Mar30
Two Star Athletes' Very Different Approaches to Animal Abuse
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In a recent Houston Chronicle article, Rockets small forward Ron Artest openly admits that he doesn't have the best track record when it comes to animal care. In the article, he confesses that because he spends a lot of time traveling, he once left one of his dogs vulnerable to neglect. In a refreshingly candid admission, he says, "I was an irresponsible pet owner."
What sets Artest apart from other "irresponsible pet owners," though, is that he is man enough to admit that he's made mistakes, and he's now doing all he can to educate others so that they don't make the same mistakes he did. "PETA came and showed me how to be a better pet owner," he says. "I loved my dogs. You just need to be more mature and accountable for how you treat your animals. I had to be educated."
These days, Artest can be found volunteering his time to help the Houston Humane Society or lending his star power to PETA's campaigns. "I've told my people that whenever [the Houston Humane Society] need[s] me for something, they've got to make it happen," he says. "I've always loved animals. Now I've learned how to be responsible."
In a video that was shot behind the scenes at the photo shoot for his PETA spay-and-neuter ad, Artest talks about his passion for helping animals, and he also condemns dogfighting. (He has even placed a plea right on the front page of his personal Web site to urge people to spay and neuter their animal companions.) Check out the interview b-roll here:
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Speaking of dogfighting, another star athlete who has had run-ins with the law over his treatment of dogs isn't exactly jumping through hoops in an effort to show that he's learned the error of his ways. Former Atlanta Falcons quarterback and convicted dogfighter Michael Vick did attend PETA's "Developing Empathy for Animals" seminar, but he has not gone out of his way to show the public or his fans that he feels any remorse for torturing and killing dogs.
Now, just as he is on the verge of being released from federal prison, Vick is reportedly shopping around for a book deal. It's pretty unlikely that his book will be subject to the "Son of Sam" law (which is a type of law that aims to prevent criminals from profiting from their crimes) because Vick's victims were dogs. Unless the book basically consists of the words, "I was a sick, cruel, despicable jerk, and I'm sorry," and all the proceeds go to animal protection charities, we ain't buyin' it.
Posted by Jennifer Cierlitsky
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Comments
Wow, Ron Artest is cool.
Posted by: Canaduck | March 30, 2009 04:13 PM
Eff you M.V.
Posted by: c | March 31, 2009 09:58 AM
If Vick gets a book deal...then the publisher will be flooded with emails and phone calls and when Vick does a book signing...well that will be a fun day for the cameras!!!
Posted by: Ricky | March 31, 2009 12:29 PM
No the only thing that will hurt michael vick is in the wallet..don't allow him to play sports again..ever!!
Posted by: Dolly Austin | March 31, 2009 01:29 PM
The best way to show Michael Vick how the public feels about what he did is to completely ignore him. Don't buy his book, boycott the team he plays for, etc.
On second thought about boycotting the team: when the players are called out on the field and everybody screams when their names are called, this is what Michael Vick shoud hear when his name is called: dead silence. Not one sound, not one word...no matter what he does on that field, when it comes to something he has done, the only sound he should hear is the sound of his career and popularity being flushed down the toilet.
Posted by: Rev. Meg Schramm | March 31, 2009 01:42 PM
I wish that PETA would adjust their marketing and campaigns in a similar fashion to PAC's. The delivery is more impacting. I would love to see a PAC type commercial on Michael Vick showing that not only is dog fighting cruel to the animals but it is also connected to gang activity, guns, and drugs. Unfortunately the majority of sports fan who support him aren't empathetic of animals but they'd look at the gang related activity.
Posted by: Sheina | March 31, 2009 03:08 PM
Tony La Russa is one of the most animal friendly people in sports. He's an animal loving vegetarian who helps to oversee a no-kill shelter for dogs and cats.
Posted by: Brien Comerford | March 31, 2009 04:10 PM
For you Nascar fans, know that Sprint Cup driver Ryan Newman is a huge supporter of animals, funding humane societies, spay/neuter clinics, adoption drives, etc., through the Ryan Newman Foundation. Check it out on his website.
Posted by: Amy Thompson | March 31, 2009 05:14 PM
Even if I saw Vick in a commercial,I would not believe him at all....He hasn't shown any remorse for the dogs that were fought, tortured and killed by his hand.He isn't sorry for anyone but himself... Who wants to read about how these animals suffered? I don't. or does he plan to leave that part of it out? I really dislike this man. He sucks and will forever suck in MY book!
