Michael Vick's Mansion Has Gone To the Dogs

An animal rights activist has put a down payment on the quarterback's old Virginia mansion to turn it into a dog shelter.

Keeping in line with the U.S. churning out good-news stories today, the mansion where NFL quarterback Michael Vick held innumerable dog fights is becoming a rehabilitation centre for abused dogs. Vick's Smithfield, Virginia estate, which he lost after being convicted on federal charges of running a dog-fighting ring, has been purchased by Dogs Deserve Better, a Pennsylvania-based non-profit dedicated to canine recuperation. Vick had dubbed the mansion “Bad Newz Kennels”, so DDB has decided to rename the 15-acre property “Good Newz Rehabilitation Center”, which DDB's organizers hope will soon house as many as 100 abused dogs. And just to bring things full circle, the now-reformed Vick has endorsed the project to help get some publicity for DDB's fundraising drive to get the centre off the ground.