Today’s front page headline in the Los Angeles Times screamed out, “Vick To Plead Guilty” followed by the requisite op eds calling for his head. One Atlanta politico even suggested an “eye for an eye”. So what would that entail, kind sir? Greasing Vick up, placing him in a pen and letting him go three rounds with a pit bull?

I’m a huge animal lover. I’m in favor of testing new drugs on members of Congress instead of animals. As I type this post one of my three dogs is curled at my feet. The thought of her being abused or harmed makes my blood boil. That said, I think the outcry over Vick is out of proportion.

In a perfect society the shouting over Vick’s transgressions would be surpassed by the public vitriol for the professional athletes who allegedly harm people, not dogs. There are plenty of those to go around. Just Google the name “Pac Man Jones” for starters. Let’s not forget “O.J. Simpson”. Then check out the bios of dozens of jocks who came after O.J. and before PacMan who hurt people while driving drunk, assaulted strippers, abused women, and on and on.

I think Michael Vick should be punished severely. But let’s not equate animal abuse with human abuse, and let’s see that those who commit crimes against people also pay a steep price.

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