Mike Vick: The Worst Criminal in the NFL

That is how most of the Michael Vick headlines are painting the once highest-paid NFLer of all time, and it is complete trash. I detest that Michael Vick financed a dog-fighting ring. I hate that all of those dogs were injured/killed, and I am glad that he was punished for his actions. I also think his punishment more than fit his crime. He spent 21 months in a federal prison and has a 21 month old daughter; you do the math. His multi-millionaire status is extinct, and he no longer has a spot on any roster in the league. To top it off, it seems to be a forgone conclusion that any team that takes a chance on Vick will be subject to more scrutiny than they care to handle. I say, give the guy a second chance. If the news is accurate, he is working hard to rebuild his image and character by coordinating with The Humane Society of the United States to eradicate dog fighting among the nation's youth. The COO of the Humane Society, Michael Markarian, met with Vick while he was in prison and made positive statements regarding his intentions and sincerity. Who can say that they have never received a second chance? I realize that not many people have funded dog fighting scandals, but not many have been punished to the extent that Michael Vick was. In our justice system, he has done his time and deserves a chance to rehabilitate himself and have a positive influence on society.

I grew up with dogs, and my wife and I have a rescued dog. I hated Michael Vick two years ago, and I will never condone his actions. But, let's see what he's made of.

Doc

So I lied in my profile, when I said Alicia and I have zero children; we have a dog. Doc is about a year old and is a mix between a terrier and a pointer; we love him very much. Here is the history of our beloved canine:

My mom, Jamie, found him at Table Rock lake when he followed two of our family friends home from a morning walk. He had been shot in the back with some sort of pellet gun, and his tail had been broken in three different places, likely the result of being hit by a car. However, he was extremely friendly excited to be around humans. Ever the bleeding heart, my mother took it upon herself to find a home for this little dog. Alicia and I happened to visit Bartlesville when she was keeping him and immediately fell in love. We brought him back to Lawrence that weekend in early August, and immediately took him to the vet again for a check up. The vet discovered that Doc was missing half of his soft pallet and was amazed that he survived that long as a "wild" dog.

I have always had dogs in my life, and I can safely say that Doc is one of the funniest dogs that I have ever known. It is difficult to put into words, so I will provide some video evidence - even video doesn't truly capture the hilarity. He loves to get up in the mornings, and LOVES to be fed. Below is the routine that we go through every single morning, and it definitely makes me less tired.

The funny thing is, after these morning shananigans, he pays almost no attention to his food. He simply enjoys the process. I can't say that I'll never buy a dog from a breeder, but, after seeing how Doc has adapted to a family lifestyle, I can say that I will look at the shelters first.