Saving Mickey
Dear Editors at AZCentral.com,
You could not be farther away from the truth! The aim of the page is to save Mickey from being put down and NOT to start a battle between child versus dog; that is what you are doing. You are asking people to choose, whereas the people trying to save Mickey are sympathetic to both – the child and the dog.
Your article says, “Mickey must be euthanized. That should be automatic when any dog attacks and mauls a human. It can no longer live.” What happens when a person is murdered? What happens when a young girl is raped? What happens when a person is attacked by another person? What happens when a human being commits a crime? Must he not be euthanized as well for his brutalities? Let us also keep in mind that while in most cases the human is fully aware of the damage he will cause, an animal is not.
Every individual, no matter how serious the crime, does indeed get a fair trial. So why then must a dog be deprived of one? Is it because he is “just a dog”? If that is the case then this is what I would like to share with you:
“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.”
-Mahatma Gandhi
And why must the people who fight on Mickey’s behalf be portrayed as heartless and uncaring? I believe we all feel empathetic towards Kevin. It is truly a tragedy and yes he must be supported. But will you show your support for Kevin by asking for a dog to be put down? What good is it going to do to Kevin?
Human beings are entitled to a second chance when they (knowingly) commit a crime. If animals are governed by the laws humans make, why then must this inequality prevail? In regard to motives; unlike the average human being charged with assault, the dog does not hold a personal grudge against the child, nor was this a pre-mediated incident. The dog (not well taken care of) saw his food being taken away from him and reacted exactly how a hungry dog (or any animal including uncivilized humans) would. Must he be put down then for being a dog?
Mike Tyson once bit his opponent during a boxing tournament. He also said, “I would do it again if provoked. I would do it again under the same circumstances.” (BBC, 1999) What kind of punishment do you think he deserved?
It saddens me that your article portrays animal recues to be a simple matter and insignificant. It also shows your shallow understanding about a rescue operation – its struggles and hardships. If future generations continue to have a mentality like this, we will end up destroying our entire earth. It is not enough to practice equality only among human beings; equality must be practiced among all living beings that we share this planet with.
I personally do believe that Mickey must be given a second chance. He must be given the opportunity to reform just as a human would have been given a chance through parole or probation. In doing so, Mickey would be treated justly.
To all you non-supporters, I genuinely do respect your viewpoint. But take a moment to understand that as supporters of Mickey, we are not against Kevin, neither are we trying to compete by any means, we only want Mickey to have a second chance.
To the 38,000 people and counting who want to save Mickey, thank you for taking the trouble to understand the situation as a whole.
Yes! God bless animal activists… For they do know what they are doing!
-Guadalupe
You can help save Mickey by following Mickey on Facebook and signing the petition.
The Adoxographer 
Very well stated. I agree 100%, not only as a pit bull owner and foster, but as a human. God has put us in charge of the animals here on earth, and there are many of us who fail to even be slightly humane towards them. God help you when it’s your time to account for your actions.
March 14, 2014 at 2:55 PM
Diana,
I could not agree with you more and like you said very well stated to the author above!!!
March 17, 2014 at 12:04 AM
Beautifully written!!
March 14, 2014 at 3:09 PM
Very good reply to the story!
March 14, 2014 at 3:21 PM
Thank you for a well expressed article.
March 14, 2014 at 3:46 PM
Thank you Guadalupe!
This is NOT about whose life matters more, and it never was. This is about having respect for all life. I have been praying for Kevin, his family, and Mickey. Killing Mickey won’t change what happened. We are only asking for mercy for Mickey that this horrible event doesn’t get any uglier.
March 14, 2014 at 4:29 PM
Your error is lying that you do care about the child as much as you do the dog. When you start claiming the dog is equal to humans, that’s when we know you’re lying.
Also, the dog did not have a bone or food in front of him, the boy was walking and the dog got him from behind.
It is a mauling, the dog shook his head with the boy in his mouth, his intent was to kill.
You think you know what you’re doing? YOU ARE MAKING A LITTLE BOY HAVE AN EVEN MORE TRAUMATIC LIFE BECAUSE YOU WANT THIS DOG ALIVE OVER THE BOY.
