Michael Vick has been lying to us all along. When he said that he had never seen the bloodstains on the walls of his house and when he tried to lay it all off on his freeloading relatives, he was lying. Now that he has recognized that his interests are best served by admitting his guilt, he says he is accepting responsibility and wants to apologize to "those hurt by this matter." Does that include the untold number of innocent animals he brutally tortured and killed? I doubt it.

For weeks, we have watched talking heads and ardent fans defend him on the premise that he deserved his day in court. They said it was wrong to jump to conclusions regarding his guilt until the evidence was presented. It appears they wanted his day in court more than he did.

This case has catapulted the horrifying organized criminal activity of dog fighting to the forefront of the public's attention. No animal-welfare issue has ever achieved the level of public attention and outrage that this one has.

All civilized people are appalled and disgusted by what they have heard about what Vick and his cohort have been doing to animals for years. Most people had never before known that this type of brutality was so widespread in our country. Most of them never before realized that children watch these sadistic contests and see animals being tortured without regard for their pain and suffering. Now, they know and they are horrified.

If there ever was a time to make a statement for the standards of decency and compassion that we believe in, Vick's sentencing will be it. This is the chance to begin to reverse the rising levels of violence and brutality in our society. Much evidence demonstrates that people who brutalize defenseless animals are the same people who brutalize defenseless people.

CHILDREN WHO are exposed to violence become desensitized to it with the result that they lack the capacity for compassion as adults. Brutality spawns more brutality, and we must take meaningful action to end it. Now is our chance.

Through a spokesperson, Vick now says that he wants to "begin the healing process." In considering the right outcome for Vick, it is fair to consider the outcome for the dogs who were his victims. They never had a chance for a "healing process." The only possible outcome for them has always been a brief life of miserable torture and then death.

The dogs that lacked the viciousness to fight got slaughtered at the hands of Vick and his cohort by various means of torture killing. The ones that were up to the task that these men demanded of them either died by being torn to shreds and or survived to engage in the horror another time.

The few that were alive when the house was raided were taken to shelters and ultimately will be euthanized since they cannot be relied upon to be safe pets.

The most remarkable statement of all those reported recently was the one from a PETA spokesman. He said that Vick should now become an advocate for animals. That has about as much appeal as Charles Manson being an advocate for the families of murder victims.

We must stop treating people like Michael Vick as heroes and idols. The way to do that is not to set them up yet again as a celebrity worth paying attention to. The way for Vick to effectively serve as a life lesson to young people is for him to receive the maximum punishment so that young people see that there are serious consequences for engaging in illegal and barbaric conduct.

The clearest message to kids will come from our judicial system demonstrating that someone's celebrity status and immense wealth will not entitle him to abuse those who are unable to defend themselves.

SOME REPORTS say that the prosecution is recommending a 12-to-36 month sentence for Vick while others say 12-to-18 months is being recommended. The latter is not even close to being adequate.

Judge Henry Hudson has discretion here, and let's hope he uses it in a meaningful way. While there are sentencing guidelines and the recommendation of the prosecution for him to consider, the judge has the authority to sentence Vick to a prison term of up to five years. What has Vick done that could conceivably justify any reduction of the sentence from the maximum?

Acceptance of responsibility by pleading guilty is supposed to be considered as a mitigating factor in sentencing. Surely, no one seriously believes that Vick has accepted responsibility with sincerity. He is just trying to work the system as best he can so that he can get back to playing football and making millions as soon as possible.

People are paying attention to this one. It has grabbed their minds and their hearts and, even more importantly, their senses of decency. Vick's sentencing is the opportunity to make clear that our society will no longer tolerate cruelty to animals. It can demonstrate that we will not accept more children being raised in a culture of violence and brutality.

This is not just about the animals. It is about how we believe the weak should be treated by the strong. It will say everything about the moral standards that we want to live by.
Robin Starr is chief executive officer of the Richmond SPCA.