Michael Vick's Pit Bull Dog Fighting Arraignment, Plea, And PETA, HSUS, by Maureen Hauch, ADOA for TheDogPress

THE COURT OF PUBLIC OPINION......

THE MICHAEL VICK ARRAIGNMENT AND THE PLEA (background from the scene)

Richmond, VA July 26, 2007 – Arraignment. I had been to a couple of dog fighting trials so I had a preconceived idea of what to expect today. I could not have been more incorrect. The crowd consisted of elderly ladies, business professionals and some young people. PeTa was there with about 100 people, most of them soccer type moms holding PeTa t-shirts which they waved at passing cars.

At one point there was a screaming match when a young man accused PeTa of killing animals. It was very volatile, which seems to be the way PeTa likes things. Then there was a group from HSUS, including a capable PR person.

Most of the people were simply dog lovers. Some bought their dogs and many held signs that a sign company was handing out for free. They said NEUTER MIKE VICK!

It was a great media opportunity for all of us who care about dogs but Virginians were asleep! Tonight on the news all reference was made to the large turnout of the Animal Rights folks, not us, the Animal Welfare people.

Sadly, from appearances today, it looked like the only people who were outraged by the charges against Vick were PeTa!

August 27, 2007 – The Plea. The crowd was different at the courthouse today than it was at the arraignment. This time there was a large crowd of Vick supporters who sang gospel music as the Vick car drove up to the courthouse.

Natasha Royal and I represented ADOA and held our banner high! We were able to talk with the media and were the focus of many of the TV cameras.

After Vick came out of the courthouse he went directly to the Omni Hotel in Richmond. Natasha and I walked over with the press and followed them right into the press conference room without being stopped.

Vick came out to the podium and trying to look contrite, spoke in an almost inaudible voice, stating that he make bad decisions and used bad judgment. As he was leaving the podium a member of the press corps shouted out, “Mike why did you do this, with all you had why would you do something like this?” to which he appeared not to reply.

The sentencing is December 10 and we will again make the trip to Richmond.

Reported by Maureen Hauch, ADOA American Dog Owners Assoc.

Editor’s note: We could hear him better on the telecast. He uttered not one word of apology or remorse about the dogs! His more than four minute apology appeared to be read (slowly and carefully) from a prepared script. He said “I’m sorry for all the things that I’ve done” but in the next breath relates that to having disappointed his manager and the NFL. He characterized his actions as “immature” and said he needs to “grow up.” He repeatedly said he “made a bad decision” and “used bad judgment” but the only reference to dogs, the actual crime, and the merciless killing of dogs was one short statement “Dog fighting is a terrible thing.” It was said more as an observation than anything relating to him personally. He said he had found Jesus, is “turning his life over to God” and that it is “the right thing to do now.”

Then incredibly, Vick claimed “throughout the entire thing” he never pointed a finger at anyone else (was he excluding family members?) and implied that all along, he “took full responsibility” for what he did. He stated repeatedly that he feels bad “about all the kids” he let down but failed to even suggest that he felt bad about the dogs he personally and brutally killed.