The fortunes of Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick are much different now than they were a year ago. A year ago, he was on top of the endorsement food chain and his team had high hopes of returning to the playoffs, like they did in 2004.

What a difference a year makes.

This week, after being being suspended indefinitely from the NFL before his plea agreement was even seen by the judge, Vick is in freefall, frantically trying to atone for his mistakes and avoid time in prison.

The cause of this turn of events? Dogfighting. Vick has pled guilty to a federal dogfighting charge and made a public apology for his actions.

The details of the indictment brought against Vick were gruesome, especially when it came to disposing of the losers of the matches. This, I believe, is the main reason for the outrage of many.

Some will argue that he wasn't directly involved, others will say he kept bad company. He is, right or wrong, already tried and convicted in the court of public opinion.

I hope that Vick can get his life together after going from having everything to possibly doing five years in prison. I also hope that this tragedy -- and this is a tragedy to have animals brutally euthanized after fighting for entertainment as much as it is a tragedy that Michael Vick will no longer entertain football fans -- will raise awareness of the value of life and dignity for all: whether they walk on two legs or four.

Growing up as a "town" kid, we were never allowed to have dogs as pets growing up. My father felt that it was not right to let dogs run loose it town, nor was it fair to keep a dog tied up in a pen all of its life. He did weaken once and we had a german shepherd collie mix dog named Rex who soon outgrew our house and ended up back on farm, where he worked as a herding dog for many years.

After I was married and we had our first house, we got a dog. There is nothing quite like a puppy. After Teddy, the aforementioned dog, grew up, she became a wonderful companion, tolerant of our children and an excellent watchdog. She lived to be 13 years old.

We got two other dogs before Teddy passed on, and she was tolerant of them as well, but not afraid to put them in their place. We got another dog from the pound after Teddy died, and we now have three dogs that get along fairly well together.

Yes, I am a self confessed animal lover. Even if you have had the worst day ever, coming home to a dog that is glad to see you makes the day seem not as bad. The same can be said of cats, but they have a tendency to be more aloof. With dogs, what you see is what you get, no hidden agendas.

I am pleased that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell sent the strong signal of suspending Vick indefinitely from football. Professional athletes are human and make mistakes, but whether they like it or not, from the moment they sign that contract, they become role models. Some people are better equipped to handle the fame and everything that comes with it, others implode.

Dogfighting more than likely goes on in every state in the nation. It's an old sport, appealing to the basest nature of man and animal. In 2007, it should no longer be tolerated.

If this entire episode is only the ruination of Michael Vick, the point is lost. Dogfighting, or any other form of animal fighting, is cruel and should not be allowed or tolerated. Animals act on instinct, humans should act on intellect. Animals can be trained, people are capable of learning and understanding.

I hope there will come a day when Michael Vick can amaze us with his raw athleticism again and rise to the levels of his natural talents. When and if he does get a chance, I hope he is a strong enough person to surround himself with better friends and acquaintances.

Maybe he should get a dog. A good dog can be a pretty shrewd judge of character.

As always, I welcome your comments. You can reach me by email at tstangl@lemarscomm.net, telephone 712-546-7031, x40 or toll free 1-800-728-0066 x40.

Thanks for reading, I'll keep in touch. Feel free to do the same.