Michael Vick Records Anti-Cruelty Videos for HSUS

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick is as well-known for his 2007 dog-fighting conviction as he is for his football talent, but his new campaign with the Humane Society of the United States aims to change his image by spreading awareness about animal cruelty. In one ad, Vick, who served 21 months in federal prison for the felony charges, states, “You know who I am. You know why I’m here. You know the difference between right and wrong … If you see animal cruelty in your neighborhood, speak up.” In another, he claims, “I vow to help more animals than I hurt.” Though advocates have mixed feelings about Vick’s alleged reform, HSUS president Wayne Pacelle says, “There is a utility for the animal protection cause in having him out there speaking, especially in communities where we have not had a very strong voice.”