Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Mike Vick, who infamously served time in jail after being convicted in 2007 of illegally running a dogfighting operation where dogs were electrocuted and tortured to death after losing fights, is now taking dog-training classes at a New Jersey PetSmart.
According to the CrossingBroad blog, which obtained photos of Vick–and his dog–at PetSmart,Vick started taking classes last week.
Vick reportedly has a “young Belgian Malinois (a type of Shepherd)” and “frequents the store and signed up for a total of six training classes on Monday evenings.”
In October of 2012, after Vick’s Twitter followers noticed Milk Bones dog treats in photos Vick tweeted, Vick released a statement to TMZ acknowledging that he now owned a dog.
“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,” Vick said in his statement to TMZ last October. “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.”