Or cats.
Or, well, birds.
I'm one of them. I'm not mean enough to say Michael Vick should never be allowed to play professional football again. I'm not kind enough to say all is forgiven. I am honest enough to admit ambivalence about the upcoming Eagles season, and if polls are to be believed, I am far from alone.
Do you cheer when Vick does well? Or do you squirm in your seat? The cynical view is that all will be absolved with the first big play, our propensity to merge virtue with victory inexhaustible. But it will be tested here.
The Humane Society estimates that there are 40,000 professional fighting dogs in the United States and 100,000 additional "street fighters." In June, David Nigro, of Overbrook, was charged with 66 counts of animal cruelty after police discovered 19 scarred and wounded dogs chained outside of his home. Sadly, this area is one of the cruelty hotbeds, and thus our shelters are bulging with rescued, abandoned and abused dogs. The Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals estimates that Philadelphia's two shelters will take in well over 22,000 cats and dogs by the end of this year.
The numbers are similar in Camden County, where I live, and probably similar in the county you live in, too. Every one of them has an easily accessible Web site, and every one of them is looking for people to adopt, donate, raise funds, volunteer and help with public awareness. The dogs need to be washed. They need to be walked. They could use some kind words, too.
A recent basket auction by Angel Folgio raised $1,200 for the Camden County Animal Shelter. The Eagles should solicit volunteers from these places to canvas their lots on Sundays. Maybe even donate some nice tickets to raffle off for those who adopt.
You, me, anyone for whom this signing doesn't sit well, we should find some time, money or both to help out.
