'Unlikely advocate' Michael Vick to meet with legislators about 'Pets in Cars' bill

This might be the last NFL season for the Pittsburgh Steelers' Michael Vick, a quarterback who revolutionized his position. Vick is looking to making a mark off the field as well.

Vick was at the center of a dogfighting scandal in 2007. Prison time at Leavenworth Penitentiary threatened to derail his promising career, yet he continues to move forward and make a difference in the community. Yahoo Sports has learned that on Tuesday, Vick will introduce legislation at the Pennsylvania state house in Harrisburg on behalf of animals.  

It is officially known as "PA House Bill 1516" but has been nicknamed the "Pets in Cars" bill.  This piece of legislation allows law enforcement to step in and remove an animal left in a vehicle, specifically when the weather outside might threaten its life. If officers were needed to step in and rescue the animal, the bill provides that they cannot be threatened with litigation for any necessary damages to remove the animal from the vehicle. 

Vick will travel from Pittsburgh to Harrisburg on Tuesday to meet with legislators. As part of the process, children from the area will join him to learn about how a bill becomes law. 

“I was part of the problem. Now, I’m an unlikely advocate," Vick told Yahoo Sports. "But I want to ask my fans to be advocates too.  I have 5 million fans on social media and we can use those numbers to make real changes to the laws. 

“When I was in Leavenworth, I wanted to change everything about the direction of my life.  There is no excuse for my past, but it would be even worse if I did nothing about it. I can reach people that most activists can’t reach.” 

Over the past few years, Vick has spent a lot of time and effort off the field to work with young adults and teenagers, helping to steer them down the right path and away from some of the choices he made growing up in the Tidewater region of Virginia. Tuesday's effort at the statehouse marks perhaps another shift toward animal rights and advocacy. This is not his first foray into legislative advocacy.  

In 2011, Vick went before Congress to introduce legislation that made it a misdemeanor to watch events such as dogfighting.  

Pennsylvania would be the 18th state to pass a law similar to the "Pets in Cars" bill that Vick will introduce on Tuesday. 

“People often leave their pets in hot cars thinking they will be quick but it doesn’t take long for the inside of a car to reach an unsafe high temperature,” Pennsylvania state representative Jake Wheatley said. Wheatley represents the 19th legislative district and is the Democratic House Finance Chairman.  

“This legislation is aimed at protecting pets and preventing a tragedy, and I commend Michael Vick for leading the charge to make this proposal a reality.” 

It remains to be seen if this year, Vick's 13th in the league, is his final one. The Steelers are his third team in as many years. No longer the rookie who excited Atlanta in 2001, Vick realizes that there is a bigger impact to be made away from the field. 

“I don’t know how long I will play football, but I do know that I will continue being an advocate," Vick said. "I have the support of a lot of people. To me, as long as I can make a positive impact, nothing else matters.” 

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Kristian R. Dyer writes for Metro New York and is a contributor to Yahoo Sports. Follow him on Twitter @KristianRDyer. Email him at kristianrdyer@yahoo.com