I will never forgive Vick for what he did to those poor animals... and before all the NFL obsessive fans come to excoriate me for that---I do NOT have to forgive animal cruelty no matter how many excuses you make for that asshole and his extremely insincere and self-serving efforts at "redemption"

Happy that Lucas got to know that not all humans are assholes.

And like you, I will NEVER forget what Vick did. He has yet, to this day, offered any compensation to Best Friends for their expenses in caring for his dogs. THAT, to me, says a whole lot about him. It tells me that when he gets up with the Humane Society and talks against dog fighting, that he's doing what he has to do only because he wants to rebuild his reputation. He's an abuser who has never changed.

Fuck Vick and his adoring fans, too.

Considering the health problems he had, not to mention the abuse by that dirtbag Vick, it's amazing he lived that long.

You showed the world that 'pit bulls' aren't monsters.

than the people that hurt him.

I'm glad he was loved and was able to love.

RIP Lucas.

Anyone who would do what he did to animals is one step away from abusing humans. Someday, it will happen. Whatever gave Vick pleasure in watching these dogs tear each other up is still inside him.

Can't stand the man, wish his fame and fortune would evaporate, and we'd never have to hear of him again.

RIP, Lucas. I'm happy to know your last years were good ones.

Except I would not call a childish idiot like Vick a "man"; inflated little boy who can't grow up maybe, but not a man.

The fact that when he was finally allowed to get another dog (as misguided as that decision was) he got a Belgian Malinois. It makes me think he said Oooo look, I want one of those dogs the Cops have!!!!!! They're big and tough!

Disgusting......

It is becoming more and more understood that there are direct links between animal abuse and domestic violence (among other violent crimes). Hopefully, one day, animal abuse will be taken more seriously and the abusers will get more than a slap on the wrist.

Like you, I will never forget who and what Michael Vick is.

He takes a lot of contact playing football so there's always hope. I'd like to see him break his neck, honestly. And to anyone who has a problem with that: I couldn't care less.

RIP, Lucas and all of the other animals that fell victim to that fucking low life sociopath.

I know that when this all happened, there were some NFL players who very vocally aghast at what Vick had done. Football is a dangerous game, after all.

And like you, if anyone has a problem with that, I couldn't care less. I don't think Vick got anywhere near the sentence that he truly deserved.

To those who took care of Lucas....

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.
All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together.... - Author unknown

This poem, along with "The Starfish" keep us going! Love the story.

Lucas became the dog he was supposed to be, just wanted to be loved and protected. Thank you Best Friends, thank you.

n/t

Should have been Vick.

"Just as Lucas embodied an indomitable and gentle spirit, he also embodied the tragedy and abuse that the worst of humanity imposes upon the best of our animal friends. It was never possible to escape the sad reality that behind his heavily scarred muzzle and intimidating reputation of a grand champion fighting dog was a sweet, affectionate, regular dog who wanted nothing more than to be around people – to love and to be loved.

Lucas should have been someone’s pet and been raised in a loving home. His life, however, was stolen by a gang of thugs who thrived on inflicting pain on helpless animals. Yet, he bore not a hint of malice toward people. In fact, he makes the case that it is the characteristic loyalty and desire of dogs to please their people that is manipulated and used against them to get them to fight, which most certainly doubles the crime and abuse of dog fighting."



I''m so glad he was able to spend his last 5 years being loved on and cared for. I didn't know dogs also get babesiosis. The symptoms are similar to malaria.

I knew these assholes were breeding fighting pitt bulls, the whole neighborhood knew it. But what could we do, first you needed proof, number two they were obviously an organized gang. That was enough to keep the neighbors quite. She had escaped a couple of times and came to my house. She was very sweet but I had a dog, part chow that did not want any other dogs near the house. I ignored her at first and shushed her away. Then one day she came up to me when my back was turned while stooping down to do some yard work. She nuzzled up to me and thats when I noticed the scar around her neck. It was at that point that I had enough, there was not anyone home across the street. I called for her to follow me to my back yard, which has a six foot privacy fence around it. I called some friends that live down the street that were involved with animal rescue. They suggested that I call the SPCA and said the scar was from a RAPE stick used to breed her. Because of my concern for my family I asked the SPCA to meet me at a nearby park for them to pick her up. All I can say is that she was so sweet and affectionate and just wanted some love it broke my heart. Well the readers digest version of it was only a couple months later that the assholes that were in that house moved out (they were renters) and the house was up for sale.

I know it's hard to 'step in', and particularly hard when it's dangerous to do so, but I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your help to her!

I've been in the same boat a few times and it is heartwrenching to live near a situation like you describe, know what's going on over there, and essentially be helpless to do something about it. In my own situations, a few times, like you describe, the dogs came onto my property and I had the opportunity to get them out. One dog lived in horrible conditions and it took me EIGHT YEARS to finally get her (with the consent of the owners at that point actually, because they'd simply grown tired of her). She was so thin that you could actually feel the blood pulsing through her heart muscles, heartworm positive of course, and badly neglected. She's not adoptable because of the behavioural issues that she has from living in the conditions that she did. So she will live out her life with me. She's healthy now - treated and negative for heartworm, and she was finally healthy enough a couple of weeks ago to get her first dental. She bounced out of the vet's office and smiled at me, as if she knew to be proud of her polished, pearly whites!

Her owners have moved on. Somehow managed to buy a much bigger house, post on Facebook regularly about their great life, and will never, ever look back and be ashamed of how they treated this baby. But *I* will always know. And *I* will always remember...

I think that turning her over to the SPCA was all they needed to start an investigation. I was not at home when I guess police and the SPCA raided the place according to neighbors a month or two later. After that they were gone and the house went up for sale. Now we have a really great young couple with two darling little baby girls living there now. It all had a happy ending