Vick to high school students: Don’t be cruel

Taking the next step in his public relations rehabilitation, Eagles quarterback Michael Vick joined the Humane Society's chief executive in warning high school students about the evils of animal cruelty.

The appearance before freshman at the Nueva Esperanza Academy in the city's Feltonville section came as the Eagles are circulating a draft plan to animal rights groups that calls for an immediate, widespread campaign to combat animal abuse in Philadelphia.

Vick spoke to the students for about 13 minutes, telling them that he followed "cultural norms" by fighting dogs while growing up in Virginia, a practice he continued while the quarterback of the Atlanta Falcons. "For the life of me I can't understand why," Vick said, explaining "I really didn't think what I was doing was wrong at the time."

Vick told the approximately 200 students that "it's times in life when you've got to go left or right. I didn't choose to go the right way, which led to 18 months in prison. . . . It was so foolish."

"I wish I could take it back," he added.

The quarterback appeared at the charter school with Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States. Pacelle said afterward that Vick has agreed to make two appearances per month for the foreseeable future.

The Eagles' campaign calls for a range of activities involving not just Vick, but other members of the team and Eagles cheerleaders.

Vick was released from prison in July after serving 18 months for A federal dogfighting conviction and his signing by the Eagles sparked outrage among animal rights activists.