There are two truths you must know about me before reading this article: 1) I am a huge animal (especially dog) lover. 2) I find many of the past actions of Michael Vick to be completely deplorable.

What Michael Vick has admitted to doing to dogs – from bankrolling dog fights to electrocuting and drowning those who were too weak to fight – literally causes my stomach to churn.

Who in their right mind would cause such harm to innocent dogs? Why would a man who had the whole sporting world in the palm of his hand with his multi-million dollar contract and endorsement deals jeopardize his reputation and career with such a loathsome and vile act?

As Alec Baldwin, a staunch animal rights activist, blogged, “Vick did horrific things, and he deserved to be punished.”

And punished he was. Vick spent almost two years in a federal prison and was fined a substantial sum of money. He will pay for the lifelong rehabilitation for the dogs who survived their gruesome ordeal.

He has admitted his wrongdoings, saying, “What I did was horrendous. Awful. Inhumane. And I’ve no excuses for my actions. It makes my heart hurt now to think about what I’ve done.”

I can’t say I was jumping up and down when Michael Vick was released from federal prison or even when the Philadelphia Eagles signed him last week.

I doubt I will ever buy any product he endorses (if he ever gets the opportunity for endorsement deals again). If I go to the Falcons-Eagles game in Atlanta this fall, I will probably take part in the inevitable boos and jeers he will receive for his inexcusable behavior and for the embarrassment he caused his former team.

That being said, I believe that Michael Vick deserves one more chance. According to our justice system, Vick has paid his debt for his actions.

I’d like to believe that his words are sincere. I’d like to believe that he and numerous others have learned from what he has done. I’d like to believe that this horrific wrong has shown everyone that the U.S. will not tolerate dog fighting.

My brother made a good analogy, comparing Vick to a recovered drunk driver or drug addict who now has the chance to talk to people or kids about his mistakes.

In fact, Vick is now working for the humane society to educate others about the perils of dog fighting. If he can reach just one kid about the dangers of dog fighting, then he is doing his job.

For those who argue that the NFL should not have reinstated Michael Vick, I understand where you are coming from. It’s easy to feel anger and hatred towards this man.

However, everywhere he goes for the rest of his NFL career, he will be asked about dog fighting and have that stigma associated with him.

In addition, I submit that in order for us to move on, we need to forgive Michael Vick and give him the opportunity to make a living.

What good would it do to punish him indefinitely? We all make mistakes – some are small while others are huge. When we do make mistakes, we need to own up and take responsibility for our actions.

This is what Vick has done. He’s served his debt to society, and society should let him have one more chance.

I’m just glad he didn’t sign with the Cincinnati Bengals (my hometown team) so I don’t have to cheer for him come fall.

- Betsy Brafman Alpert is a graduate student from Cincinnati studying school counseling