Tag: Michael Vick

RIP Frodo, Last Surviving ‘Vicktory Dog’

Back in 2007, a shy young Pit Bull named Frodo was one of 48 “Vicktory Dogs” seized from the horribly cruel dogfighting operation run by NFL player Michael Vick.

Fourteen years later, Frodo has become the last Vicktory Dog to cross the Rainbow Bridge.

“Sweet Frodo – How we loved him. He was one of the bravest survivors we’ve ever met,” BAD RAP wrote today on its Facebook page. “[W]e estimate that he would’ve been 15 years old — and THIS is the important part — the last 14 years of his life were spent being pampered like a prince with the Ramirez family and dogs.”

Frodo “was once so timid that he couldn’t look his caretakers in the eye, much less take treats out of their hands,” according to his BAD RAP bio, “but he has since blossomed into a cheerful dog who prods his favorite humans for attention.”

Those favorite humans are Kim and Toby Ramirez, who adopted Frodo from BAD RAP. To help soothe Frodo at night, Kim would turn on a fan or a music channel on TV. “I’ve had to somewhat rearrange my life in a way for Frodo,” she once said. “And he’s worth it.”

It was thanks to the efforts of BAD RAP and a few other animal welfare organizations that the lives of Frodo and the other dogs were spared. Wayne Pacelle, president of the Humane Society of the United States at the time, said the rescued Vick dogs would never be suitable as pets and thus should all be destroyed. PETA agreed.

But BAD RAP along with the Best Friends Animal Society (BFAS) and Richmond Animal League took in the Vick survivors, rehabilitated them and found them loving forever homes in which these “unadoptable” survivors thrived, earning them the name “Vicktory Dogs.” Many became beloved therapy dogs.

One of the survivors, Jonny Justice, was awarded the prestigious ASPCA Dog of the Year award in 2014. Sadly, Jonny Justice died last week, according to BAD RAP, just two days before Frodo.

As for Vick — who, according to a federal indictment, killed poorly performing dogs by hanging them, repeatedly slamming them to the ground or holding their heads underwater until they drowned — he went to prison for 18 months but was then awarded the second chance he’d deprived of all those dogs he killed. He was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles and immediately resumed his NFL career.

As recently as last year, the NFL awarded Vick the honor of being a “legends captain” for the 2020 Pro Bowl. Over 1.4 million people signed online petitions urging the NFL to choose someone actually worthy of that title.

If anyone deserves legend status, it’s Frodo and those amazing Vicktory Dogs. May they all rest in peace.

Want to help BAD RAP save the lives of more dogs? Make an online donation.

Photo: CBS/YouTube

R.I.P. Cherry, One of the Last Surviving Vicktory Dogs

Nearly 13 years ago, Cherry was one of the 51 Pit Bulls rescued from a life of horror at Michael Vick’s Bad Newz Kennels in Virginia.

Prior to 2007, most dogs rescued from fighting operations were euthanized. Even Wayne Pacelle, president of the Humane Society of the United States at the time, said the rescued Vick dogs would never be suitable as pets and thus should all be destroyed.

But dog experts at animal welfare organizations including the Best Friends Animal Society (BFAS), Richmond Animal League and BAD RAP knew better. They took in the Vick survivors, rehabilitated them and found them loving forever homes in which these “unadoptable” survivors thrived, earning them the name “Vicktory Dogs.” Many of them became beloved therapy dogs. One of the survivors, Jonny Justice, was awarded the prestigious ASPCA Dog of the Year award in 2014.

Cherry, just a puppy in 2007, was taken in by BFAS. “Cherry arrived at Best Friends looking like he wanted to stick his head in a hole and never come out,” according to Julie Castle, CEO of BFAS, in The Best Friends Blog. “The word ‘withdrawn’ doesn’t even begin to describe it. He was living in his own world, trapped in a nightmare replaying over and over inside his head.”

Thanks to the tender, loving care he received at BFAS, Cherry eventually came out of his shell. He turned out to be a big ol’ snugglebug, wanting to cuddle with people, other dogs — and even cats.

“It was so wonderful to see Cherry become the squooshy-faced lap dog he’d always wanted to be — wonderful because it happened for him and wonderful that he’d come so far from his sad past of abuse,” Castle wrote.

Cherry was adopted by Paul and Melissa Fiaccone. He enjoyed a long, loving life in his forever home. He became a Pit Bull ambassador, helping people realize that it’s possible for dogs to be rehabilitated after experiencing such horrible trauma.

Tragically, many of the dogs at Vick’s Bad Newz Kennels never got a second chance like Cherry and his fellow Vicktory Dogs. According to the federal indictment, Vick himself killed poorly performing dogs by hanging them or repeatedly slamming them to the ground. When three dogs survived being hanged, Vick helped hold their heads underwater until they drowned.

