Michael Vick is a dog owner again, and wants the public to understand that he and his family intend to take responsible care of the pet.

The issue of Vick having a dog surfaced after the Philadelphia Eagles quarterback tweeted a photo of himself and his daughter, at what appeared to be a table at home. An open box of Milk-Bone dog biscuits was on the table, which led to questions about whether Vick had a dog.

Vick, who served a 19-month prison sentence for dog-fighting crimes, initially declined to answer news media inquiries about whether he owned a dog. Thursday he released a statement via his publicist, airing the matter, and explaining that he wanted his children to have a healthy relationship with a family pet.

The statement said:

"I understand the strong emotions by some people about our family’s decision to care for a pet. As a father, it is important to make sure my children develop a healthy relationship with animals.

“I want to ensure that my children establish a loving bond and treat all of God’s creatures with kindness and respect. Our pet is well cared for and loved as a member of our family. This is an opportunity to break the cycle. To that end, I will continue to honor my commitment to animal welfare and be an instrument of positive change.”


There is no longer a legal issue with Vick owning a dog, now that he has served a three-year probationary period.

Vick had indicated over the summer that he intended to be an animal owner again, telling CNN's Piers Morgan that he didn't want his daughters to miss out on having a pet because of his criminal past.

(Via the Philadelphia Inquirer)