Virginia Tech responds to online petitions against Vick’s induction to Hall of Fame

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GLENDALE, AZ - SEPTEMBER 23: Quarterback Michael Vick #7 of the Philadelphia Eagles runs out onto the field with teammates before the NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at the University of Phoenix Stadium on September 23, 2012 in Glendale, Arizona. The Carindals defeated the Eagles 27-6. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
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Virginia Tech has responded to two online petitions which had hoped to stop Michael Vick’s induction into the college’s Hall of Fame.  The former Virginia Tech quarterback has been named one of five athletes in the university’s Hall of Fame class of 2017.  According to Wdbj7News, three days later, alumna Jennifer Breeden created an online petition to revoke the honor. Two online petitions have garnered nearly 70,000 signatures.

In 2007, Vick was sentenced to prison for 23 months for running a dogfight operation near Richmond, Virginia. Vick’s prison sentence was longer than his two co-defendants, after he lied to the judge about his involvement. Although he said he accepted responsibility for his actions at the time, U.S. District Judge Henry Hudson accused Vick of being “less than truthful.”

In one of the most disturbing animal cruelty cases involving dog fighting, innocent dogs were brutally tortured and killed by electrocution, hanging, drowning and via other violent means if they didn’t perform well in the rings. Vick denied he had ever been directly involved in the egregious suffering of the dogs, but his co-defendants told a different story. Along with his prison term, he was fined $5,000 and was ordered to serve three years of probation.

On Friday, Virginia Tech responded to the complaints with the following press release:

“Mr. Vick’s induction into the university’s sports hall of fame acknowledges his tremendous achievements as a student athlete—who some will say was the greatest in the history of the university.

We understand that there are those who do not and will never agree with this decision.

In considering Mr. Vick’s nomination to our sports hall of fame, the criminal activities in which he engaged, his subsequent conviction, and time he served for his crime were also considered.

And it was informed by the remorse he has shown since that conviction, the work he is currently engaged in to advance animal welfare issues, as well as his efforts to help our current student athletes, based on lessons he’s learned in his own life, make positive choices as they begin their adult lives.

This in no way condones the actions for which he was convicted.

The university remains dedicated to the protection of animal health and welfare and embodies great care and compassion for all living animals.”

Some Vick fans continue to defend him and tell animal advocates it’s time to move on, but no matter how many times football fans repeat the “forgive and forget” mantra, most people are unaware of the details of the cruelty inflicted upon these dogs. Many of the dogs from Vick’s Bad Newz Kennels were able to be rehabbed and cared for after they were seized in April 2007, but what about the unnamed innocent victims not as well publicized.

Donna Reynolds is the co-founder of Bay Area Doglovers Responsible About Pitbulls (BAD RAP), known for rescuing and rehabilitating pit bulls. In case anyone forgot or didn’t know the details and why so many compassionate people find Vick’s nomination so offensive, note Reynold’s  blog entries:

“The details that got to me … involve the swimming pool that was used to kill some of the dogs. Jumper cables were clipped onto the ears of underperforming dogs, then just like with a car, the cables were connected to the terminals of car batteries before lifting and tossing the shamed dogs into the water. We don’t know how many suffered this premeditated murder, but the damage to the pool walls tells a story. It seems that while they were scrambling to escape, they scratched and clawed at the pool liner and bit at the dented aluminum sides like a hungry dog on a tin can.”

Reynold continued the heartbreaking blog post:

“…my mind’s image of a little black dog splashing frantically in bloody water … screaming in pain and terror…brown eyes saucer wide and tiny black white-toed feet clawing at anything, desperate to get a hold. This death did not come quickly. The rescuer in me keeps trying to think of a way to go back in time and somehow stop this torture and pull the little dog to safety. I think I’ll be looking for ways to pull that dog our for the rest of my life.”

And that is just one example of what happened and how Vick tortured and laughed at the dogs’ pain and agony. And that is just another reason why animal advocates have voiced their disappointment at Virginia Tech. It’s the horrific fate of all those dogs buried in the ground at Bad Newz Kennel that reminds all of us that the forgiveness is owed to those dogs as well as the ones who were lucky enough to have been freed from Vick’s hell on earth.

Follow the National Pet Rescue on Facebook.

 

 


This dog was stuck for hours before being found – find out where at this link to his story.


Where did this pit bull end up after being stolen from a shelter? Watch the video here.

