What do you think of Whoopi's defense of Michael Vick--the dog torturer?

Question

http://tv.yahoo.com/show/253/news/urn:newsml:tv.ap.org:20070904:tv_goldberg_vick__ER:66890

Whoopi states that in the south, where Vick comes from, dog fighting is normal.

Not only did Vick, the Atlant Falcons football player, participate in dog fighting, he tortured his losing dogs....

What are your thoughts?

And if you are against dog fighting...what is the difference between dog fighting and hunting? Is it humane to chase Bambi through the woods with a semi-automatic weapon gun with a sight? If you were truly going for sport, wouldn't you run after Bambi with a knife, or homemade bow and arrow?

Is it humane to participate in dog fighting? Is it humane to hunt wild animals for sport?

I ask in R&S because this is the most active site...and want a "Christian" perspective.

Answer 1

Anyone that thinks that dog fighting is normal, needs to take a very close look at the way they were raised. Dog fighting is nothing more than animal murder for sport. And as a hunter ,I will be glad to tell you the difference. When I hunt, it is for the food not for sport.I am not after trophies. I use every part of the animal, but have no mounts on my walls. While I do sometimes use a gun,30-06 ,because I am getting older, I normally hunt with a bow. A Long bow, not a compound bow. I also do not sit in a blind and hunt, I walk the woods looking for sign, then stalk the animal. As for the South, think of other things that used to be normal.

Answer 2

Well, it doesn't make any difference where he came from...it's wrong in all states...it's a federal offense.

Also, hunting (even though I'm not a fan, nor am I a hunter) is not malicious. Hunters do not torture, electrocute and drown animals. Our society looks on this as management of wildlife. I see dead deer, raccoons, squirrels, foxes most ever day on the road. I always worry that they laid there over night suffering...it breaks my heart. Given the option of death by car or starvation...I have to say a bullet to the heart or head would be a better option.

But anyway...the other problem with it is dogs are pets. They are members of many of our families. Loved and spoiled, they are like children to many. We think about these poor dogs and know they could have been lovely pets given the right environment. They were trained to fight and when they lost they were punished with a torturous death. I don't think any one in any way can justify this. I don't think that it can be compared to hunting either...they are not the same thing.

It's also the anger behind the killings. After an animal has given his all for his owner he is painfully put to death. Then realizing that this painful death gave some kind of sick satisfaction to Michael Vick make me nauseous.

Answer 3

The idea of sport doesn't mean making the death of a game animal, generally taken to be consumed, difficult or messy. Using a knife or homemade bow would result mostly in wounded animals, whereas a well sighted and powerful firearm provides a quick, clean kill. In that way, it is quite humane. If you've ever been hunting, you would know that a gun doesn't define the sport or the thrill. There is plenty of that regardless of the weapon.

I don't think hunting Bambi, a whitetail deer whose population numbers would likely take a downturn in the long run without a controlled harvest, is comparable at all to the violence and morbidness of dog fighting. You are comparing apples and screwdrivers.

Answer 4

I understand the point I think she was trying to make, however I don't think she was defending him or his actions.


Vick is another dog fighter, not the first, and sadly not the last. Hopefully this case will help shed some light to people who do not usually consider this type of thing. Dog fighting, and other types of animal fighting are just plain despicable.

Hunting? I am not against hunting. My father used to hunt, then again he used about 70% of the animal. I don't really like hunting for sport, however it is not an act of torture. What Vick and dog fighters alike do is not just killing an animal. The methods these people use to get those dogs to be so vicious is cruel and horrific. Pits are not naturally vicious. They are made that way by punks like Vick. Have you ever heard of a "bait" dog? Basically it is a dog that is tethered to a pole while other dogs "practice" on it. They shred that dog to pieces basically so the fighting dogs can get practice and because the "bait" dog will not fight, will not stand up for itself, so basically it is sacraficed. Major differences between this and hunting.

Answer 5

Whoopi is ignorant. I am from the South and can assure you that dogfighting is not second-nature here! It is cruel and a crime. Vick is a low-life, just like OJ, Lindsay Lohan, and all of the other celebs that forget that they, too, are American citizens and are bound by laws. Vick is so lucky to have all of the money and fame; why not put his "power" to good use instead of becoming a criminal? This is proof that money cannot buy common sense. People need to stop playing the race card. Whether someone is black, white, purple, or green is irrelevant; YOU DO THE CRIME YOU DO THE TIME! If you or I were involved in dogfighting, you'd better believe the law would come after us!

Answer 6

I think dog fighting is just plain wrong. If it was just that it wouldn't be that horrible but he tortured man's best friend.

As far as hunting goes, it should only be done if it is for food. Dogs are smarter than animals you hunt and they are probably the most loved animal in the country. The animals being hunted normally die fast, therefore it isn't 'torture'. Vick tortured the dogs and made it a slow and painful death.

In conclusion, dog fighting is illegal and completely inhumane and torturing them is even worse..

I kinda got off the whole Whoopi thing. It doesn't matter where you're from. Torturing animals is awful.

Answer 7

Killing an animal for sport (i.e. hunting) is pretty cruel, but it is a bit different. It is indeed sport too because the animal has a good chance of not getting killed. Virtually all fighting dogs will be killed either by their opponents or by their owners so, unlike hunted animals, the survivability is nearly 0%. The same could be said for cattle, chickens, etc., but those animals are killed quickly and their dead bodies serve a purpose--to feed people.

That's not the cleanest answer, but it's as close as I can come to justifying some killing and not others.

P.S. Whether dog fighting is a popular sport or not has no bearing on the case.

Answer 8

hunting sport is something every nation has for recreation.

whether it be quail, "bambi" or "thumper". animals are subject to inhumane death.

most people who hunt for just the sport and only do it once in awhile, those who are not trained or thouroughly educate themselves on the sport are the ones who end up torturing and animal usual by coincidence.

many times they shoot a deer and then cannot find it. or kids will torture a doe after they have shot it but yanking on the arrow and many other hiddeous ways, I have seen videos.

setting fire to a tortous and then setting it on fire.

I cannot understand how and why someone would get any fun out of this.

curiousity is one thing torture is just not right.

Vick grown up in the south, but that does not condone him from what his has done. nor does it condone any other man from doing it or any bullfighter from ramming in those swords and letting a strong beautiful proud bull bleed to death totally exhausting him of his strength all the while tip toeing in those stupid costumes.

I can't see the sports, never could.

Answer 9

While I am not a fan of hunting, there is a HUGE difference between dog fighting and hunting. You don't have hunters training Bambi to stomp the crap out of Thumper. Besides, all the deer hunters around here wouldn't dare go chasing Bambi through the woods with any type of weapon. What they do is buy tree stands, sit in trees and wait for Bambi to walk by and BLAM! To me, that is not hunting...that is cowardly and takes not one ounce of skill.

Answer 10

Sorry, I'm not a "Christian"; just a sensible human being.

Dog fighting is abhorrent.

Hunting with high powered weapons, and for any other reason than meat is equally as vile.

Woopi Goldberg is a loud mouthed, talentless, opportunist . It's unfortunate that ANYONE would choose to breathe life into her steadily convalescing career at this stage in the game. I was sure we'd never have to hear from her again.

Damn you Barbra Walters!