Dear #2621 --

I read on CNN.com that you're one of the 49 dogs seized from Michael Vick's awful sideline, and that you are the only one to be euthanized because you are just too far gone and cannot be around human beings. Not that you've been around human beings for quite a while now. You've been with monsters who look like human beings, and now you just can't tell the difference. That's not your fault. None of it is your fault.

And I don't like to read about you as just a number. I'd like to see you as the wonderful dog you could have been, and are deep inside, if you had had the care and healthy excercise and affection you should have had, and that makes you more than just "# 2621". So in my head, I'm going to call you Sammy, because I don't think I could be afraid of a dog named Sammy, and that brings out the wonderful in you.

So Sammy (or the artist formerly known as # 2621), rest in peace, my good dog. I see you as your Creator sees you -- the you that you were meant to be -- and you're beautiful beyond words.

-- Michelle K.

Michelle, Bless you for leaving such a loving tribute to those poor souls. I know they must be in a special place that only tradgedies as they had endured are allowed to enter. The entire story that is unfolding has made me physically ill. I just cannot understand why there are people out there that torture and kill animals for shear pleasure. Your words are very comforting. Thank you.
Michelle

heard on the radio today that he successfully passed an 8 hour 'rigorous' course on animal compassion and protection at PETA's headquarters. he still faces up to 5 years in prison. see the story here:

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/law/10/03/vick....tion=cnn_latest

I think Sammy is a wonderful name for that sweet dog, who died for doing what he was taught to do.

Rest in peace Sammy.

Michelle,
You are such a beautiful person for giving Sammy an ident*ity and a wonderful tribute. I, too, believe that Sammy's suffering was such a terrible tragedy and that he is such a beautiful soul, as all animals are. I know that there is a special place at The Bridge for Sammy and all of the others that fell victim to the true animals of this world. It's so comforting to know that people like you exist to fight in the crusade for all furbabies. I'm with you 100%. Our love for these animals will someday dominate and we will fight the abuse of our world's purest souls.

Dearest Little Sammy,
We love you and know that you will now be at peace and away from the horror that you endured here on Earth. Please accept my apology for the horrible side of the human race. For as many evil people there are out there, you have double that amount of people who love you without even knowing you. You will always be in my heart, sweet Sammy.

Michelle,

What a wonderful thing you've done here for 'Sammy'. If we all join with your loving tribute in thought, perhaps that poor, sweet furboy's soul will be soothed and healed from his unspeakable ordeal at the hands of those monsters. I'm so glad you wrote this on his behalf.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Re: the story on Monster Vick............I don't believe him, I don't believe him, I don't believe him. Until he sheds as many tears, publicly, for that poor dog as what we shed for the loss of our own babies, it's just more PR as far as I'm concerned!

Yes, I heard about the PETA class/training nonsense, and all I have to say is this: nobody, but nobody, has a change of heart by taking these silly classes - and not just animal appreciation classes but any kind of sensitivity training class. It's life experience that teaches you to be a compassionate person or a selfish one, an open-hearted person or a racist. People change, sure - but only when something happens in their lives that affects them personally. I fail to understand how anyone can go and sit in a room and listen to a lecture and participate in some role playing and little groups for a few hours can come out a new and improved person. It just doesn't happen.

And it didn't happen with Michael Vick, either.

There, I've had my say. You may now go back to your originally scheduled programming.

-- Michelle K.

(And thanks for the kind words about Sammy, everyone!)

You know what's really sad. If anyone has ever heard Michael Vick speak, they can attest that the man has no brain, in addition to a nonexistent heart. He must have gotten banged around too much because he sounds like he's suffering brain damage. Jeez, I have such choice words for that monster but I won't post them here

Sammy,
Rest in peace, dear one. You saw no peace on earth may you be in heaven where there is only peace and love.
Steve

I am so sorry Sammy for all humans in this world who have no idea how to handle the best thing God ever gave us. You were a gift and I am sure now you are being treated as one. Rest in Peace Sammy and know that we all love you.....and Parker is waiting to welcome you with open arms. Be nice my Parker, Sammy needs some of your special lovin.

Parkers Mom,

Kerry

A great tribute to Sammy...

Vick is just going through the motions doing what the courts want to see and hear. I would like to see if he shows off his bling-bling and flashes number one signs in jail sharing a cell with Bubba.

What an important tribute. God bless Sammy's precious soul.

I offer a prayer tonight and evey night for all the victims of man's shameless cruelty and neglect.

New news alert on the sub-human Vick. Someone just sent me this, through PETA:

Since you have expressed interest in the Michael Vick dogfighting case, we wanted to update you on the latest development. Following the release of a new USDA report on Vick's dogfighting activities, PETA has written to the NFL calling for Vick to undergo relatively new brain-scanning procedures.

