Do White People Like Dogs More Than They Like Black People?

California whale rescue cost $240,000.
WALNUT CREEK, Calif. _ Although analysts haven't finished calculating the total cost of rerouting two humpback whales that strayed into the Delta last month, the bill to taxpayers is in the six figures.
The massive rescue effort spanned more than two weeks and involved 35 groups, including agencies at every level of government and multiple nonprofit organizations.
Five Delta counties and as many U.S. Coast Guard stations took part; so did a handful of universities, a couple of pharmaceutical ... Contra Costa Times (Walnut Creek, CA)

Mr Hines

Do I really believe that collectively White people consciously like dogs more than Black people? No. What I am attempting to bring to the forefront are the seemingly race driven inconsistencies that exist with respect to this issue. I would like to make very clear that this is not meant to in any way condone, excuse, or diminish the despicable nature of Michael Vick's offenses. It is however an analysis of the fall out that followed.

Michael Vick plead guilty in federal court to a dogfighting conspiracy charge. He was also indicted on one count of beating or killing or causing dogs to fight other dogs, and one count of engaging in or promoting dogfighting. Each count is a felony, punishable by up to five years in prison.

The cruel nature of the charges is tangible. The illegal, underground world of dog fighting is replete with similar, and worse offenses. Like its popular counterpart, cock fighting, the images of bloodied, scarred, or even dead animals are common.

What, though, is fundamentally different between the results of dog fighting and...deer hunting? How about quail hunting? What about bear hunting? All result in the death of these animals. "Yeah, but deer hunting is sport", you say. I recently watched a television program about hunting. A group of men armed with rifles lay on a hillside. On their rifles were scopes that enabled them to hit a target 3/4 to a mile away! They were shooting deer, accurately, from that range. I was floored, having thought that there was a technique, perhaps finding, tracking, and finally executing the kill. Just sniping unsuspecting deer from a mile away seems somehow unfair and cruel.

Hunting any animal armed with assault rifles and thousands of dollars of the latest military tracking, camouflage, and reconnaissance equipment is hardly sport in my estimation. Not to mention the reality that the head of the animal ends up on a wall, or the body is stuffed and displayed. I find these 'trophies' to be slightly unsettling.

I do not have official numbers, and cannot back the following statement up with statistical facts, but, making an educated guess, based merely on the racial breakdown of the US population, more specifically the populations in areas where hunting is popular, it is my assertion that many more White people are avid 'sport' hunters than Blacks. (Not to mention the expense associated with hunting and the social economic statistics that are available, especially in these regions). I mention this only because if this is fact, the perception of what is sport and what is cruel and unusual becomes extremely relevant. I assert also that the world of dog and cock fighting is dominated by people of color. It is noteworthy to point out the perception of both, and the predominance of the group associated respectively.

Another noteworthy phenomenon is the amount of money, resources, and man hours that are involved in individual or organized attempts to save animals. It never ceases to amaze me when I see a news story about the 15 firemen that spent 8 hours extracting a kitten from a well or a trapped in a crevice in the wall of a building. Like the article above, hundreds of thousands are spent on whales that swim off course or beach themselves. I suppose these are valiant, worthwhile efforts, but I have to stop and wonder. When I see so many under privileged, mal nourished, under resourced, seemingly forgotten little brown skinned boys and girls around this country, I wonder are the efforts to save them as intense and urgent? They are 'off course' and 'beached' by the thousands, and worthy of our heroism in 'saving' their lives.

Since Michael Vick's conviction, he has become a poster child for Animal Rights groups. He has not only suffered a loss of freedom, he has also suffered financially, probably now and in the future. Worse though, is the blow his reputation suffered and will always suffer, as he is hardly associated with anything but negative undertones. He plead guilty in a court of law, and served his sentence. Is the rest of the hoopla really necessary? Is it warranted considering the circumstances? Would it have been the same if it had been Eli Manning or Tom Brady?

Celebrity might have a lot to do with the fall out, but much like comments, events, and attitudes directed at President Obama, the role race plays is unmistakable. Also the fact that dogs were involved, and in America, dogs are 'Man's Best Friend.' As cruel as we might find his actions, Michael Vick is a human being, and the 'victims' were just dogs. I have two dogs that I love very much. It would pain me deeply if something were to happen to my dogs at the hand of a human being. I am conscience bound, however, to value the life of my fellow human, and the lives of the family he or she is responsible for, over that of a dog, or any other animal.

Michael Vick has 3 children. People sought to take his freedom, his money, and his future earning potential (re induction to the NFL) away from him, over the death of dogs. Does the crime justify the severity of the punishment, which not only impacts Michael Vick, but obviously includes his children? Is responsibility for the death of dogs, born and bred to die, like the minks that end up on the backs of the rich, really reason for the suffering of an entire Black family?

Miss Mya
Here’s what I’m wondering...did Michael Vick know what he was doing was wrong? If he did, regardless of what other people do, we are always responsible for our actions, period. Playing the race card every five minutes is not as popular or fruitful as it once was! I don’t know of many celebrity superstars that pled guilty to dog-fighting conspiracies. However, I do know that when it comes to celebrities and felony charges to discourage potential offenders, they become examples to deter others from making similar mistakes. Hence, harsh charges are brought, consequences are suffered and hopefully a lesson is learned from their mistakes and cruelty.
So the lesson here boys and girls is to play nice with the doggies!

Deer hunting, saving the whales, extracting kittens from tree limbs and the like are not the issue. How much attention animals are given is not the issue. Whether black man is railroaded by the justice system and the media is not the issue.

Genesis 1:26, God illustrates man receiving dominion over all the earth:

And God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth."

Have we translated “having dominion” to doing whatever the heck we want, whenever we want, with whatever type of animal we want? Seems that way, doesn’t it. I’m not the biggest animal-lover, don’t really care too much for dogs; I do realize that having dominion over a certain thing also incorporates protecting that thing. Parents and teachers are responsible for protecting their children and/or students, a husband is responsible for and protecting his wife. Even though, we’re talking about animals, it’s not ok to use an animal for entertainment with no regard to their sustainability in health and life. These dogs were not able to make decisions on their own behalf to participate in these violent ordeals, nor did they see any of the hundreds of thousands of dollars made from their own blood and life. These dogs were in the care of individuals who had no consideration for their life, health or purpose.

Here is the overall issue: treating animals with an honorable amount of respect, not as equals to humans, but as well as animals should be treated. A dog, be it pit bull or poodle, should expect to live their life purposefully as God intended. It's not right for us as humans to "have our way" with them as we see fit but to incorporate their usefulness in our lives. We truly have to be SMART in our choices and what God has put in our care.