Vick went to prison for 18 months in 2007 and was then awarded the second chance he’d deprived of all those dogs he killed. He was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles and quickly resumed his NFL career. Most recently the NFL has given him the honor of being a “legends captain” for the 2020 Pro Bowl. Over 1.4 million people have signed online petitions urging the NFL to choose a more worthy “legend.”

If anyone deserves legend status, it’s Cherry and the Vicktory Dogs. Sadly, Cherry recently had a mass growing on his spleen and had become lethargic. According to his dog dad, Paul Fiaccone, “the message was clear from him. He was tired, he was ready. Melissa and I held his paws and hugged him tightly as he crossed the Rainbow Bridge. He was extremely peaceful and we are honored to have been with him at his time of need.”

Paul wrote that during their years together, Cherry taught him a very important lesson: to live. “Life will always throw you curveballs, but live it and live it well,” he wrote. “Cherry gave life all he had and he wrung every ounce out of his time here. He just loved life and loved sharing his love with his family, friends and whomever he met.

“Today we mourn the loss of Cherry, but tomorrow we live. We live for Cherry.”

Photo: Best Friends Animal Society/YouTube

Really, NFL? Dog Killer Michael Vick Gets Gig as Pro Bowl Captain

In the NFL, you can’t seem to get a job if, for example, you protest peacefully during the national anthem. Colin Kaepernick hasn’t been signed by any team ever since 2016, when the former San Francisco 49er would take a knee during the playing of the “Star-Spangled Banner” to protest the killing of African-American men by police officers.

Yet in the NFL, you sure can get a gig if you beat Pit Bulls to death with your bare hands. That’s right, Michael Vick is back, unfortunately. The NFL proudly announced last month that the dog killer is going to be one of four “legends captains” for the 2020 Pro Bowl.

Funny, Vick’s bio in the NFL press release exults his career as a player for the Atlanta Falcons and Philadelphia Eagles, but somehow fails to mention his career as the owner of an illegal dog-fighting operation.

As everybody probably knows, Vick went to prison for 18 months in 2007 for running the Bad Newz Kennels in Virginia. According to the federal indictment, Vick himself killed poorly performing dogs by hanging them or repeatedly slamming them to the ground. When three dogs survived being hanged, Vick helped hold their heads underwater until they drowned.

Soon after he got out of prison, Vick was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles and resumed his NFL career.

Some people argue that Vick served his time, so it’s time to stop being outraged. But those chilling facts from the federal indictment are not something that’s easy to get over. And many of us believe that Vick was remorseful only because he got caught, and not because of the horrible things he did to dogs – which he never has apologized for.

All those innocent dogs Vick killed never got a second chance. Why should he?

If any NFL officials happen to be reading this, here are a couple of suggestions for players much worthier of being Pro Bowl legends captains:

  • Former wide receiver Torrey Smith paid the adoption fees for 46 homeless dogs and cats from BARCS (Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter).
  • Ronnie Stanley, an offensive tackle for the Baltimore Ravens, went to BARCS three years ago with a special request: He and his girlfriend only wanted a dog who had been in the shelter for a long time. They took home Winter, a Pit Bull/Retriever mix who’d been left to die in a vacant house with no food or water. (That terrible situation was arguably better than being a poorly performing dog at the Bad Newz Kennels.)

Say No to Michael Vick as a Pro Bowl Captain!

Thousands of people are protesting the NFL’s hiring of Vick. You can protest by boycotting the NFL and its sponsors, and by signing these online petitions:

  • As of Dec. 7, more than 319,000 people have signed an Animalvictory.org petition to remove Vick as a Pro Bowl captain. “Out of the hundreds of professional football athletes who have led upstanding lives, the NFL has chosen a convicted dog-fighting organizer as someone who they want to honor,” it says.
  • Over 290,000 people have signed a Change.org petition started by Joanna Lind. “When is the NFL going to take any responsibility for the behavior of its current and former players?” Lind writes. “To honor a man who had zero regard for animals is unacceptable.”
  • Another Change.org petition started by Brande Wood has over 62,000 signatures. “The NFL, Disney, ESPN, the city of Orlando, and Camping World Stadium should not be condoning the torture and murder of dogs by allowing Michael Vick to be involved in the Pro Bowl — or any other professional sport,” Wood writes.
  • A Care2 petition has more than 67,000 signatures. “[L]et Michael Vick and the NFL know we will never forget what he did and we do not condone this type of behavior!” it says. “He needs to be banned completely from the NFL. There is no excuse for animal abuse!”

Photo: Jason Bacon

5 Reasons Why Jon Stewart Is So Doggone Awesome

This post was originally published in August 2015.

