Eagles quarterback Michael Vick, who spent time in prison for his involvement in dog fighting, said Tuesday having a dog as a pet would help in his rehabilitation.

In an interview with NBC News and TheGrio.com, Vick said, "I would love to get another dog in the future. I think it would be a big step for me in the rehabilitation process.

"I think just to have a pet in my household and to show people that I genuinely care, and my love and my passion for animals; I think it would be outstanding. If I ever have the opportunity again I will never take it for granted. I miss having a dog right now. I wish I could. My daughters miss having one, and that’s the hardest thing: telling them that we can’t have one because of my actions."

Vick has starred for the Eagles this season, with the team in first place heading into Sunday's NFC East showdown against the Giants at the Meadowlands.

"This entire situation has changed my life dramatically. Better player, better person," Vick said in the interview. "More patience, more persistence, and the willingness to, like I said earlier, set high goals and high standards not only on the football field but in life.

"And in so many ways I thank God for changing my life and keeping me healthy and putting me on the path to where I can redeem myself and make a great comeback."

Diplomat's Son Avoids Jail Time for Beating Dog in U.K.

Tunisian diplomat’s son avoids jail time for beating his puppy in the U.K., the Daily Mail reports.

Mohammed Abou-Sabaa was caught on tape striking his Labrador Poppy 20 times.

Despite his actions being recorded, British magistrates imposed a two-year suspended prison sentence and banned him from keeping animals for four years.

Abou-Sabaa claims the unprovoked attack happened because he was “having a bad day” after learning he was turned down for a job, according to the paper.

“It was a despicable act. I was incensed when I saw the video – it just went on and on,” RSPCA inspector Paul Heaton told the Daily Mail.

Poppy has made a full recovery and is currently being looked after by the RSPCA.

Girl Risks Her Life to Save Beloved Family Dog

A beloved family pet barely survived an icy plunge after falling into a frozen pond in an Indiana backyard on Monday night.

A member of the Witsken family, of Noblesville, Ind., attempted to rescue their golden retriever Breeze from the ice, but failed when unsafe conditions led to hypothermia. The incident forced them to call 911 for help.

The drama began when one of the Witsken children, Nekoda, 18, noticed Breeze was missing and began the search. When Nekoda spotted the dog in the backyard, she immediately tried to rescue it, but fell through the ice herself, waist-deep.

"[Nekoda] looked like an icicle. Her hair was all wet, she was taking her coat off and crying, but she was really just worried about the dog," her mother Kathy said.

Nekoda was shocked by the cold, saying, "it just instantly numbs you, just like that. I just remember trying to drag her and getting myself out of the ice," said Nekoda.

The family knew that in order to save Breeze, who was still stuck in the icy pond, they needed help. Nekoda watched shivering from the shore as her mom called 911.

Firefighters arrived and a diver went in for the rescue. The diver emerged holding in his arms Breeze, who had been in the freezing water for more than 40 minutes.

"A dramatic rescue just in time," said Dennis Parker, who carried Breeze to the ambulance.
"[She was] covered in ice forming on the ears and snout at that point. I don't think she would have really made it much longer than when we got her out, so it's a good thing they called when they did," Parker said.

Breeze was recovering at the vet until Tuesday evening, when the family was able to take her back home into a warm house.The family says it's grateful to the firefighters who risked their lives to save Breeze.

"They did an excellent job and they really cared not just about Nekoda, but about the whole situation. [They] put their hearts in it. There's a lesson to be learned here, there's a lot of heart in what they do, and there were a lot of teams that came together to help us," Kathy Witsken said.