Vick Completes PETA’s Animal Empathy Class

Michael Vick has completed an animal empathy course sponsored by the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.  After pleading guilty to federal dogfighting charges in August, the Atlanta Falcons quarterback arranged to visit PETA president Ingrid Newkirk to offer an apology for what he had done to dogs and to express his willingness to learn.  Vick returned to PETA on September 18th and participated in the “Developing Empathy for Animals” course, a one-day seminar which includes information on animal protection philosophy and alternatives to cruelty.  PETA has made the course available online and hopes that the NFL will make the class mandatory as means for players to teach kids the values of empathy, compassion, and nonviolence.  Although PETA realizes that it is in Vick’s legal interest to take the course, the group maintains that he still deserves jail time and a lifetime ban on animal contact.