Dog Fighting
Hello Everyone again,
I am sure you have all heard all the fuss about the recruitment of Michael Vick who has a liking for dog fighting and other assorted activity which is "not nice" to animals. I thought you might find our Dean's commentary interesting.
t's about much more than just Michael Vick
by JOAN C. HENDRICKS Friday August 28, 2009, 1:01 AM
There is a neglected story in all the brouhaha about Michael Vick and the Eagles.
The School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, where I am the dean, has received e-mails, phone calls and even drop-in visits since the news of Vick's signing with the Eagles. While Penn Vet will not take a stand on whether the Eagles should have hired Michael Vick, I cannot help but consider the larger issues raised by this controversy.
Dogfighting is prevalent throughout our country even though it is illegal. It is a money-making enterprise, prevalent in urban and rural settings, and the dogs seized from such operations fill shelters, including those in Philadelphia. There is unquestionable and horrific damage involved in the training and fighting of these dogs.
The degradation of the human spirit that is inherent in participating in entertainment that relies on watching the infliction of pain is corrosive to the kind of ethical, humane society we all wish for.
This is what the Michael Vick story should be about -- not that one man made a "mistake" but that there is a culture in which such behaviors are so common as to be seen as normal and that these endeavors are, at present, profitable.
Michael Vick, in his partnerships with animal-advocacy groups, has the opportunity to provide real education and inspiration to change this deplorable situation.
JOAN C. HENDRICKS
Dean of Veterinary Medicine
University of Pennsylvania
Sandra
I am sure you have all heard all the fuss about the recruitment of Michael Vick who has a liking for dog fighting and other assorted activity which is "not nice" to animals. I thought you might find our Dean's commentary interesting.
t's about much more than just Michael Vick
by JOAN C. HENDRICKS Friday August 28, 2009, 1:01 AM
There is a neglected story in all the brouhaha about Michael Vick and the Eagles.
The School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, where I am the dean, has received e-mails, phone calls and even drop-in visits since the news of Vick's signing with the Eagles. While Penn Vet will not take a stand on whether the Eagles should have hired Michael Vick, I cannot help but consider the larger issues raised by this controversy.
Dogfighting is prevalent throughout our country even though it is illegal. It is a money-making enterprise, prevalent in urban and rural settings, and the dogs seized from such operations fill shelters, including those in Philadelphia. There is unquestionable and horrific damage involved in the training and fighting of these dogs.
The degradation of the human spirit that is inherent in participating in entertainment that relies on watching the infliction of pain is corrosive to the kind of ethical, humane society we all wish for.
This is what the Michael Vick story should be about -- not that one man made a "mistake" but that there is a culture in which such behaviors are so common as to be seen as normal and that these endeavors are, at present, profitable.
Michael Vick, in his partnerships with animal-advocacy groups, has the opportunity to provide real education and inspiration to change this deplorable situation.
JOAN C. HENDRICKS
Dean of Veterinary Medicine
University of Pennsylvania
Sandra
Trackbacks
No Trackbacks
The author does not allow comments to this entry
Comments
Display comments as Linear | Threaded