The question I pose is: Why is Michael Vick still playing professional football? Has the man paid his debt to society? As far as the law is concerned he has, but now he’s back on the field making more money than he did before his conviction for dogfighting. Consider any individual who has served time in prison for a heinous crime. Upon their release no employer is standing at the prisoner gates with an attractive job offer.

This is not a question of Mr. Vick paying his debt nor how truly sorry he is for his crime. Many of us have already forgiven brother Vick for his crime. What I would like to see is Mr. Vick retire from football permanently and become a full-time advocate against dogfighting. Upon his release from prison he began advocating against the evils of the crime he once perpetrated. That was a positive and expectable through my eyes. Then the football bug hit him.

The only way Michael Vick can redeem himself for the terrible wrong he committed against these innocent dogs is to retire from football and spend the rest of his life as an advocate against dogfighting. He has the potential as a role model to gravely influence so many would-be criminals.

Unfortunately we cannot restore the innocent lives of the dogs that fell prey to Vick’s crime, but we can look toward the future so their torture and death will not be in vain. There are so many dogs that could be spared the suffering if Mr. Vick would only take the initiative. Animal fighting of any kind is a disease which not only harms the animals but society as well.

Michael Vick needs to man up to his past, hang up his uniform, and hit the inner cities where dog fighting is as common as football.

> Jeffery Termini, Tonawanda

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