 


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48 COMMENTS

  1. Cette pourriture doit mourrir dans les mêmes souffrances que ces pauvres âmes innocentes. PAS DE PITIÉ POUR LES BARBARES, LES ASSASSINS. Se n’est qu’une sous merde, un parasite qui est irrécupérable, on ne change pas quand on est un monstre, un meurtrier, on le reste, il vous manipule. HONTE À VOUS, VOUS NE VALEZ PAS MIEUX QUE LUI, BANDE DE CONSANGUINS.

  2. Michael Vick is a POS that deserves nothing other than a one way ticket to hell. Well Virginia Tech, you are showing your true colors. What you believe to the moral and values that represents your school . If I were you I’d be less than proud. Shame on you. Hope all your sports programs go down the crapper just like you!!!!!!!!!!!!

  3. As long as I live and breathe I WILL NEVER,NEVER,EVER FORGET what went on in this so call kennel! NEVER!! He will NEVER,EVER be forgiven by me and so many,many others! MONSTER VICK is one of the lowest forms of sewer scum to exist! He can never repent enough as far as I’m concerned! I do know a lot of the details that these dogs suffered through! When I think about the impression he set forth to young men that looked up to him,how he glamorized dog torture and dog fighting to all the gang members that also idolized him! The SECOND professional football took him back with open arms to make millions I HATED AND DESPISED the game of football! I’m sick of the shallow football league excusing these criminal players for their heinous acts! They can abuse,torture and kill dogs,they can beat the hell out of their wives and girlfriends and they can commit sexual assault and get DUI’s and none of that matters,NO! Because there is nothing more important or sacred than the damn game of football! It’s an abomination and so immoral and unethical! Why are these assholes treated better that others that do these exact same things? And let’s not forget about that player on the Patriots that went out and purchased a puppy that was about 6-8 months of age and stuck it in a cage and never remembered that it ever existed,it died a slow and agonizing death of starvation and died in its own waste. And his pregnant girlfriend was staying in his house along with several friends constantly in and out of his house and not a one of them helped this trapped dog! And of course we all know that that poor puppy cried,yelled and barked for help. Just another horrific case I will also NEVER EVER FORGET! And yes he is still on the team making his millions! VIRGINIA TECH CAN SHOVE THEIR STATEMENT DOWN THEIR THROATS BECAUSE THEY ARE CONDONING WHAT MONSTER VICK DID BY HONORING HIM IN ANY WAY SHAPE OR FORM! I HATE FOOTBALL BECAUSE OF HOW NOTHING MATTERS TO THEM BUT STATUS AND MONEY! At this point I wouldn’t be shocked or surprised if they hired on murders,child abusers or bank robbers as long as they can make the football league money and give their teams status! I wish the game did not exist! SICKENING! And of course I signed BOTH petitions! So disgusted with anything FOOTBALL!

  4. I am saddened that Vick is given any type of reward….the pain he inflicted on so many dogs is indicative of the kind of person he is…..coming from his home area, I have seen him a Great Wolf Lodge sitting outside at the pool drinking mixed drink after mixed drink getting drunk, a couple people came up to him asking for an autograph to which he denied….and then just this week, I heard he had a dog…..I didn’t think he was ever to have one….I’loved be looking in to that…I won’t be surprised if it’s a Pit Bull…..I l9ve those dogs and hate what he did….maybe Virginia Tech has forgotten, but I never will….

  5. I don’t care if he had shown remorse and is now an animal advocate. The damage was already done when he chose to abuse and kill those dogs!

    • He never has shown remorse. And he served no time for the actual cruelty. He is only sorry he got caught. If you look at his statements since then, you know he never had an ounce of remorse.

  6. Virginia Tech should be closed forever! What cold hearted and unethical people to downplay the horrible atrocities committed by Micheal Vicks and his criminal enterprise!

  7. Vick knew full well what went on with his under performing dogs and the methods used to dispose of them, To actually do the things he did, shows that he covered up himself very well and his so-called turn around with the HSUSwas only an act of remorse because he got caught and had jail time. He should never have been allowed to play sports ever again. A sportsperson kids would emulate with a history of animal abuse and torture. Our country has their priorities all backwards.

