannot fathom what some people can do to animals. I have loved my cats like they are children --- no, they are my children. Having to put my Suzy to rest was devastating. You never know how much time you are going to have. We are lucky we had 16 years with her. As an abandoned runt from the prison, we were blessed to have given her the life she had. With our Ginger who is now 9, there isn't anything we wouldn't let her get away with because she brings us such joy and unconditional love (yes, she is a CAT). There was no question when Suzy died that I wanted a private cremation so we would have her ashes with us and she can be buried with us some day, when the time comes, we will do the same with Ginger. Suzy was abandoned at the prison and Ginger came from the pound, so we can can be assured that we gave them a life they could never have dreamed of and I'm sure you do the same for your dogs. Michael Vick is not worth the press coverage he is getting for his horrendous crimes. If the justice system does not deal with him appropriately, I am confident a higher power will.
Aunt,
It is such a wonderful feeling knowing that you are able to provide your pets a life that they otherwise wouldn't have known. Daisy and her 9 brothers and sisters were abandoned in an apartment complex. The renters moved out and took the mother dog but left all the babies. Fortunately she was rescued and we were able to adopt her but I always wonder what happened to the other 8. If I could, I'd take in all the dogs from the pound but for now we just donate as much as we can to the Humane Society and to our local shelters. And we always encourage people to adopt from shelters and/or pounds instead of buying from pet stores (aka puppy mills).
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