More Vick Ick

The man who never ceases to amaze, Michael Vick, is at it again.

He claims to be "humbled" as a recipient of the Ed Block Courage Award, which he received at a banquet earlier this week. I wish he were served as the roast. Merriam-Webster lists the following as the definitions of "humble":

1: not proud or haughty: not arrogant or assertive

Nope; Vick misses that definition by miles.

2: reflecting, expressing, or offered in a spirit of deference or submission

Ohhhhh-ho-ho boy; he really should have checked the dictionary before using this word.

3. a: ranking low in a hierarchy or scale: insignificant, unpretentious

Hmmm... I agree, but I don't think this is what Vick was going for. As a matter of fact, Mike's probably living pretty large these days with all that dough coming in.

The Philadelphia Eagles have exercised their 2010 option on Vick. I'm not a sports expert, but no matter how you look at it, Vick wins. The Eagles paid Vick a $1.5 million roster bonus this week, and whichever team picks up the bonehead, whether it's the Eagles or another NFL franchise, Vick will get the remainder of his 2010 salary. How much, you ask? Oh, just $5.25 million for this convicted animal killer. (Click on the link to see a pic of Mike posing with a nun. Note that they're not touching; otherwise, it would be a pic of a pile of dust and a nun.)

But the fun doesn't stop there!

Spike TV has added Vick to the cast of Joes vs. Pros.  Great. No info on how much he'll make from his appearances, but I'm sure it's not pro bono. He just doesn't strike me as the type.

I don't usually hold grudges like this. I hate him for making me hate him. But he's so good at cultivating hate for himself, isn't he.

Mom! What's that "L" on your forehead?!

"Mom, why's your hand all bandaged up?"
"I don't know what you mean, dear."
"What's that "L" on your forehead?"
"What "L" is that, dear? It's probably just a shadow from the sun, honey."
"No, mom, it's clearly an "L." As in Loser."
"All right, dear. I broke the first rule of interacting with dogs."
"And that is...?"
"Never let your guard down when two strange dogs are near each other."
"English, please, Mom?"
"Okaaaay... I put my hand near an angry dog's mouth, and it became an hors d'oeuvre, okay honey? Happy now? Your mom is an idiot."
"I see. Was it a big, mean pit bull?"
"No, dear, it was actually a small breed. I've never been bitten by a big, mean pit bull. Just those little ones. Always the little ones."
"Stitches, mom?"
"You're enjoying this, aren't you honey?"

LA Times correction - It wasn't a Pit after all!

Earlier this month, the LA Times reported - then corrected - that a family's pit bull bit their toddler. The LA Department of Animal Services later reported that the dog was actually a shepherd mix, not a pit bull. Thank you, LADAS, for clarifying this for us!! (Best wishes for the child's speedy recovery!!)

Did you know Helen Keller had a Pit Bull?

It's true! And so did Fred Astaire and Thomas Edison. So many of today's celebs are pit lovers, too.

Little Red: A Vicktory Dog

Little Red is one of Michael Vick's former dogs, now at Best Friend's in Utah. Her story is sad and uplifting at the same time. Even though she had her teeth filed down so she couldn't fight back, her love and trust still shine through. It's amazing how forgiving animals can be!

If We're So Mean, Why Are We Always Smiling?

Many of us have had pretty tough lives.

I was tied to a Stop sign when I was 10 weeks old; some of us were abandoned at PAWS; one spent a very long time in a cold, damp pound before being rescued by PAWS; countless others were physically abused or neglected.

So why are we Pits known for our smiles? Because we really are loving and happy animals! I thought I'd share some pictures of my smiling friends. Be sure to check the captions for their stories. Enjoy!

Francois Makes His Modeling Debut

Check out my mom's new vanity plate, and her hot male model, sure to make Vanity Fair's cover in the months to come!

All inquiries about this exciting new talent should be directed to PAWS!

Breed Specific Legislation Ticks Me Off

What do German Shepherds, Rottweilers, Dobermans, Akitas, Greyhounds (yes, Greyhounds), and pit bulls have in common? They're all great dogs who have become the target of Breed Specific Legislation (BSL) in many countries around the world, including the United States.

And it burns me up. It makes me want to stomp my paws and bark at the mailman!

Often, if a dog is aggressive or violent, it's due to poor breeding, poor upbringing, or a combination of both.

BSL doesn't solve the root of the problem: Humans who have trained their dogs to be fighters or otherwise dangerous. Rather than addressing the need for responsible pet ownership, BSL ignores the human factor and punishes the animal.

It's time to hold owners responsible for their despicable actions. The Michael Vick case was a disturbing event that will hopefully show officials that it's the humans, not the animals, who are the responsible parties. Of the 49 dogs that were seized from Vick's property, all but one will be placed with families or live their lives in peace as loved members of sanctuaries.

And besides, how would you ban pit bulls with Breed Specific Legislation? We're not a breed! Us plain old pits are a mix of as many as 35 different breeds of dog including Presa Canarios, Cane Corsos, Spanish Alanos, Rhodesian Ridgebacks, Bandogs, Dogues Brasileiros, Dogo Argentinos, Guatemalan Bull Terriers, American Bulldogs, Boxers, Bull Mastiffs, Bull Terriers, English Bulldogs, Rottweilers, Akitas, Chow Chows, and even Labradors. Look for a Lab with a purple tongue. They're quite common.

Don't be a Vick

Former NFL star Michael Vick's dogs are now stars in their own right!

Check them out on Bad Rap's home page. Just look at those meeeeeen pit bulls. Six of them in one room, eating each other alive. Or is that one on the floor sleeping, while the others on the couch are cuddling, and the other one on the floor is jamming his way in for pets, and another is... well, you get the picture. These poor dogs were never meant to fight. We pit bulls are so misunderstood. Take a look at Bad Rap's pups today.

Best Friends Animal Society took in 22 of these great pups. It was a long haul for both of these rescue groups, and many of these guys are ready for their forever homes!

Thanks to rescue groups like Bad Rap and Best Friends, my peeps will have their second chances at love!

Welcome to my blog

This is nothing new, a dog with a blog. Go ahead. Google "dog" and "blog" and you'll get zillions of hits. And, it's easier for you to do with fingers than for me with pads and claws.

Anyway, this blog is necessary. You see, I was unwanted once, but I got lucky; I found a place to put up my paws and call home. Now I have to help my furry critter friends at PAWS in Norwalk, CT find their forever homes. And, I have to make people understand that we pibbles are good dogs, not the maniacs you see on the evening news.

I'll tell you about these gems if you promise to pass the word on to a friend or two. Together, we'll find these beauties loving forever homes. Deal? Okay!