Vick Says He Hopes to Own a Dog Someday

Eagles Quarterback and convicted dogfighting-ring operator Michael Vick hopes to own a dog again someday.

The Eagles quarterback tells TheGrio.com in a video interview that he genuinely cares for animals and one day hopes to have a dog as a household pet. Vick says it would a “big step” in his rehabilitation process.

Vick served 18 months in prison after being convicted in 2007. The federal judge overseeing the case also prohibited him from ever owning another dog.

"I would love to get another dog in the future," he told theGrio. "I think it would be a big step for me in the rehabilitation process. I think just to have a pet in my household and to show people that I genuinely care, and my love, and my passion for animals."

He has become an advocate for the Humane Society of the United States and makes school appearances to talk to students about his past. He told theGrio that he mentors children because he wants to, not because he wants to improve his image.

"Well first off, the court doesn't make it an obligation for me to go out and speak," Vick said. "It doesn't make it an obligation for me to work with the Humane Society. I'm putting in the hard work to do it so it's not for any personal benefit, it's to help others."

Vick told the site he wouldn't take dog ownership lightly if he ever gets the opportunity.

The star quarterback said that his decision to participate in dog-fighting came from the culture in which he was brought up.

"I hate to use our culture as an excuse, but it is what it is and that's what happened and that's the way I thought about it growing up," the Eagle said. "This is just the way we were brought up."

Vick said that going to prison made him a changed man.