The USDA revelation that Vick enjoyed placing family pets in the ring with fighting pit bulls is among the factors that fit the profile for serious antisocial personality disorder (APD), according to the American Psychiatric Association. People with APD are commonly referred to as "psychopaths." They are usually male, often charming, prone to lying and manipulation, and incapable of genuine remorse, frequently leading to recidivism. They can also take pleasure in cruelty.

Before the NFL even considers the possibility of allowing Vick back into the league, we think that Michael Vick needs to undergo a brain scan. It should be coupled with a structured, standardized test (e.g, the Psychopathy Checklist, developed by Robert Hare). If Vick emerges from these examinations without evidence of psychopathy, that may help him demonstrate a capacity to change what has, so far, been the life of a man who takes pleasure in hurting and killing living beings when they can't defend themselves.

The repeated cruelty and violent behavior that Michael Vick engaged in for years strongly suggest that the NFL should not offer him up as a role model. Severe and repeated acts of cruelty to animals are not what football fans, particularly children, need to think about when they see a player or buy a jersey or an autographed picture.

Please sign our petition calling for the NFL to arrange for a thorough examination, as set out above, of Michael Vick.


Sincerely,

Daphna Nachminovitch, Vice President
Cruelty Investigations Department
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals


Time to sign another petition!

I signed,but part of me says they should make him play. Let him face the opprobrium of the dog-loving fans, and garnish his wages to go to animal charities.

Yah, I know what you mean. Of course, he wouldn't agree to that loss of wages. And I fear that if he has any fans left (and I'm sure he does, sadly), they're the type who might even think it's uproariously funny that anyone should care about 'mere' dogs, even if they were his/their own. I was just SICK when I read of that horrendous betrayal of trust! His own family dogs yet! And the worst part is that he has 2 girls and one boy himself....can you imagine what they might grow up to be like, with HIM as a father figure?! If I were one of them, no one would have to be worrying about any jail time or other punishment....especially if he lived in Canada, where "young offenders" can't be tried in adult court, so normally get off lightly.

There's no question... society, in particularly, it's youth, must be protected from these beasts.

I am sorry I missed this post earlier. It is so hard to catch up here, sometimes, and I miss so many.



They are welcome to borrow my arc welder.

Anyone who has had an animal friend harmed or abused will understand.

This is even worse than the Vick dogs.... None of these were given a chance.

http://network.bestfriends.org/stopbsl/news/32655.html

Many of our shelters in NC are gassing shelters............... Sad, sad situation. Recently a beautiful Lab was put down just 3 hours after he was picked up as a stray. A 13 year old family pet that had NEVER gotten loose before. There is a 72 hour hold law here but someone didn't follow the rule. The owners were devistated.

Oh, hey, don't kid yourselves.....gassing (even from just make-shift exhaust pipes from trucks and the like) is still pretty common all over the place, in both Canada and the U.S., not to mention that even many large, well-funded and 'authoritative' so-called 'shelters' kill off millions of "surplus" animals well before their own, stated "holding periods", with the public none the wiser, and even for NON-specific breeds (i.e. those not unfairly deemed "vicious" breeds), if they so much as bare one tooth to some shelter worker. This is a rampant problem that most people don't even want to admit happens in many kill shelters, and so they continue to send in their donations, thus funding the very horrors they don't want to hear about. It is in part because I've learned of so many similar situations that kill shelters won't admit to publicly that NO kill shelter EVER gets a dime from me anymore.

And I wish these stupid media people would simply QUIT using the double-speak, utterly wrong language in these stories -- this is NOT by ANY stretch "euthanasia", but out-and-out MURDER. There is NO "mercy" to the animals regarding these kinds of deliberate killings. Neither is it properly "euthanasia" if an animal is sick or wounded, but could, with decent and progressive care, stand a chance at regaining a better or even good state of health. That, too, is still just murder, for convenience. UGH!! People are so stupid!

Furkidlets' Mom,

I have "sponsored" specific dogs or donated to rescue groups but do not give money to the shelters themselves. Last year I gave a $95 sponsorship for a specific dog and in the meantime someone was visiting her as the rescue group was arriving to get her. Long story short, the rescue group talked with the prospective adopters.... they had a 50 acre place for her to enjoy.... so the sponsorship was switched around and 4 more dogs ended up making it out that day before all was said and done. Wish that kind of thing happened more often.

All of our pets would have had a tough go of it had they not found us. I think more of most animals than many, many people I know. There are HUNDREDS on line daily that people are "moving & can't take.... allergic.... having a baby.... doesn't get along with my _____"

I've moved thousands of miles wit dogs and cats both. Wouldn't move into a place that did not allow pets. Would not consider taking one to even a no kill shelter at age 8-10-12 Even the no kill shelters eventually put them down.

Maybe there is some "bail out" money available for innocent animals that need help