The American Kennel Club, including their 5,000 member dog clubs nationwide are calling for the Philadelphia Eagles to withdraw Vick as the recipient of Ed Block Courage Award. The AKC request to withdraw Vick as the Block Courage Award winner was signed Friday (but first came to media attention this afternoon, January 25) by president & CEO Dennis Sprung and the AKC President Ronald Menaker.
The Ed Block Courage Award is presented annually to an Eagles player
who exemplifies commitment to the principals of sportsmanship and
courage. According to press reports Vick's response, "I've had a lot to overcome, more than probably one single individual can bear."
Personally, I congratulate the AKC on taking this stand. Perhaps, someone from the AKC can comment here with ideas for what we can do - how average dog lovers and/or football fans can score input.
Filed under: dogs
Tags: AKC, American Kennel Club, Dennis Sprung, dogfs fighting, Michael Vick, Michael Vick dogfighting, Ron Menaker, Steve Dale archives
"I've had a lot to overcome, more than probably one single individual can bear."
Well, gee, and how much of more than he can bear did he bring down on himself? Courage is doing something above and beyond what is called for in your daily life, and he has not demonstrated to the public that he has learned from his
I completely agree with you, LuvMyPets. There is nothing courageous about the COWARDLY act of dog fighting, blaming others for your involvement once you've been caught or speaking to 7 yr olds at staged photo opts. Courage is the "mental or moral strength to resist opposition, danger, or hardship". NO WHERE in Vick's actions have I seen true courage demonstrated and giving him an award like this is an insult to the deserving past recipients and makes a complete mockery of what the awards is suppose to represent. It's really offensive that Vick would even be considered let alone receive the award.
It states on the edblock.org web page
"The Ed Block Courage Award Foundation is dedicated to improving the lives of neglected children and ending the cycle of abuse. The purpose is to raise Awareness and Prevention of child abuse. That objective is coupled with the Foundation's commitment to celebrating players of inspiration in the NFL."
I fail to see the reasoning that would make Michael Vick even eligible for this award. It's pretty commonly known that animal abusers continue on to abuse people. So Vick's history of animal abuse would logically mean that he is NOT eligible for this award. His participation would seem to belittle the stated purposes for the award.
I think we all need to get a grip.
I love the many dogs in my family and I hate what Vick did. I really wish you people were the anti-abortion people. The beast of this world have more rights than the children do. I think these cries on Vick are a waste of time. For sure his woes pale when compare with others but what out come would make you people happy? The death penalty?
I know this is an old argument but I think your is a weak one. The award is not for the biggest animal lover. When they throw his name in the hat for that one you can sound all your alarms.
People have really post perspective with the value of human life verses animal life. Only in a country so screwed up would people equate human life and animal life.
I agree with you strongly that
While some of us frequently complain that the AKC isn't doing as much as it could to promote dogs and dog ownership, certainly this time we can cheer "Hooray for the AKC"! and we should be inspired to write a similar letter of protest to the Block Foundation and related Sponsors.
I came across an article containing email address that can be used to directly contact principals with the Block Foundation, as well as sponsors, and to let them know your deep displeasure with the Vick nomination for the Ed Block Courage Award - and if you are an officer, delegate, or legislative liaison for a dog club and can speak for your club, so much the better:
http://www.examiner.com/x-31425-LA-Dachshunds-Examiner~y2010m1d4-Tell-Ed-Block-Foundations-sponsors-you-wont-support-companies-that-support-Michael-Vick
http://tinyurl.com/y8oegcm
Smoothdoggy - caring for animals does not preclude one from caring for people. Further, sociopaths / psychopaths like Vick RARELY stop at abusing only animals. Make no mistake that the above label absolutely fits this disgusting excuse for a man. Look up the definitions should you doubt this assertion.
Vick is incapable of being remorseful and is completely undeserving of a spot in the NFL at all, let alone this courage award. It is unimaginable that his team could genuinely feel that he is deserving of such an award when he has done nothing but whine about how he has suffered (because of his own bad choices) and all but refused to acknowledge the suffering he caused the victims of his horrifying dog fighting operation.
For the record, actually I would like to see Vick get exactly what he gave. For him, that means being tied to a stake to serve as bait for a bigger, stronger, faster fighting dog, followed by lonely confinement with inadequate food, water and medical care and finally hanging, drowning or electrocution via means that probably can't be printed here but were used by him countless times on those innocent animals.