Business & Tech

Bad Newz Kennels May Become Good Newz Rehab

Central Bark Doggy Day Care is raising funds to help turn Michael Vick's former compound and kennels into a rehab facility for neglected and injured dogs.

$30,000.

That is the amount a non-profit organization named Dogs Deserve Better needs to raise by next week to transform what had been Michael Vick's Bad Newz Kennels where dogs were chained and trained for dog fighting into the Good Newz Rehab Center for Chained and Penned Dogs.

NFL quarterback Vick, who formerly played with the Atlanta Falcons, was implicated in an illegal interstate dog fighting ring that had operated over five years, according to published reports. He pleaded guilty in 2007 to federal felony charges and served nearly two years in prison, followed by a period of home confinement. He is now playing with the Philadelphia Eagles.

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Dogs Deserve Better wants to purchase Vick's vacant compound in Surry County, Va., to take in and rehabilitate dogs from throughout the country. The organization aims to transform Vick's former property from a place where dogs had been hurt to a place where injured dogs go to heal.

Time is, however, running out. The organization is on its last extension to secure the loan and needs to raise the remaining $30,000 to secure the property by April 25. Central Bark Doggy Day Care is trying to help.

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"All of the Central Bark stores will be raising money through April 25 to help them achieve this goal," said Laura Gielow, owner of the Central Bark in Grayslake. "This is an incredible opportunity for us to help build a piece of rehabilitation hope, safety and rescue for dogs in need."

There are several ways people can help make the Good Newz Rehab Center a reality:

  • Sign your dog up for an extra play day at Central Bark. They are donating a percentage of the daily daycare revenue to the cause.
  • All $10 doggy nail trims will go directly towards the goal.
  • Buy a $10 raffle ticket for a chance to win a goodie basket, valued at over $300.
  • Spread the word to friends, family and co-workers about the fundraiser. Donations can be made at any Central Bark location. They have sites in Chicago, Grayslake, Gurnee and Oswego in Illinois, as well as sites in Florida, Louisiana, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

"Our hope is to help Dogs Deserve Better reach their goal and continue to help them raise the funds to transform a place of tragedy into a place of hope and rescue," Gielow said. "The amount of good a facility like this could do for rescue efforts all over the U.S. is incredible. We are proud to be part of this incredible effort."


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