Dear Michael Vick
I’ve never liked the open letter. It’s a cheap gimmick that allows the writer to pretend to be writing to someone when you’re really taking aim at them. It’s a feeble attempt to get the attention of someone who neither knows who you are, nor cares what you have to say. It lets you, the writer, ride on their celebrity while you make a point, ostensibly to them, but really to the world. Open letters are highly presumptuous, and a little rude.
Nevertheless, Dear Michael Vick …
I see an opportunity for you.
This pertains your former property at 1915 Moonlight Road in Surry County, Virginia — the one that’s now headed to serve a purpose far different than the one for which you used it.
As you may have read, or not, your former house, the headquarters of your former Bad Newz Kennels, the home you forfeited after your conviction for dogfighting, has been purchased by a group called Dogs Deserve Better.
They plan to turn it into a $2.5 million center to rehabilitate and rehome dogs that have been abused — tied, chained, penned, or forced to take part in dogfighting. (At this point, were this one of those catty open letters, I would have added “an activity with which you are familiar.” But this really is more sincere than catty.)
From a writer’s standpoint, not to mention a reader’s, it’s a pretty wondrous development in the long-running story that, as you know, just won’t go away.
You should get in on it. You should donate some money to the project — if not to assuage any guilt you might still be feeling, then for image reasons alone, and image, these days, is everything.
To build its $2.5 million center, Dogs Deserve Better needs, well, about $2.5 million. They’ve made the down payment, but there is still lots of work to be done and money to be raised.
That’s where you come in, or could if you wanted to — giving the story one more serendipitous twist.
I know you served your time. I know you paid (and are still paying) your debt. I know your fans, and maybe you, think that gives you a clean slate — but a slate is hard to truly get clean once it has been tainted with blood, be it that of humans or dogs.
You have a lot of haters, myself included. I’ve bashed you before and I’ll probably bash you again — it’s easy to do that from afar, while hiding behind the protective gear of a blog. Though I’m a forgiving sort generally, I’m one of those people who can’t forget what you did with dogs. I’m also one of those people who stopped being a Philadelphia Eagles fan when they hired you, and, in the few games I watched, rooted for you to get sacked, even painfully so. (I did not like that I was doing that.)
Animal lovers, despite all their warmhearted, do-gooding tenderness, can be a pretty vengeful lot, and you permanently alienated them.
Even the work you are doing with the Humane Society of the United States in its anti-dogfighting campaign isn’t enough to change their minds about you. They probably never will. But by kicking in some money to rehabilitate dogs, you might make them, at least, think twice.
It would make a far deeper and more lasting impression than your HSUS appearances. I commend you for those, but, in all honesty and no offense, you don’t come across as all that remorseful. You don’t excel at appearing sincere. Besides, it’s just talk, and talk is cheap.
I realize that, despite your huge NFL salary, your money these days isn’t exactly your money — that you don’t have much to throw around, what with your debts and your lawyers and your agents. My understanding is you’re pretty much living on an allowance, and that endorsements, which dried up after your conviction, are few. This could help with that, too.
News that Michael Vick had chipped in to build a center to rehabilitate animals on his former property — and I’d suggest you do it in a low key, non-trumpeting kind of way — would do wonders for your image.
Since you’re still getting your finances back in shape, I think it would be great if the Philadelphia Eagles, and the NFL, chipped in as well, perhaps doubling or tripling the amount you might be able to come up with.
I’m aware it was you who, willing or not, footed the bill for your former dogs to make miraculous recoveries and find themselves in loving homes. There are pieces of the whole story of you and dogfighting that, horrendous as it is, are also inspiring. You could add another inspiring element – you could quell, but likely not erase, the wrath of dog lovers who hate you. Animal welfare types can be a self-righteous bunch — and persistent as linebackers. You may never have them on your team.
But a donation would give them pause, and perhaps a modicum of respect for you. They might see it as a sign — to some it might seem the first one — that you are truly sorry. Money usually can’t buy forgiveness, but it can soften the sharp edges.
I won’t be so presumptuous as to suggest an amount, and, I’m not even sure Dogs Deserve Better would take your money. I am in no way affiliated with the organization, other than having written about it a time or two. But they seem to mean well.
Support from you, the Eagles and the NFL — on top of all it would do for your image, and football’s — would help the organization accomplish its mission: Establishing the Good Newz Rehab Center for Chained and Penned Dogs.
Out with the bad, in with the good. Get it?
In closing, I apologize for the openness of this letter, and for sticking my nose in your business. But in a world where bad news is the norm, chances to make some good news – and to make some good happen — should be considered, if not jumped on immediately.
It’s just a thought.
Posted by jwoestendiek June 1st, 2011 under Muttsblog.
Tags: abused, adoption, animal welfare, animals, atonement, bad newz kennels, center, chained, dear michael vick, dogs, dogs deserve better, donate, football, fundraising, good newz rehab center, house, hsus, letter, michael vick, mistreated, moonlight road, nfl, open letter, penned, pets, philadelphia eagles, rehabilitation, remorse, request, rescue, shelter, surry county, vick
Comments
Comment from Cliffdog
Time June 1, 2011 at 10:49 am
DDB is a pathetic troupe of well-meaning mental invalids. They’re about as sharp as a marble and wouldn’t know a responsible owner if he pinned a loose dog citation to their chest. They don’t deserve money, they don’t deserve a facility, they don’t deserve to be breathing the same air as real dog handlers do.
