By Elaine Furst For Dog Files

Across the street from the Ferguson Grove Baptist Church sits the empty property where Michael Vick ran his infamous dog fighting ring. An organization called Dogs Deserve Better is raising money to buy the property to turn it into a dog rehab center. If Wallace Johnson, Jr. has his way however, this will not happen.

Johnson, who is a member of the church but claims to not be speaking on their behalf, is fully opposed to the idea and is concerned about the smell and noise that the dogs could bring.

After he raised his concerns, Johnson says the church heard an earful. Some were asking why it was okay for dogs to live there before, under such horrific circumstances.

Johnson says, “As much time as I spent at 1876 Moonlight Road, I never saw a dog, never heard a dog.”

The pastor meanwhile, says the church is not taking a stance.

?The founder of Dogs Deserve Better says she’s willing to work with the church by ensuring that the dogs are inside the house during worship services.??Johnson says that would help, but he’s still opposed to their plans.??

“It’s my full intent to do whatever I can,” he says.??

There may not be much action he can take though. According to the director of the Surry County Planning Department, the land is already zoned an agricultural/rural residence district. That zoning allows for private and commercial kennels.??

Meanwhile, Dogs Deserve Better continues to raise money for their rehab center. They now have more than $71,000 out of the almost $600,000 they need by March 20th to buy the property.