During his tenure as host of “The Daily Show” from January 1999 to August 2015, Jon Stewart skewered the news media and plenty of politicians — but he’s always had a soft spot for dogs, especially Pit Bulls.

Here are just five of the many reasons why Jon Stewart is a doggone awesome guy.

Bonus Fun Fact

Even the theme song of “The Daily Show” has a canine-related title: it’s “Dog on Fire,” performed by They Might Be Giants.

The instrumental tune was written by Bob Mould of Hüsker Dü. Based on the sound effects in the original version, its rather disturbing title might refer to a bowler who’s scoring a lot of strikes.

5. ‘The Daily Show’ office is dog friendly.

“On any given day, a half dozen dogs roam the halls, scavenge for treats and bark when people start clapping at ‘The Daily Show with Jon Stewart,'” according to The Daily Show Dogs, a Facebook page dedicated to these lucky pets.

In September 2012, Brian Williams did about this perk for NBC’s “Rock Center.” (For the record, Williams was not lying about “The Daily Show” being dog friendly.)

4. Jon Stewart is a longtime Pit Bull advocate.

When Tia Torres, founder of the Villalobos Rescue Center featured on “Pit Bulls and Parolees,” was a guest in September 2014, she told Stewart, “I knew who Jon Stewart was before I knew what ‘The Daily Show’ was, because you’re such a Pit Bull advocate.”

3. He enlightened his audience about puppy mills.

The “Big Red Dogs” segment, in which Olivia Munn interviewed a supporter of puppy mills, aired after Missouri’s Puppy Mill Cruelty Prevention Act passed in November 2010.

“They’re expecting breeders to sit there and pay for an exorbitance amount of care that is not needed, like adequate food, adequate water, adequate space,” says Anita Andrews, director of Alliance for Truth, an organization that opposed the law.

The segment gets even funnier/scarier after that, with appearances by “Dog Whisperer” Cesar Millan and spcaLA President Madeline Bernstein.

2. He ripped Michael Vick a new one.

When it was discovered in 2007 that the NFL’s Michael Vick ran a dog-fighting operation and had killed several dogs himself, like most of us, Stewart was livid.

“I’d like to cover him in liver and let the dogs see if he’s as fast and elusive as they say he is,” Stewart said, fuming, as the studio audience cheered.

“My guess is no.”

1. He’s the dog dad of rescued Pit Bulls, including three-legged Little Dipper.

Stewart doesn’t just advocate on behalf of Pit Bulls — he provides them with a loving forever home. Stewart, his wife Tracey (who’s a former veterinary technician) and their family have three: Monkey, Shamsky (named after baseball legend Art Shamsky) and three-legged Little Dipper.

In a series of ridiculously sweet photos posted on Buzzfeed in May 2013, Stewart could be seen walking Little Dipper with a bright green leash along a New York City street.

In the photo below, as Stewart pats the lucky pup on the head, Little Dipper appears to be having his very own “Moment of Zen.”

Photos via Pinterest; Buzzfeed

Michael Vick, Animal Welfare Advocate? Yeah, Right

Michael Vick is getting a lot of positive press lately, and it’s not related to football. No, the convicted owner of a dog-fighting ring who killed poor-performing dogs with his own bare hands is now…are you ready…advocating on behalf of animal welfare!

Tomorrow Vick will go to Harrisburg, the state capital of Pennsylvania, and ask the Democratic caucus to support House Bill 1516, referred to as the “Hot Car Law.” The law would give police officers the authority to smash car windows to save pets locked inside on hot or cold days.

Wait, what? Why is someone who once killed dogs advocating for a law that could save their lives?

“I know that I’m an unlikely advocate. I was part of the problem,” Vick said today in a news release. “Now my perspective can help reach people that activists can’t reach. I can help others become agents of change.”

Kids from Harrisburg schools will join Vick tomorrow “to teach children the political process,” according to the news release.

Are you getting the warm fuzzies? Neither am I.

In response to the outrage when he signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers in August, Vick told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that while he can’t change his own past, “the only thing I can do is try to inform the masses of kids to not go down the same road I went down.”

If Vick’s support helps get animal welfare laws passed and in the process shows children how to make positive changes, that is a good thing.

So why am I still not getting the warm fuzzies?

Probably because I have a feeling Vick’s “advocacy” is little more than a publicity ploy to help remove some of the tarnish from his image. And what better way to do it than with laws saving animals’ lives?

What I find most perplexing is how someone who could personally hang, electrocute and smash dogs’ heads to the ground (yeah, yeah, yeah, he was convicted and served prison time for it, but the fact remains that he had no problem murdering dogs) could have such a complete turnaround. I realize that people can and do change, but this drastically?

It doesn’t seem possible — or genuine.

What do you think? Does Michael Vick truly care about animals, or is he advocating for the publicity? Please leave a comment below.

Photo via Facebook

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