Commentary: Michael Vick, dog fighting and the ASPCA

by Maureen Bachert

In plain and simple words Michael Vick and his associates are sociopaths. And by his associates I am including all of the spectators at this "so-called Sport".

A sport by its very definition connotes choice by the participants. There was absolutely no choice involved for these innocent, abused, tortured, and murdered dogs. The very notion that pitting two animals with no choice at all in a fight to the death is dangerous and disgusting. As a society we need to realize that cruelty to animals is a prelude to abuse and cruelty to human beings. As long as the police in these areas look the other way, or actually attend the event, nothing is going to be accomplished by the ASPCA. We need to enforce Federal Racketeering Laws against the individuals sponsoring the events and the individuals attending the events. Until the audience must also pay a price for its participation in the cruelty, Michael Vick will just be replaced by another sociopath that the public is idolizing and the police are protecting.

History can be a cruel mistress. Remember the "bread and circuses" of ancient Rome. When the conquered people would no longer tolerate the cruelty of the Roman Coliseum games and the people of Rome were starving because the barbarians were at the gate the mighty Roman Empire fell.

We are starting down the path of the ancient Romans and unless we get off it we will end with the same result. Now is the time to strengthen the ASPCA and federal law enforcement to save our children's future.