I know how this feels, I was bit buy a pit bill when I was 10. He wasn’t put down and I was traumatized for YEARS, 10 to be exact. I also did not forgive his owner for 15 years! The dog eventually got out, chased a girl, and her daddy got his shot gun and shot the dog.
Once the dog tastes blood, he will thrive to taste it again.
I KNOW YOU’RE DOING TO DELETE THIS, BUT TO NOT LISTEN TO THOSE OF US WHO HAVE HAD A TRAUMATIC DOG BITING INCIDENT IS WRONG. YOU NEED TO COMPREHEND AND SEE WHERE I’M COMING FROM. I’VE BEEN THERE, 29 STITCHES AND LOTS OF PAIN LATER, I SURVIVED IT.
March 14, 2014 at 4:37 PM
Kristiina I am sorry you have had such a traumatic experience with a dog…. I really am… when I talk about equality I am talking about the dog getting a fair chance.
Did the dog who bit you receive any kind of rehabilitation? Was the owner a responsible owner? A puppy may turn out to be vicious or the most gentle living being you have met…. it all depends on how he is raised and trained.
I will not delete your comment because I want you as well as people who are involved in these incidents to realise that more than often it is not the dog who is vicious but the owner who due to lack of effort and responsibility on his part ends up raising a vicious animal…. neither Kevin nor Mickey are more important than the other…. but they are indeed both important in their own respects and it is crucial for people to understand this.
March 15, 2014 at 3:36 AM
Very well said and I agree that media responders should get their facts straight before going public….and misinforming their viewers or readers. The facts of this incident needs to be discovered and if you have watched the news there are about 5 completely different stories circulating….and Mickey’s life is being based on lies and untruths.
Thank God some people who are humane, caring and compassionate have stepped up in support of Mickey with prayers for little Kevin. They can call us what they want….put words in our mouths and even threaten harm to us for exercising out rights to protect the innocent and our freedom of speech which fall on deaf ears. If one cannot go to Facebook and see the different messages being given on the “Save Mickey” support page as opposed to the “Kill Mickey the Mutt” or “Die Mickey Die” where it is quite obvious who hates…who has vengeance, threatens, wishes harm, uses foul, foul dialogue, exploits injured children and innocent animals and their focus is not on the child they proclaim to support.
That is the problem in the world today…people do not care…they do not know who or what they are supporting or opposing because they do not gather the facts. They are just quick to judge and when it comes to an animal who cannot speak up for themselves…there is no hope against the human race. That is why Mickey has support of over 40K supporters from countries all over the world. People don’t take the time to see the many, many cases of absolute cruelty and abuse animals face at the hands of humans every second of the day. There are horrible stories…and nothing is done! If a person has a heart…a bit of compassion or a drop of brain matter…they need to see what many of us see as extreme and brutal cruelty on a living soul. There are some cases that I cannot bear to read about or watch because of what it does to me emotionally….it breaks my heart that what God has created in man can be so heartless…ruthless.
This is not about Dog vs Child….it is about uneducated, irresponsible and negligent parents, babysitters or adults who do not watch their young children. It is the ADULT…who is responsible for the injuries children endure or the abuse animals are subjected to….and we should be ashamed to pass the blame onto an innocent child or animal….ASHAMED!
I pray for little Kevin just as I pray for those children that are found floating in swimming pools…or locked in hot cars…or allowed to find loaded guns in their homes. I pray for all the little animals who fall prey to humans with no hearts. I pray for those who have no hearts or compassion for life…and I pray for Mickey, a creature of god…an animal…a dog…being a dog! ! I pray that authorities investigate the actions of the babysitter and get the facts straight that led up to this horrible incident. I pray justice is done and that all the sacrifices Kevin and Mickey both have gone through are justified through penalizing and jail time for the real culprit here. I hope that Mickey’s and Kevin’s story brings to light where as adults we are failing…failing those who depend on us the most!
God Bless you Kevin…He loves you and will heal you in time. God Bless you Mickey…you are not alone…not as long as there is a breath in my body. Also…God Bless all of the Animal Advocates, Rescues and supporters who are against the abuse of innocent animals,
March 14, 2014 at 5:02 PM
Donna thank you for taking the time to write this…. every bit of it is true…. People need to understand that every living being is equally important.
