My Letter to Surry County Regarding Prosecution of Michael Vick

Nov. 1, 2008

Mr. Poindexter,

Dog fighting is the worst possible form of animal abuse and is finally in the public eye, thanks to the federal charges against Michael Vick and Judge Henry Hudson making sure that Michael Vick did not walk away from this awful and hideous crime with a smack on the hand.

Although I felt, and still do feel, that he deserved way more than the 23 month sentence that he received, I was able to come to terms and accept it mainly because Judge Hudson gave the true victims of this crime a second chance at life. Those victims being the 47 surviving pit bulls from Michael Vick’s dogfighting operation. 

I felt a sense of justice was served by giving these animals a second chance, because after all, they never had a first chance at life thanks to Mr. Vick and his “business." They lived a life of starvation, beatings, forced breeding, and forced fighting, chains weighing more than they did around their necks, and we will never know all the other horrific things these animals went through, but we do know that there were many who didn’t survive.

Many who were drowned, electrocuted, slammed to the ground, and hanged, all because they weren’t “good enough fighters."  

I don’t know if you have followed the rehabilitation of these 47 pit bulls, but I have. I have spent countless nights crying with the images of these terrified and scarred dogs. I was watching one who, for months, had to be carried EVERYWHERE because she was too scared to walk. Her name is Cherry, and she resides at Best Friend Animal Sanctuary in Utah. She is also my “foster dog." 

We’re out here trying to save animals and teach compassion, while people like him tear it down with little penalty. Please remember that justice is the backbone of maintaining order and civilization, and judge accordingly, as the role model Vick is to our nation's future.

Vick was involved not just killing dogs, but hideous torture, agony, and slow painful horrific deaths; he is a dog butcherer—the same mold as Jeffrey Dahmer, with his beginnings with animal cruelty. Why? Serial killers and dog-kennel fighters have one thing in common—no conscious. None. They take pleasure in a helpless being's agony and blood.

Michael Vick knew what he was doing was wrong and illegal. What he did was cruel. He should not be allowed to be excused from even a small part of what he did. His plea bargain is out of pure selfishness. If he were truly sorry, he'd take his deserved punishment without a plea deal.

And might I make a small point that, to this day, he has yet to say that he was sorry for what he did to those poor and defenseless animals. He apologized to every person who has helped him get to where he was, the highest-paid football player in the NFL, yet not a mention of the dogs he destroyed.

And you, Mr. Poindexter are doing nothing but sending a loud message that what this “man” did is ok. This happened in your county. The county that you are supposed to represent and care about, yet you are sitting back.

I can only guess that because these were “dogs” and not humans, you don’t find it in your county's budget to pursue, instead allowing a plea that will not only allow Michael Vick out on early release from Federal Prison, you are also letting a convicted felon who resided in “your county," who committed these awful and hideous crimes in “your county,” to be excused from it all with a suspended sentence.

I know it’s always easier to turn the other way, but this decision that you are making is wrong and immoral on every level. And you need to remember that you are in an elected position in Surry County. It is your constituents that helped you get to where you are today, and Mr. Vick and ALL OFFENDERS of crimes such as these need to be punished realistically, no matter the cost to your county.

God did not put these animals on earth to be harmed, and the very idea of Michael Vick getting this sweetheart deal is disgusting and makes me lose complete faith (the little I had left) in our judicial system. This rests in your hands, Mr. Poindexter. Do the right thing. Take him to trial and make him truly pay for what he has done. These innocent dogs had no voice. You have an opportunity to help them be heard.

All dogs deserves to live in a world free of people like him, and the old saying, “history repeats itself”, I can guarantee you that if you allow this plea to go through, you will see Michael Vick in the headlines again for you are doing nothing now but helping paving the way to allow him to do this again, and you are undoing the message that Judge Hudson tried so hard to send with his 23 month sentence.  

Please don’t let this happen. I live in a world of reality, and I know he cannot be punished forever, but his punishment doesn’t have to be lightened, and you are the only one who can keep this from happening.

Can I ask you one question? Do you have a dog, Mr. Poindexter? I do, and there is nothing in this world like the faithfulness of a dog. I am a very lucky person in that I have a life that allows me to be home with mine most of the time. If you have a dog, you must know that on the worst day of your life, even when your own family may not want to be around you...you can always count on that dog who loves you no matter what. 

I cannot imagine my dog ever being hurt at the hands of anyone, and to even think about it brings feelings that are indiscernible. But only a person who shares their life and heart with a dog would know and understand these feelings. 

You have a chance to help make a difference. Please don’t turn your back on what is right. 

Thank you,

Sherry Kidwell

Secretary of “The Gage Foundation”

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