By Cherri Gregg

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — Philadelphia Eagles’ quarterback Michael Vick is continuing his work with the Humane Society. He spent the morning today speaking to students from Simon Gratz High School, encouraging them to treat all animals kindly.

“I vow to help more animals than I hurt — I feel like I owe that,” Vick told the students Friday.

Nearly three years after he was released from prison, Vick is still spreading the word to young people that dogfighting is wrong and animals deserve to be treated with kindness.

He told the students at Gratz that he realized his mistake and has worked hard to change.

“After going to prison and coming out, from the outside looking in, I was able to sit back and say that (dogfighting) wasn’t right. Because I think every dog or cat — or any animal or pet that you have in your household or that you take responsibility that you take care of — deserves a fair chance at living a healthy life.”

(Credit: Cherri Gregg)

The students seemed delighted to have Vick in their presence, asking questions about why he was involved in dogfighting and how he was able to change his life.

Vick will also appear in a new US Humane Society public service broadcast announcement that promotes the group’s animal fighting tipline (1-877-TIP-HSUS) and a video interview discussing why dogfighting and animal cruelty are wrong.

In addition, Vick says he may attend the Humane Society’s “Pets for Life” event on Saturday morning, near the Hunting Park recreation center. The group says they’ll be distributing free cat and dog food, giving free rabies vaccinations, and providing other services for pets.

The event takes place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on North Ninth Street, near Cayuga and Bristol.

For more information, go to humanesociety.org.