Humane Society on Michael Vick: 'He Paid His Price for His Crime'

Former Atlanta Falcons star Michael Vick, who reportedly left the Leavenworth, Kan., prison where he was serving a 23-month sentence for financing a dog-fighting ring on Wednesday, is stepping into a new role: that of animal-rights advocate.

The 28-year-old will eventually work with the Humane Society's End Dog Fighting campaign, which started in Chicago and aims to stop the illegal sport among youth in urban areas.

Ann Chynoweth, Senior Director of the HSUS Animal Cruelty and Fighting Campaign, tells PEOPLE Pets that the organization believes Vick has "paid his price for his crime," and what's important now is working together to end dog fighting. "We don't know what is in his heart and his mind, but we wanted to give him the chance to do something good and show he's heading in the right direction, working against animal cruelty and dog fighting, specifically," she says. "This was a serious crime he was convicted of, so we're taking this one day at a time. If there's any work he can do to stop dog fighting, we're all for it."

In a blog entry dated May 20, HSUS president Wayne Pacelle reveals he met with Vick in prison, sharing that the disgraced football star "asked for the opportunity to help. He said this experience has been a trauma and he's changed forever. And he said he wants to show the American public that he is committed to helping combat this problem."

Vick's specific role within the organization, and his official start date, are to be determined. Since his federal sentence is not up until mid-July, he will wear an electronic monitoring device at his home in Hampton, Va., and be permitted to leave his home strictly for court-approved events until then.

Kate Hogan