  8. Are you “F”ing kidding me
    He was only sorry because he got caught!!!
    He didn’t get a strong enough sentence and should be still in prison.
    He is in no way a positive role model!!!!!!!!!
    This university is making a terrible decision in my opinion

  9. Virginia Tech , you are repulsive and disgusting. You say you took into consideration, his crimes and decided he has redeemed himself. Did you listen to the extremely cruel torture details of all these sentient animals and look at the atrocious, graphic photos of those that perished and of the survivors that were left with severe, disfiguring physical scars, as well as the permanent MENTAL damage that was inflicted on these dogs? People don’t “make up” for that by pretending they are for animal rights suddenly, because they are struggling to get their fans back and regain public approval. It was all fun and games, because he is a cruel, sadistic mother effer, until he got caught and then he was a changed man. People capable of inflicting this type of suffering and watching it for sport are throw away people You can not fix sadists or sociopaths. They either get off on other’s pain (sadist) or they just don’t have any empathy about others pain (sociopath). You don’t cure sadism or sociopaths .It’s just the way they are and any outward change seen is just a result of getting caught and trying to “act” remorseful. This man is a savage monster that should be in jail and you are HONORING this fucktard. You people are sickening, disgusting barbarians. Your explanation is laughable if I wasn’t so pissed at your callousness and stupidity. Fuck off Virginia Teach and fuck you, Michael Vic. …You are not fooling me , you sick bastard.

  10. NO WAY does this POS deserve honors……. IMHO his past treatment of animals has condemned his evil soul to burn in Hell forever for his cruelty………

  11. They can make EXCUSES for this all they want: they are still just EXCUSES! Vick bought his first pit bull while he was at Tech, a dog he later bred and whose offspring were among his many innocent victims. But this is Virginia Tech, after all, which has become known here in many ways for hiring thugs in their football program and looking the other way when they misbehave. They have no shame, and this proves it.

  12. There is NOTHING Michael Vick will ever be able to do as far as I am concerned to make me want to see this POS honored for his football accomplishments. I suppose Vick’s supporters might not be aware of the full extent of the cruelty he and his cohorts inflicted on these poor dogs, but obviously they aren’t willing to find out or are willing to overlook it in the name of “football”! He doesn’t deserve any honors and shame on Virginia Tech if they do so!

  13. POS hang from a clothes line which is electrocuted and send in hungry pigs to devour him once the electricity has been turned off. Shame on you Virginia Tech for inducting a psychopath dog abuser into your hall of fame

  14. This university deserves to burn to the ground and end up in hell, honoring a convicted felon. They praise the piece of shit asshole who without a conscience or a moral fiber in his body mercilessly tortured man’s best friend for amusement and profit. That there tells you he doesn’t deserve to breathe the same air we do. May God send Vick and the University professionals who decide to honor a Felon straight to effing hell for eternity.

  15. Virginis tech has always been over rated as is the president and high level staff. Their position on V I c k is an example of how these snobs are out of touch with reality. V I c k deserves nothing and is a sorry excuse of a human being.

    • I agree with you 1000000000+%!!!!!!!!!!

      You said it!!!!!!

      He is going to burn forever in Hell for his cruelty……….

  16. They are blind like so many others. I think their inability to see the truth comes from a case of the glorification of the famous the so called celebrity. These same fools probably think O.J was misunderstood. To be able to commit these horrific acts one must truly have something missing. Empathy and feelings cannot be learned. Do they honestly believe he is remorseful? They are the fools for believing.

  17. This guy needs to be in jail is where he needs to be! Hope he’ll rot in hell when his satan maker takes him to hell!

  18. This psychopath did not even begin to get the punishment he deserved. And it ts a disgrace that Virginia Tech does not have faculty who are intelligent enough to see through his deceptivness.

  19. I thought that a University was an institute that upheld certain beliefs in education, humanity and how to be a better person for the society in which we live. Virginia Tech, you should be ashamed of yourselves. Take a look at every single evil act that this ‘person’ and his accomplices did to these dogs. Read ALL of them. Don’t turn your head from it because you can no longer handle the details or the visuals that you get in your head. READ THEM. If , at the end of all the details, you think that a being can walk away from these acts…..that he repeatedly committed with no remorse and then also lied to the courts about it, then you need to get out of the business of educating our future society. We do not want these evil criminals in our society, let alone be awarded and put into a Hall of Fame.

  20. Look what it says right on Virginia Tech’s website, under criteria for being inducted! “Must be of good character and reputation/not have been a source of embarrassment to the university in any way.” http://monogram.hokiesports.com/recognitions/hall_of_fame.html His induction clearly says Virginia Tech is synonymous with liars. Even Vick’s biggest supporters would have to acknowledge that he’s been a source of embarrassment to the university.

  21. O please Virginia Tech – Michael VIck’s so called ‘remorse’ is nothing more than a lot of lip service – it is no more than an attempt to recover his public image and in no way reflects his real feelings – he will NEVER recover from the brutality and cruelty HE inflicted on those dogs because it was enjoyable to him to see these animals suffer. GOOD CHARACTER – HARDLY!!!!! Virginia Tech should be ashamed for even nominating such a vile monster –

  22. SHAME ON VIRGINIA TECH. What’s next, a rapist who can throw a football will be of sufficiently “good character” to be inducted? A person who knowingly inflicts agony on sentient beings for money is of good character?
    You shame your institution and you shame all past inductees by proceeding with Michael Vick’s induction.

