Big bucks give cause for paws

The News Virginian / News Virginian
Published: December 1, 2007

Leave it to our federal judicial system to make it almost possible to conjure sympathy for Michael Vick. Forget the cries of racism. That has nothing to do with the nature of Vick's crimes, dogfighting for one and awful stupidity for another (his real conviction on the first count translates to a figurative one on the second).

What makes it almost - notice the emphasis on the term 'almost' - possible for us to feel sympathy for Vick is that on top of having made shipwreck of a brilliant and fabulously lucrative career and going to jail as a result, he has been asked to pay $928,000 to care for 48 pit bulls seized from his property.

By our calculations, that adds up to more than $19,000 per pooch. That buys a lot of Alpo. Want to know how much- We thought so. Answer: 572,839 13.2-ounce cans (hearty loaf, with beef, a fave of your typical macho, manly dog). Nonetheless, we venture a guess that even canines with pit-bull appetites can't consume quite that much Alpo.

Of course, it will be necessary to ensure that the dogs are well-fed. Like some of the rest of us, they get grouchy when they're hungry. And look out if one of these guys gets loose - after all, they've been trained to kill, so neighborhood Chihuahuas, or anything else smaller than your average pony, had better watch their tails.

In addition to feeding the animals, veterinary bills, providing shelter and insurance all drive up the costs of what one expert described to the Richmond Times-Dispatch as "a special-needs situation." Some home insurance companies might even require people caring for one of Vick's Bad Newz dogs to plunk down $10,000 for a surety bond. That would put a bite on anyone's bank account.

If the price tag is hard for you to swallow, you are not alone. Some experts think the almost $1 million estimate is too high; others, startlingly, think it is too low.

We do not pretend to know the answer. We do know that $1 million is a lot of money, and we know that there is little possibility of rehabilitating animals that have been singularly bred and trained to do harm. Inmates might find Jesus, but we are not aware of that prospect applying to creatures from pit bulls' dog-eat-dog world.

Considering as much, these animals pose a threat not just to those who would dare to care for them but to anyone else in the vicinity - particularly children and other small animals. Pulling another $1 million out of Vick's pocket is one thing (after all, he put himself in this situation; remember, we said we almost felt sorry for him), but investing it in the lifelong care of vicious animals is another.

In animal cruelty cases, dogs, cats and other animals are turned over to shelters where, hopefully, they are adopted by animal lovers willing to take on the burden of caring for abused creatures. Why is the outcome different this time- Because this case involves a famous football player who, through his own fault, has been made the poster child for animal-rights advocates of every stripe.

We suggest following that route in this case and giving Vick's money to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and allowing that organization to use the cash as it sees fit. Such a solution not only would be in keeping with common practice but it potentially would serve a greater good.

Vick has thrown away enough of his money. No one is served by another $1 million being thrown away on his behalf.