Oh, the irony.

Lady, I am sleeping. Stop taking pictures of me with your phone.

These past few weeks have been a bit of a whirlwind -- we are super busy at work, due to some really great and exciting stuff, but I am also really distracted.

We (Bird, Rollie, Opus + I) took our annual trek to Maine in August and it could not have been better: the weather was perfect, the dogs got to be dogs 24 hours a day, which to them means either swimming, rolling in filth, romping with the other dogs, or passing out in the sun, we ate, we spent time with family, I knit. It was great.

Going on a trip, going on a trip, smells like cows, going on a trip...

But, right before we left, I heard about the signing of Michael Vick to the Eagles, and when we came home, I was overwhelmed with the number of house projects we have been putting off since moving here 3 years ago. I want to spend time investing in our home -- especially now that I am there so much more than I was when I was in grad school, but a switch flipped in me a few weeks ago and I do not love this city the way I used to, and making it our permanent landing spot is looking less and less like a reality. The backlash, racial tension, and anger that has been stirred up here as a result of Michael Vick joining the Eagles has left a horrible and unwelcome taste in my mouth, and I don't think it will go away just by refinishing the (wood paneled covered!) walls in our bedroom.

There is a HUGE problem of dog fighting, animal abuse and neglect in the city of Philadelphia. With the signing of Michael Vick, there has been a resurgence of awareness regarding the problem our city faces, but also, horrifically, sadly, and most importantly, there has actually been a RISE in dog fighting since his conviction two years ago. To many, in fact, Michael Vick is a hero.

Michael Vick and those who support dog fighting are not heroes, and do not deserve a penny from this city, nor do they deserve our respect. Michael Vick admitted to "cruel" behavior, and you can be sure those dogs did nothing to deserve their treatment, nor did they return it to him. This is a man who bred and trained dogs to fight others, then shot, electrocuted or drowned his dogs who did not win in the fights he arranged, bet on and supported for over five years. Disagreeing with the signing of Michael Vick to the Eagles does not equal in measure -- or even come close -- to what he did to those innocent dogs. Many argue that by opposing Michael Vick, those who do value the life of a dog over that of a human. This argument to me, is insane and has no base. (We are not arguing that he should be electrocuted, drowned or shot in return, just not treated as a hero in a city already fraught with issues involving dog fighting and abuse and suffering from millions of dollars of lost funding). It is like comparing apples to....bricks.

Happiest.

So, where is the irony here? As this man is being lauded as a hero, paraded all over town, plastered on every news show and given million dollar contracts, the shelters in this city have to euthanise dozens of dogs on a daily basis due to lack of space, human neglect or illness. I have not seen a single article, save for the informed and well written cover story of the Philadelphia Weekly (beware: this article is very, very, sad) really talk about the issue in this city, instead it is barely mentioned in passing as an anectode to the "second chance" we have supposedly freely given this murderer. 90% of dogs in the Philadelphia shelters are pit bulls, dogs who are bred for fighting and aggression, a trait manipulated from their loyalty, strength and intelligence. Pit Bulls are a wonderful, amazing, sweet, loyal and silly breed, and I know many many here that I trust, love and respect more than some people I have met. The PSPCA does not receive a single penny of funding from the city of Philadelphia, but Michael Vick has the option of earning 6.8 million dollars over the next two years with the Eagles, (not taking into account the sponsorship deals he may get by any company dumb enough to pay him).

I visited one of the shelters yesterday, hoping to find a dog we could foster and find a great home. (Still in progress). My dogs are spoiled -- to a fault, in fact: we are weeks into a training where I am supposed to be working on winning back my role as leader -- and the contrast to their lives and that of the dogs in the shelter is staggering. (I woke up this morning to Rollie + Opus on their backs, snoring, noses touching, at the foot of my bed). I am also going to volunteer at the shelter. I really hope, ultimately, I can make a difference, however small, in theses dogs lives, and show them that people love them, regardless of their previous situation. I do still feel really really helpless, I know I am just one person and there are individuals who work 60+ hours a week with the sole purpose of rehabilitating, saving and helping these animals. But I also know if this motivates one person to try an help, either by donating money or food, volunteering, opening up their home to a foster dog, or adopting a pet from a shelter, I will have done something good.

If you don't have the time or space to volunteer or foster an animal, please consider donating to the PSPCA here. (I just did!) If you have downloaded a -- or a few! -- Zeitgeist Yarns pattern(s) (or Kelbourne Woolens pattern of my design) recently, please consider making a donation to the PSPCA, however small, as a thanks. (Thank you).

Oh, an please: spay and neuter your pets.