Vick is Free (Sort of) ... and Wants to Stop Dogfighting

On early Wednesday morning, Michael Vick was released from a federal prison in Leavenworth, Kan., and started making his way home to Virginia.

Vick was convicted to 23 months in prison for running and financing a dogfighting ring but will be able to serve his final two months in home confinement. Vick will only be allowed to leave his home to work his $10 an hour construction job and activities approved by his probation officer. His sentence ends on July 20 and then he will serve three years of probation. ...


And while Vick will be lobbying to get his job back in the NFL, he will also be joining forces with the Humane Society of the United States, the largest animal welfare group in the country, to help stop dogfighting. Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of the Humane Society confirmed that he met with Vick and will partner with the former NFL star to reach out to Black youth about dogfighting.

"We were very involved in criticizing Vick for conduct which we found reprehensible, and we strongly supported law enforcement and judicial action that led to his incarceration," Pacelle told ESPN.com. "I don't think anyone was tougher on him than we were. But the goal was never the continued punitive treatment of Michael Vick. The goal has always been to eradicate dogfighting in America and around the world.

We've done a lot of work on the law enforcement side but one area we've invested resources but that remains a major cultural and sociological problem is outreach to young African-Americans in urban centers where there's widespread dogfighting. I'm open to the possibility of plugging [Michael Vick] into programs and activities in order to ward off these boys from illegal dogfighting activities. It's 'boots on the ground,' not just PSAs and talk but doing work with young people consistent with the work we do now."

Pacelle said he believes the Vick is truly remorseful but action will speak louder than words and it all comes on Vick's shoulders if he's in it for the long haul. In the meantime, PETA still refuses to work with Vick until he gets a "brain scan" to prove he's not psychotic.