"Of course dogs are "innocent". They lack moral agency. That's one reason we can kill them at will if they are threatening. They are not people." -- After That

You might want to brush up on the latest research in non-human animal intelligence, After That. The latest findings are that reasoning and moral behavior are hardly limited to humans.

As for why we kill dogs and other animals, it has nothing to do with their "moral agency," or lack thereof. It has to do with the fact that we are more powerful than them and so do with them as we will.

To us, animals are property. I.e., slaves, and as history shows, slaveowners have always been able to kill their slaves without fear of consequence.

That's okay, it's a free country. You can hide your insecurities behind your macho dick persona all you want.

See ya.

Sometimes in cases of cruelty to animals, the perpetrator's punishment includes assisting in animal shelters or other sanctuaries for abused and neglected animals, with the goal being to instill empathy and compassion for animals in the perp. This can work when the perp is not a sadist or habitual animal abuser, e.g., an enraged teenager who beat a dog.

The problem with Vick is that he apparently was a cold-blooded abuser, torturer, and killer of dogs, over a period of time. There may not be any capacity for empathy for animals within this man, and trying to instill some in him by having him work at a shelter could simply be a farce.

However, Vick and other superstar athletes are role models for children. When kids see their heroes abusing animals, or beating up people, or going around with violent entourages toting guns and harassing people, it teaches these kids that this sort of behavior is acceptable. The opposite is true, too, and if Michael Vick ever develops true remorse for what he has done, he can make amends by becoming a champion of animals rather than their abuser.

All of the big league sports need to rid themselves of the thugs and criminals on their teams. It doesn't matter how talented a thug is: get rid of him. There's always another talented guy somewhere out there who deserves a chance to play. The thugs don't deserve that privilege, along with the money and prestige that comes with it. No, sports isn't just for kids, and athletes don't exist only to be role models, but the fact is that they are, and the children who admire thugs like Vick will grow up to be dangerous adults, and not just for animals.

I like what you wrote. Here's one of the best distillations of your sentiment which I've heard so far:

Question: if a dog was drowning and a man was drowning, and you could save only one, which one would you save?

Answer: depends on the dog, and depends on the man.

BBWlover, I hate to shatter your illusions, but I'm not "masquerading" as a lawyer. I've been a proud member of the Bar for years (and no, I'm not talking about the kind of bar that you, BBWlover, regularly pass out in). You won't see me in court, though, since I'm not a litigator. My wife, however, is a damned good litigator, and if she met you in court, she'd take you apart. I'd like to say that she'd chew you up and spit you out, but since she's a vegan! too, she doesn't eat pigs, so you're off the hook.

Are you representing that you’re a lawyer, too? Or do you have a familiarity with courtrooms based only on some prior arrest, say, for beating up a woman?

Doesn’t matter. It is you who have made ridiculous statements and then, when called on them, resorted to name-calling instead. Let’s pretend we’re actually in a courtroom:

“Counselor, do you really expect this Court to believe that in the United States, white men are more likely to be assumed guilty of a crime than black men?

Counselor, do you really expect this Court to believe that in the United States, dogs enjoy more rights than men?

And lastly, Counselor, when you repeatedly employ words associated with women as insults, do you really expect this Court to believe that you do not hate women?

The Court finds that you are a delusional misogynist. Case dismissed.”

Give it a rest, BBWlover. It is you who would get your ass handed to you on all three questions above. As for whether you’re a closet case, I admit that’s debatable, but the circumstantial evidence is damning.

BBWlover, I can practically see the veins popping out of your forehead like some demented Joan Crawford. Rant back at me all you want, but you’re not worth a second more of my time.

These Broadsheet letter sections are getting pretty seedy.