Poetic justice

Rochelle Steffen and Michael Vick couldn't be any more different.

Steffen is an artist from Cape Girardeau. Vick is one of most talented athletes to ever slip on cleats.

It's been interesting to see how their lives have connected. Vick, of course, has pleaded guilty to his involvement in a dogfighting operation. If you haven't heard, Steffen -- an avid football fan -- came up with a bright idea. She let her dogs chew on her Vick cards and then auctioned the cards on eBay. The cards drew a $7,400 bid from Cape Girardeau resident Laura Norton-Dye, who used to volunteer at the local animal shelter. The story gained national attention.

EBay put up some road blocks. Initially, Steffen posted that she would give the money to the animal shelter of the bidder's choosing. That went against eBay protocol, so Steffen reposted the cards, promising to do "good things" with the proceeds. And Steffen lived up to her word, splitting the money between the Humane Society of Southeast Missouri and Safe Harbor, a Fruitland animal sanctuary.

Steffen is to be commended on many levels: for being compassionate enough to be compelled to do something for a worthy cause, for putting her creativity and sense of humor to good use, for sticking to the idea when she met a challenge, and for following through with her promise.

The fact that the winning bidder came from Cape Girardeau was the proverbial icing. Norton-Dye, a former schoolteacher, who was diagnosed with cancer two years ago, could have spent her money on countless other things.

We're glad two people from Cape Girardeau could turn Atlanta's underground dogfighting operation into Cape Gir­ardeau's warm and fuzzy story.