  23. Tell the dogs he tortured an MURDERED to move on. Leopards do not change their spots. He is still an abuser in sheeps clothing. SHAME on you for even considering it. You bring shame on your school as well.

  24. Can you tell those poor dogs that he abused to forget and move on???? HELL NO!!!! He needs to go back to Prison and get absolutely NO RECOGNITION!!!!

  25. The only Hall of Fame he deserves to be in is HELL! He’s a piece of shit and the only reason he’s showing remorse is because he got caught and is being watched. That piece of garbage isn’t capable of feeling anything, if he were, we wouldn’t be here talking about it. You can’t be human and do the horrific things he did to those poor dogs. Why isn’t there a Hall of Fame for them? Hope he rots in hell!!! Karma will get him!!!

    • Shame on Virginia Tech for even considering him. What happened to having morals and standards? Obviously this university doesn’t have either !

  26. So you can forgive an animal abuser .. because he was good in sports .. well we can see where you standards are ….. Animals don’t count for you …. 🙁 there is nothing we need to add here your Collage made it really clear .. you give a S… about the victims .. because in your eyes these were just dogs 🙁

  27. BURN IN HELL MICHAEL VICKS!!! YOU should be thrown into a pit of biting animals and learn what it feels like to be bitten!

  28. Shame on VT – Vick has NO remorse and I seriously doubt that he is active in ANY animal welfare activities – what a joke. Once an animal abuser, always an animal abuser.

  29. So sad that the best Virginia Tech can offer up is Michael Vick! Sure, they say he has physical skills to have played football and been one of the best! Umm, just so sad the most important qualities he needed (heart and soul) weren’t there! Go ahead Virginia Tech put Michael Vick on a pedestal for being physically capable, but remember he was heartless and has no soul. Guess that is the kind of people you want there. SO VERY SAD!

  30. Just another example of horrible abuse and criminal activity being sanctioned and awarded by our colleges! I’m glad that my children are grown and through college because I would NOT want them in our current educational system. YOU CANNOT REHABILITATE A MAN LIKE MICHAEL VICKS! HE KNOWS WHAT WORDS TO SAY, WHEN TO SMILE AND WHO TO PAY!!! THAT DOES NOT CHANGE WHAT HE DID!

  31. VT is dead to me and all my friends! We will no longer support you in anyway and will make sure the choice you’ve made is shared all over social media. You are Scum supporting Scum. Misery to you!

  32. The actions of the athletic department at Virginia Tech just shows that no matter how much of a monster you are ( and make no mistake, Michael Vick us a monster and a liar) if you can catch or throw a ball you can be forgiven anything. The only remorse Vick has is that he got caught. He has, at every turn, blamed every one but himself for what happened. He used his athletic ability to earn millions, but never gave one dollar for the recovery of the dogs rescued from his operations unless he was ordered to. Shame on Virginia Tech, shame on the people who supported this morally bankrupt man for this honor, and shame on the judicial system for allowing him to get a slap on the wrist for MURDER. This is not the university I thought it was…

  33. So…I would dare to think that this will encourage others at VT to carry on this tradition of breaking the laws of our communities because, character has no place in this College.

  34. Who cares about his sports, he is not human or humane – when he kills another person, you will realize how stupid this nomination is! Animals obviously do not matter to this piece of sht or to this Virg tech. His only reward is to clamp a cable to his ears, and eyes and drop him in water, payback is a bitch!

  35. Michael Vic, you might be a good football player but, your a poor excuse of a man and your a disgrace to human kind….. you deserve no mote then the “HALL OF SHAME ” One being in the public eye, a celebratety and all, you set a sick, inhumane example to younger atheletes in our future with your abusive, tortureing acts on innocent animals for your own pleasures . Plus its illegal, not alone cruel. Your in the public eye and should be setting GOOD EXAMPLES .like i said , your a DISGRACE to mank8nd and, deserve nothing but, the HALL OF SHAME… you are and always will be a piece of shit in my book Michael Vic

  36. Virginia tech Dean ever have the guts to look at Vick’s torture to the innocents? IN essence, dean is rewarding Vick for being who he is on the field, NOT as an honorable citizen. The word FAME in the award? What does that mean to the DEAN? Dean doesn’t care about character and is kissing ass. Suck it up, dean Shit and all. You are ruined by thousands of decent people in favor of sewer scum like Vick. Dean,— you have no morals.

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