Pennsylvania pets have found a surprising ally in Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Michael Vick.
Vick appeared at the state Capitol on Tuesday to lobby for a bill aimed at protecting dogs and cats left alone in hot cars, The Associated Press reports.
Under the proposed legislation, first responders who caused property damage while rescuing pets left in unattended vehicles would be free from liability. It would also make leaving a cat or dog alone in a vehicle in extreme heat a summary offense -- a minor fraction usually punishable by fine. Nineteen states already have statutes that specifically prohibit leaving animals alone in vehicles under life-threatening conditions.
Vick’s support of animal welfare legislation might come as a surprise to some, given his infamous involvement with an illegal, high-stakes dogfighting ring based on Vick’s property. Vick and others involved with “Bad Newz Kennels” forced more than 50 dogs to fight and killed those that did not perform well. Vick received a 23-month prison sentence as part of a plea deal.
"I know I'm an unlikely advocate,” Vick said at a Tuesday press conference, according to Penn Live. “I was part of the problem when I was at my lowest. I made a decision to make change and I stand by that.”
His past makes some dog lovers skeptical of his sincerity. “I have a feeling Vick’s 'advocacy’ is little more than a publicity ploy to help remove some of the tarnish from his image,” wrote Laura Goldman at I Still Love Dogs, though she noted that the law passing would ultimately be a good thing.
Vick told the Post-Gazette in an email that he’s met animal advocates, and that they helped him “find the right path.”
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