Posted by: Tammy | April 1, 2009 08:29 AM
I don't know if this is still available, but PETA offered a shirt that I believe had this on it: Here's your 7, Michael Vick, with pictures of seven of his victims before treatment.
If Michael Vick goes back to playing football, perhaps a large banner version of that shirt could be made; on game day PETA protesters could stand near the entrance of the stadium holding up that banner for all the world to see. Also have some PETA members smuggle one into the stands and when that camera swings in their direction, pull out that banner and make sure it gets on national television.
In the tradition of funny colored wigs and John 3:16,
Posted by: Rev. Meg Schramm | April 1, 2009 11:42 AM
The divide in this country between the narrow minded anti-animal rights folks and the narrow minded animal rights folks will not be bridged unless people try harder to see the others' point of view. How many of you railing against Michael Vick even bother to give a moment's thought to the fact that our so-called prison system is so racially biased that a black man has six times the chance of a white man of going to prison? I would think that Michael Vick could be forgiven if the lesson he learned in prison is that it was filled with black men whose voices are not heard (which is true) -- and not that animals are victims of a brutal system of exploitation and neglect (which they are). Further, meat eating, dog breeding people are not all evil (I don't do either for the record) -- if we don't face up to that, we can't begin to move people.
Posted by: Mike | April 3, 2009 12:27 AM
Mr. Artest rocks! There should be more people like him -- converted people who chose the path of being compassionate to animals and his pets.
Ditto what the article said about Michael Vick.
Posted by: patrizia | April 3, 2009 06:43 AM
Just let Michael Vick try to get his book deal, as soon as the publisher finds out his "track record" with the dogs he so viciously & cruelly destroyed(physcially & emotionally)they will turn around & run in the opposite direction because no self respecting book publisher will want that much bad publicity following them around forever. Michael Vick should NEVER BE ALLOWED TO OWN AN ANIMAL EVER AGAIN! As for Mr Artest the fact that he "owned up" to his actions makes him a far better person than Michael Vick WILL EVER BE!!!
Posted by: David | April 3, 2009 06:40 PM
Michael Vick is a sleazeball. An ignorant person can be educated to right and wrong. He choses to remain ignorant. I pray he has no future in the NFL, nor any future that pads his wallet. JFK said it best years ago: "to educate our people, and especially our children, to humane attitudes and actions toward living things is to preserve and strengthen our national heritage and the moral values we champion inthe world".
LindaKay, Reno, NV
Posted by: Linda Kay Daniel | April 6, 2009 11:47 AM
GO VICK AND GO FALCONS!
Posted by: Logan | April 28, 2009 10:18 PM
Regarding the comments on April 3rd about trying to understand the others' point of view...
What does M.Vick torturing and killing dogs have to do with the racially biased Justice System...Nothing.
Are you suggesting we put everything aside until the issues you feel passioniate about are resolved?
If so, when do you think it'll be alright for us to get upset with a man who tortured and killed dogs for his personal entertainment?
Posted by: Bill | May 17, 2009 03:25 PM
I want to know from the writer of this article, what more does Michael Vick have to do? Get on camera and cry about what he has done? He has stated that what he did was hidious and he did not use his best judgement. He has also said that he will speak out against dogfighting, especially when it comes to urban areas. And he has agreed to that with the U.S. Humane Society. So, again, I ask, what more does Mr. Vick have to do to prove to America, I guess, that has has in fact learned from his past????? Can ANYONE answer that???
Posted by: The Bu | May 22, 2009 09:27 AM
dont bad mouth vick, dude learned his lesson. just because he didnt attend a seminar doesnt mean anything.
and his book isnt about him going to prison or the dogfighting, its called a biography, which is about his life, not just the past few years.
Posted by: Pe Evan Turner Alan is gay | May 27, 2009 03:35 PM
If anyone has the nerve to try and make this into a racial situation and not about the animals then they are uneducated and racist themselves! Who was there to stop Vick from drowning, hanging and killing these poor animals by electricution? He has absolutely no right to do any of these things. It has NOTHING to do with race and stop trying to make it. It does not matter if he was asian, american indian, greek or purple for that matter what he did was wrong and he didn't get enough of a punishment in my opinion!
Posted by: Emily | July 7, 2009 11:23 PM