It is still hard to fathom, for those of us who think of our pets as another member of the family, the things some people do to dogs in the name of sport and money.

Dogfighting operations are nationwide and the likelihood of their ever being stopped completely is slim. A culture exists in this country that sees the battle between dogs as an opportunity to make money on the blood of those animals.

It was less than three years ago when one of the highest-profile athletes in professional football became the center of a dogfighting national outrage. That was when the news broke of a multistate dogfighting ring being run out of a house he owned in Virginia.

Animal lovers from all spectrums spoke in vile protest of Michael Vick. He denied the charges, then pleaded guilty to his role in funding the operation. He served 18 months in prison.

He is now playing in Philadelphia, but will have to sit out the first three games of the season.

Many think the sentence was too lenient, some think it was way too harsh. Vick likely was held up to more scrutiny and higher standards because of who he was and not what he did. He received those 18 months in prison — nearly 500 days — hearing that steel cage close each night. It has been said that there are only two days served in prison — the day you go in and the day you come out.

Vick did his time and paid his debt. His apology that aired one week ago on the weekly news program seemed genuine. So many athletes have looked the public in the eye, wagged a finger and told lies. It is tough to believe an athlete, no matter what that athlete says.

But Vick came across as believable. He came across as a man who was given a golden ticket, watched it burn for almost 500 days, then get an opportunity to return.

His presence will be a public relations nightmare. Protests will be numerous and passionate. But if the Michael Vick who appeared on “60 Minutes” can be the same Michael Vick from this day forward, much good can come from it.

Vick absolutely deserves another chance to play football. We love giving second chances to those who are sincere in their claims of redemption.

Time will tell if Vick is sincere or just another finger-wagger.