Post #900 and I've found an Egg-Suckin' Dog!

To commemorate my 900th post, I give you...today's edition of SudieCinema. I admit I stole this from Ed H..."Jubilation T. Cornpone".




I *heart* Stubby Kaye.

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I'm feeling a little bit better today...no rain, and I'm just feeling OK all the way around. However, we all know that it's subject to change, blah blah blah.

I am glad I got my "Big Love" fix from HBO. I am so hooked...if I didn't know better I'd say that all Mormons are nothing but freak shows but I am enlightened enough that I know the opposite is true. But seriously...if you have a chance, check out this show. It is soapy, funny, bizarre, and makes some good points about right/wrong.

So now...it's time for an Egg-Suckin' Dog!

Today's recipient: Michael Vicks, and by association, all associated with "Bad Newz Kennels".

Reason for award? To quote the article:

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) -- One of Michael Vick's co-defendants pleaded guilty Monday to his role in a dogfighting conspiracy he says was financed almost entirely by the Atlanta Falcons quarterback.

As part of a plea agreement, Tony Taylor pledged to fully cooperate with the government in its prosecution of Vick and two other men accused of running an interstate dogfighting enterprise known as "Bad Newz Kennels" on Vick's property in rural Surry County.

Taylor acknowledged in the summary of facts that he found the property that Vick purchased in 2001 for $30,000 for development into a dogfighting compound. Taylor says he maintained and trained the dogs for about three years, using his share of winnings -- which were split among the partners -- for living expenses.

So...we have a pro football player that makes more money than GOD apparently feels that isn't enough for him. So he invests in a humane business...like...DOG FIGHTING. Here's another happy, good-time tidbit from the article, describing how the dogs are treated.

The summary of facts signed by Taylor supports the indictment's claims that the dogfighting ring executed underperforming dogs by drowning, hanging and other brutal means. Taylor admitted shooting one dog and electrocuting another when they did not perform well in test fights in the summer of 2002.

Vick, 27, attended several dogfights in Virginia and other states with his partners, according to the statement. Prosecutors claim the fights offered purses as high as $26,000.

Lovely. Just lovely. I'm sure his mother must be proud.

Double plus bonus: It seems like a slap on the wrist, but it probably cuts the man to the quick to have these punishments inflicted upon him...from the article, it states:

The gruesome details outlined in the July 17 indictment have fueled public protests against Vick and prompted the suspension of some of his lucrative endorsement deals. Also, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has barred Vick from the Falcons' training camp.

That's in addition to the potential for six years in prison and $350K in fines. Here's what another article had to say re: Mr. Vick and his animal loving efforts:

Michael Vick is accused of being a party to dog fights with purses worth thousands of dollars, helping execute dogs that performed badly and turning his Surry County property into a dogfighting haven where members of his kennel could house their operation, according to an indictment issued by a federal grand jury against Vick and three others Tuesday.

Judge's comments:

Where do I begin?

First of all, I think I've mentioned that I used to own a pit-bull mix in high school. His mix was a three-way split between pit bull, German shepherd and Brittany spaniel. He looked like he'd been put together by a committee...he had the pit bull build, the German shepherd coloring/fur, and a stubby tail like a Brittany spaniel. He had funny ears too...one would stick up and one wasn't quite sure on what position it should take. He was one of the most loving dogs I'd ever had. He was active, but eager to please.

However, he could fight and fight hard. When I had my pit bull mix, my sister had a Doberman. They made excellent tag-team partners...as we used to say, "George would hit 'em high and Foofur would hit 'em low". They were like two players on a football team...they worked in tandem.

But to contrast the two, George would fight until he got tired/bored. Not Foofur. He'd piledrive into his opponent until it gave up. A good example is when Foofur fought a groundhog. The groundhog went to the happy hunting ground, but all Foofur had was a notch cut out of his nose.

Foofur would also defend our house and Grandma/Grandpa Dawson's house against strange dogs, and alert us if someone was messing around where they shouldn't be. However, his "defensiveness" was intermittent. He was just as likely to lick someone's ears clean if they were pulled over and trying to change a tire on their car. That's just the kind of dog he was.

In my rambling way, I'm trying to make a point. From what I know about terrier breeds (which include "pit bulls"...really, a generic term), they're high energy dogs. They're smart, but they need a LOT of things to do. They're not like herding dogs...they're way different than that. They're dogs who need positive attention and...yes...a firm hand as far as training is concerned. They can be stubborn. Reinforcement is very important as far as working with any breed, but ESPECIALLY terriers.

However, let's look at what they do to these dogs again, shall we?

The summary of facts signed by Taylor supports the indictment's claims that the dogfighting ring executed underperforming dogs by drowning, hanging and other brutal means. Taylor admitted shooting one dog and electrocuting another when they did not perform well in test fights in the summer of 2002.

I'm sorry - there's a bit of a difference between smacking the dog on the nose with a rolled-up newspaper and ELECTROCUTING IT, LYNCHING IT, OR DROWNING IT!

I've also heard of other brutalities done in the name of "dogfighting". Sleep deprivation, starvation, beating, even injecting the dogs with stimulants...all in the name of making a few bucks and being "gangsta".

Vick makes more than enough money as a football player. More than enough...hell, I'd like to make the money he's making even without a dog-fighting operation under my belt.

I'm sure the argument from Vick's camp was, "Hey, he didn't even know the dogfighting was going on at his property."

I'm thinkin' this way: you know, it's still your property. Possession is 9/10ths of the law. If something had gone wrong with one of the dogs and it had attacked/maimed/killed someone, Vick would still be sued. He owned the land. It's like if you have a swimming pool in your backyard and someone sneaks on the property, uses the pool and drowns. It's called "an attractive nuisance". (By the way, I think I've even been called that from time to time...but ANYWAY...)

As of now, we know he even had a stake in the business. What does that say about him and his sense of ethics? He's getting his endorsements taken away and is barred from training camp. Was it really worth it, in addition to the fines and potential prison time?

He should've sold Amway instead...it's a hell of a lot safer.