Did President Barack Obama just set back Animal Welfare? Please post your comments below.
In the video below, they are wrong. There isn’t a lifetime ban on Vick owning a dog. The ban is just till next year when his probation is over.
By S.A. MILLER in Washington and ANDY SOLTIS in New York For the New York Post
Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/obama_lauds_vick_pick_Nx9HQbB9AcZoPu9HhRsteM#ixzz19PvhnUt9
President Obama may be in the doghouse with pet lovers after praising the Philadelphia Eagles for signing disgraced NFL star Michael Vick after his dogfighting scandal.
Obama — who is both a dog lover and football fan — made a surprise call to team owner Jeffrey Lurie.
“The president wanted to talk about two things, but the first was Michael,” Lurie recalled.
“He said, ‘So many people who serve time never get a fair second chance.’ He was . . . passionate about it,” Lurie told Peter King of NBC/Sports Illustrated.
” said it’s never a level playing field for prisoners when they get out of jail. And he was happy that we did something on such a national stage that showed our faith in giving someone a second chance after such a major downfall.”
Before Vick pleaded guilty in 2007 to federal conspiracy charges, three associates had been ready to testify that the athlete, then the starting quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons, had executed dogs.
After serving 21 months, Vick was signed to a new contract with the Eagles, who made him their star quarterback this year.
The White House said Obama made the call to Lurie to discuss plans for installing alternative energy technology at Lincoln Financial Field, “during which they spoke about that and other issues.”
The president, “of course, condemns the crimes that Michael Vick was convicted of, but, as he’s said previously, he does think that individuals who have paid for their crimes should have an opportunity to contribute to society again,” White House spokesman Bill Burton said.
Some animal-rights activists weren’t as forgiving.
“I think there are many more commendable former convicts that would have been better examples for the president to give attention to,” said Alison Gianotto, president and founder of Pet-Abuse.com.
PETA President Ingrid Newkirk said, “The president is all about moving forward, and PETA is right there with him in the hope that Michael Vick spends every second playing ball and never looks sideways at a dog or other animal as long as he draws breath.”
“Most of the dogs he knew over the years didn’t get a second chance, and the ones who did, still shake and cower to this day.”