Comment from Starla
Time June 1, 2011 at 11:03 am
*Clap*Clap*Clap* Wonderful letter, John. Much to think about…. and yes, I too will never forget, or forgive, but this proposed gesture would let folks see that he may be sincere in his apologies, and not just going through the motions because he “has to”, which is how most people see it now. (myself included) I don’t give him kudos for speaking w/ the HSUS (which feels to me like he has to) plus, they (HSUS) lobbied hard to have all the dogs from his kennels put down. 
Comment from Anne’n'Spencer
Time June 1, 2011 at 12:53 pm
It’s a fine idea, and of course, beautifully expressed. My family has always said that watching our former president on television, or even reading about him, seemed to raise my blood pressure to dangerous levels. I’m afraid Vick has the same effect on me.
Comment from smoketoomuch
Time June 1, 2011 at 2:07 pm
Cliffdog – Would you mind backing up your allegations against DDB with some research links? You come off as being very strongly against this group, and I’m curious about the reasoning behind such an obviously negative opinion.
Comment from Tamira Thayne
Time June 1, 2011 at 4:56 pm
Thanks, love this open letter! Will share it.
As for Cliffdog, if I weren’t so stupid, I’d think you were putting us down…but alas, I’m too much of a mental midget to get it.
Last time I checked, I’m pretty sure you don’t have to be a ‘real’ dog trainer to have a love for dogs and want them to live inside the home with the family and get up off your ass to do something about it.
Really, that’s all that’s required. And that’s what DDB does.
As for breathing air, God or the Universe gives us all the right to that, whether we are ‘real’ dog handlers or not. You’ll have to take that up with the Big Guy or Gal.
Comment from Stoner Witch
Time June 1, 2011 at 5:14 pm
Great letter, a lot nicer than I would have been. Yeah, this cliffdog sounds like a moron. I’m glad that this place is finally coming to fruition though, finally something positive happening here.
Comment from Lynnette
Time June 1, 2011 at 5:18 pm
Cliff, DDB is an outstanding organization. Tomorrow my husband gets to pick up our new daughter (a rescued 7 yr old St Bernard) from them. They are making a change, one dog at a time!
Comment from Cliffdogisanass
Time June 1, 2011 at 5:19 pm
WOW cliff..My dogs beg to differ. They are DDB dogs and they lived in horrible conditions until they DDB came along. Get a clue man.
Comment from pitmomma
Time June 1, 2011 at 6:19 pm
WOW Cliffdog…you must be one of those “mental invalids…sharp as a marble” who chains their dogs. I cannot imagine a ‘well-meaning’ person who wouldn’t agree the DDB’s mission otherwise. Yes, please do provide us with some evidence of DDB being a pathetic troupe.
John, your letter is brilliant. We can continue to focus our energy on hating Vick or we can take that energy to help prevent other dogs from suffering the same fate. (Still doesn’t mean I can forgive…but I can move forward.)
Comment from Penny Gummo
Time June 1, 2011 at 6:48 pm
Cliffdog–sounds like you have a bone to pick with DDB–you’re so obviously defensive do you think you fool anyone?
Comment from Sharon
Time June 1, 2011 at 6:57 pm
I’m with the ones that have said….I can’t forgive….but only hope that other dogs don’t have to go through this. And Cliffdog….why even join this page….you’re rude and no one wants to hear YOUR opinion.
Comment from Anna
Time June 1, 2011 at 7:17 pm
outstanding! 
Comment from Susan
Time June 1, 2011 at 8:18 pm
Great come back Tamira!! Way to hold your head high & make your point with class. Keep doing what you do….& inspiring others to join the cause. I’m honored to share the air with you!
Comment from Julie
Time June 1, 2011 at 8:53 pm
Fantastic letter John! I hope he see this and I hope he listens. Sharing on FB!
Comment from Dan
Time June 1, 2011 at 9:46 pm
Move on people. Let those who never do wrong cast the first stone. I truly feel sorry for u!
Comment from Abby
Time June 1, 2011 at 10:03 pm
This is a great letter that should be shared widely. Maybe if enough celebrities and/or wealthy people see it and make donations on behalf of the dogs, the center will have the funds it needs sooner. As for Cliffdog, it is not likely he/she ever heard of DDB and most likely doesn’t like dogs anyway. I no longer send donations to HSUS because their president has sided with Vick and even stated he should be allowed to get a dog. However, HSUS did admit they made a mistake in thinking the dogs should have been euthanized after they saw the great work that Best Frieds, Bad Rap, and some other rescues did with rehabilitating, so I respect them for that. DDB is at the top of my list, and I can’t wait to visit the Good Newz Kennel as I also live in Virginia. Love you, Tamira!!
Comment from bmorepugmom
Time June 1, 2011 at 11:16 pm
So well put, as always. Thanks for putting into words what I know I can’t objectively say.
Comment from tina
Time June 2, 2011 at 2:59 pm
Wow Dan! Really? Tell those dogs that were abused and fought to move on. Or wait…better yet….tell those dogs that died to move on I think that should be pretty simple for them since they are already DEAD!!!!!
Comment from Jane
Time June 3, 2011 at 12:40 am
fantastic!!
Comment from Kelly
Time June 1, 2011 at 10:36 am
“if not to assuage any guilt you might still be feeling” You make me laugh, John.