March 15, 2014 at 6:23 AM
Simply put….well said!
March 14, 2014 at 6:21 PM
Great response! I really wish that everyone who wants Mickey to be put down would read this.
March 14, 2014 at 6:59 PM
Very well said
March 14, 2014 at 7:22 PM
You stated that the dog was not well taken care of. What makes you believe that the dog wasn’t taken care of? And how do you know it was hungry? You are too stating opinions and not facts. If you’re trying defend and take a stand for something leave out your opinions and only state the facts.
March 14, 2014 at 7:35 PM
Have you read what the editors had to say at AZCentral? Were those facts or opinions?
March 15, 2014 at 6:52 AM
You need to get your facts straight … there were witnesses that saw the condition the dog was in AND there were pictures on television … it was starved … get off this sight and learn how to read and understand English
March 15, 2014 at 3:45 PM
Thank you Tia!
March 16, 2014 at 12:21 AM
A person who visited her dog in the animal control centre stated that she had seen Mickey shortly after he was placed there. She said he was too thin, his bones were protruding. Does that answer your question. This has been mentioned a few times.
March 23, 2014 at 8:42 PM
So very, respectfully and sophisticatedly well said (written).
March 14, 2014 at 7:55 PM
BRAVO!! A well written response….thank you. Is there any way we can get this in court now? Can you send this to the attorneys? Praying, praying, praying for Mickey. I KNOW he will be okay and because of all the wonderful supporters!
March 14, 2014 at 7:58 PM
excellent rebuttal to an opinionated piece disguised as journalism. The editors at Azcentral.com know nothing about me and CANNOT assume that because I support Mickey that I am against this child. Thhe editors are misguided and failed every tenet of journalism. Shame on you for promoting your personal agendas and misguided ideas. the real criminal is the adult responsible for watching the child, who failed horribly at this.
March 14, 2014 at 10:31 PM
Excellently spoken!!! Thank you for speaking the truth and taking the time to write this. It gave me chills in some parts!! Bless you.
March 15, 2014 at 12:05 AM
This is so well written! Thank you for saying it like it is.
March 15, 2014 at 1:21 AM
Amazing and well put. Thank you!
March 15, 2014 at 1:29 AM
I feel this is sad both for Kevin as it is for Mickey. The babysitters job was to put the child’s welfare before her own. A 4 year old in supervises walked houses down opened a gate that clearly said beware of dog. Mickey was chained to a tree. Minding his own buisness eating a bone like it was a thanksgiving day turkey . Because he was starved and neglected. So the child opened the fence walked in the yard approached Mickey. At this point Mickey did nothing. The minute the un supervised child tried to take mickeys only source of food is when the attack happened. My heart is so saddened by what that child is going through. But it was not mickeys fault. It doesn’t matter what breed it is rule 1. Never take food away from a dog while they are eating. This is so unfair on both parts. It’s the babysitter who should be on trial for child endangerment. I’m praying for you Mickey and Kevin that god does what he seems fit and saves their souls from humanity at its worse. God bless all enduring this tragedy.
March 15, 2014 at 1:27 PM
This is great thank you!!
March 16, 2014 at 5:06 PM
People do not always get a second chance when they knowingly commit a crime.
March 17, 2014 at 2:45 AM
Maybe you are right, what what about the many who are given second chances and others who walk away scotfree?
March 17, 2014 at 4:30 AM
Pit Bulls and Rottweilers have mauled and killed more people than any other breeds. Pit Bull owner may feel entitled to own this breed, but they still are endangering other people.
March 17, 2014 at 2:50 AM
Bob you think that is the case because of the way these breeds are portrayed by the media. If you look at the history of Pitbulls, they were once known as nanny dogs because of their loyal and caring nature. The media has played a strong role in blurring our perception. Any breed of dog is dangerous if not raised correctly. While some dogs may be born vicious, in most cases it is important to understand their upbringing because we pass judgement.
March 17, 2014 at 4:27 AM
I don’t believe in god but I do believe in mother earth and I agree I thought the same things about humans getting seconds chances so why not animals? Mickey deserves another chance.
March 19, 2014 at 9:28 PM