What's Wrong with Killing Dogs?
So it's a federal crime to be mean to dogs? Who knew?
What's wrong with what Michael Vick did? I have no inclination to do what he did with dogs, but I have no comprehension of what all the fuss is about. Most people who are upset about killing dogs or letting them attack each other have at some point in their lives caught a fish, which is as extreme a form of murderous torture of an animal as I can imagine. Not only have most of them caught a fish, they have actually eaten many more of them than they've caught. Which is weirder, killing an animal or eating its dead flesh? Most of us have never eaten dog meat, but in some countries it is a delicacy. Is there something evil going on in those countries? Are they violating the natural order of things? Should we invade them or get the UN to intervene? They are killing and eating dogs for god's sake!!!
What is the moral basis -- the natural law, if you will -- that accords special respect and protection to dogs in our written laws? And how does that same natural law allow for fish being clubbed to death on boat decks if they haven't died already from the hook-in-mouth trick we so enjoy pulling on them?
Our reverence for dog life resembles our reverence for human life. Up to a point. It's okay to kill your dog if you think your dog is too sick to go on living much longer or if you just can't afford medical help for your dog. And, don't worry, no legal authority is ever going to ask you to prove that your dog was really sick enough to kill or even sick at all. If you don't have the stomach for killing your dog yourself, you contract with a dog killer -- otherwise known as a veterinarian -- to do the dirty work for you. No federal law against that yet. Our dog reverence is so shot full of loopholes that there is no describable moral order to it at all.
Americans revere horses too, but it's okay to shoot your racehorse in the head in public if it so much as breaks a leg--something I saw the first time I went to a racetrack. And it's more than okay--politicians consider it a leadership demonstration--to hunt. Shoot 'em, kill 'em, cook 'em, eat 'em is the American way for a lot of pretty birds and every four-legged animal other than dogs, cats, and horses.
Between bites at McDonald's today there will be a lot of outrage expressed about Michael Vick getting off easy. I won't understand a word of it.
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The author makes no sense.
He obviously knows nothing about fish.
Just because he has no values, it does not validate his logic.
The thing with the dogs is that these people take pleasure in the suffering. It is the gore they enjoy.
One can kill anything. When the purpose is to be entertained by the suffering, it runs contrary to the morality of this culture. We put people who do not conform to the values of society into prison. simple.
Lawrence, traditionally, fish are disconnected from us personally, they are cold blooded marine creatures, and they can't scream when in pain. Also, they don't wag their tails affectionatly, jump when you snap your finger, or growl at an intruder. Dogs (and cats) are both much closer to people, and people that are cruel to these pets are believed to be cruel to people and all forms of life (like Jeffry Dalmar). There are those that get great pleasure in watching pit bulls chew each other's legs off in a fight to the death -- or watch male chickens peck each other to death. They themselves of course would not like to fight to the death with another person while others applauded and cheered. And so, the Jeffry Dalmars and all others that cannot imagine themselves in the unfortunate position of another creature fighting to the death, may not be as bad as we think -- but I wouldn't bet on it.
I can't believe how many comments there are! This issue obviously means a lot to many people. I personally don't have a, er, dog in this fight. I just want to say that every time I turn on "Left Right and Center" and hear you, Mr. O'Donnell, and not Matt Miller, I am very happy about it. I don't know why Mr. Miller seems to not like Mr. Scheer -- but it's not something a listener should know just from listening to the show.
When it comes to animals in our society, it seems we are experiencing a massive cognitive dissonance.
I know lots of people who have pets, will take in stray dogs and bemoan how badly these poor creatures are treated. At the same time, they eat loads of meat and dairy products and never, for a second, think about how badly the animals who supply them with meat, etc. are treated.
Eating meat isn't necessary. Drinking milk isn't necessary. In fact, both have been linked to chronic disease by reputable researchers. See "The China Study", for example:
http://www
Also check out this excellent article in the Christian Science Monitor about one of the largest contributors to global warming and other forms of environmental degradation (cattle):
http://www
For a total grossout, google "blood and pus in dairy products".
Dog fighting is watching torture and death for entertainment. We like to think we are more evolved than the Romans. Eating a fish is not the same, nor is hunting, although I think hunting is nasty.
So, you want little kids to grow up and emulate their hero, by killing dogs? Healthy ones?
You don't seem to understand the circumstances here. When it comes to pro sports, people like Vick are in a very visible position to influence kids. When they get exposed first as porn stars, then are a part of a dog fighting ring, then they admit to brutalizing and killing dogs in a fairly sadistic manner, there's nothing to defend about that.
Only a loon would call for the death penalty. But it's completely reasonable for the guy to be banned from the sport. If he comes back, he's not a hero, he's a freakshow.
Testing. Vick should get more than he's getting.
If you live on a farm you will see animals being slaughtered for food, but you will not see animal abuse. I see that you believe that it is all the same - all good, as they say. And you fail to see the difference between killing animals for food and killing animals for sport. You really think that it the same thing to put a dog to sleep, to stop it from suffering, is the same as killing a dog because it loses a fight? In your "mind" euthanasia performed by a Vet is the same as drowning, hanging and electrocuting for fun? The same as shooting a horse because it's suffering. Bottom line: O'Donnell you are a very heartless man that shoots before he thinks. I would go to a mountain top and rethink your position, because it's ludicrous and your logic is flawed. Your reputation has suffered greatly in my eyes.
Uh, wasn't April Fools Day a few months back? If, on the other hand, this blog is meant seriously, O'Donnell is one sick - excuse the obvious pun; I just can't resist - pup.
I have long suspected Mr. O'Donnell of being insane.
I no longer have any doubts.
By the way, PETA directly killed over 10,000 dogs last year.
They don't love animals, they hate people.
"Pork chop tastes good. Bacon tastes good ..."
Truer words have never been spoken. If you want to be a vegan or vegetarian, that's cool; but don't expect everyone else to join your club. Now about fanatical Islam and the fraud that is global warming ...
Lawrence,
If you really don't get it, I feel very sorry for you. The intentional torture of innocent creatures is a Very Bad Thing. We're not talking about euthinasia or killing for food. Cows and fish are (As far as we can tell) pretty much not self-aware. Dogs are service animals, not only aware but capible of protecting and caring for us. But if Vick was torturing onther small animals, it would be just as wrong and just as inhumane.
And if you don't understand that, you deserve our pity.
Next time you're at McDonald's, Larry, take another look at that Value Menu.
Beef -- Bullfighting is against the law.
Chicken -- Cockfighting is against the law.
Fish -- Fish fighting (Bettas in particular) is against the law.
Are you suggesting that we legalize them?
Animal cruelty is illegal. Who knew? Apparently not you.
I personally am horrified and disgusted by what Michael Vick did. I think sports like dog fighting, cock fighting (and to a degree boxing and its various extremes) are barbaric. I wonder why humans find bloodletting and pain so orgasmically enjoyable and satisfying?
In this case I am also struck by the mob mentality and the hypocrisy engendered by the Vick issue. As a society we constantly identify "causes de jour" to be horrified about; everyone joins in and we pontificate-until the next cause shows up to divert our attention. then there is the hypocrisy. How many of the "mortified many" have helped a human recently? How about working at a soup kitchen, adopting a crack-addicted baby, hugging a child with HIV, helping a stranger change a flat tire or even smiling at someone in an elevator? Hmmm?
In thsi kind of society, this current outrage rings hollow, somehow.
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