Animal Rescue League Moves Gala From Heinz Field After Steelers Sign Michael Vick

The Animal Rescue League Shelter and Wildlife Center is moving its annual Paw Prints fundraising gala from Heinz Field to the Consol Energy Center to protest the Pittsburgh Steelers' signing of Michael Vick.

“(Vick) is a football player in their eyes. In our eyes, he is an animal abuser,” said Ann Yeager, the rescue league's director of marketing. This would have been the sixth year for the rescue league's gala at Heinz Field, she said.

A statement the Larimer-based organization posted on its Facebook page Thursday said the decision to relocate was difficult since “the venue has been booked for months and the event was scheduled to take place in a mere month and a half.”