By RACHEL COHEN Leaders of animal rights groups plan to monitor Michael Vick closely now that he has been conditionally reinstated to the NFL.

Some are hopeful he can discourage others from participating in dogfighting, which landed Vick in prison for 18 months. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, based in Norfolk, warned it will "watch him like a hawk."

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals has filed criminal complaints with the Hampton police chief and commonwealth's attorney alleging that Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus beat elephants during performances at Hampton Coliseum in April. A PETA undercover investigation in several states, including Virginia, concluded that the circus violated cruelty-to-animals laws.

By Patrick Gavin WASHINGTON Since life on Capitol Hill can be slow in the summer, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals decided to perk things up a bit Wednesday by bringing out two Playboy playmates — Jayde Nicole and Jo Garcia — in order to celebrate National Veggie Dog Day.

By Ricardo Lopez Today’s grand re-opening of a McDonald’s on Bonney Road and Independence Boulevard attracted a crowd of about 20 PETA protesters who surrounded the new building until 1 p.m.

“We’re protesting McDonald's inhumane treatment of its chicken,” said campaigner Kate Brindle. “We want McDonalds to make its suppliers switch to CAK.”

Smithfield Foods Inc. said Wednesday that financial losses will force it to delay a project that won the company rare praise from animal rights groups.

PORTSMOUTH PETA wants to milk a business closure and hopes no one has a cow over it. The animal-rights group on Thursday proposed leasing the Pet Dairy milk-production plant, which will shut in August, and turning it into a "Cow Empathy Museum."

WASHINGTON  Norfolk-based group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals wants the flyswatter-in-chief to try taking a more humane attitude the next time he's bedeviled by a fly in the White House.

PETA is sending President Barack Obama a Katcha Bug Humane Bug Catcher, a device that allows users to trap a house fly and then release it outside.

It appeared to be the Hail Mary heave of public relations moves. Michael Vick in talks to become a spokesman for PETA? Not true, a PETA spokesman said Friday, denying a report the former NFL star and convicted dogfighter from Newport News is negotiating to do public service ads for the Norfolk-based animal rights group.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals has announced a reward of up to $2,500 for information in the case of two dogs found dead inside a trash bin behind a Hampton business last week.

The dogs were found rolled in a bloody carpet behind the business in the 800 block of W. Pembroke Ave., according to police. Police believe they could have been used in a dogfighting operation.

CHESAPEAKE

Dollar Tree Inc., based in Chesapeake, will stop selling “glue traps” for animals in its stores, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals said today. In a news release, PETA said it lobbied Dollar Tree to stop marketing the traps because they cause “intense suffering” for animals.