An animal-rescue group is planning to buy the rural Virginia property where the football star Michael Vick ran his notorious dog-fighting operation, writes The Washington Post.

Dogs Deserve Better is working to raise enough money to purchase the $595,000 property, which has been on the market for several years. The small group, which opposes the chaining and penning of dogs, wants to turn the former site of Mr. Vick’s Bad Newz Kennels into a rehabilitation center for rescued animals.

Mr. Vick, who returned to the NFL last season after serving 21 months in prison in connection with the dog-fighting ring, said he supports turning the house into an animal sanctuary, but the plan has sparked opposition among his former neighbors in Surry County, Va., where chaining and penning dogs is common practice among hunters.