Standing on the sidewalk next to the Carnegie Science Center and across from a quiet Heinz Field, about 40 self-proclaimed dog lovers waved signs to passing cars and chanted slogans like "Vick lied, dogs died" yesterday afternoon.

They were there to protest the NFL's reinstatement of Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick, who served 18 months in prison for his role in financing an illegal dogfighting ring. He was released in May and was under home confinement until July. The Eagles signed him to a one-year contract with a one-year option in August.

Chicago-based group Pit Bull Positive organized people around the country to protest at NFL stadiums during the traditional 1 to 4 p.m. game time on the opening weekend of the 2009 NFL season. But the Steelers played their season-opener here on Thursday, so there was no game yesterday and few people were walking near Heinz Field to hear or see the protest.

But the knowledge that Heinz Field would be empty did not deter Daisy Balawejder, a member of Pittsburgh pit bull advocacy group Hello Bully. She organized the event as a way to remind the public of Mr. Vick's crimes and the fact that there are abused dogs from his dogfighting ring still at recovery centers.

"If he is so sorry, then why has he never contacted any of those organizations to find out how those dogs are doing?" said Ms. Balawejder, who has two permanent tattoos of pit bull faces on her wrists.

In the first hour of their protest, the group attracted the honking, presumably in support of their cause, of several passing cars. They also had some hecklers, including one man who drove by and yelled "Michael Vick rules, baby."

The dog lovers kept up their own cheers, like "Dog fighting's sick. Ban Michael Vick."

Nicole Meloy of Penn Township said she owns three pit bulls, and according to a sign she was holding, her dogs "hate Michael Vick."

"He doesn't deserve a second chance and he is only acting sorry now because he got caught, not because he is really remorseful," she said.

Ms. Meloy wore a pin showing a picture of her dogs, but they were not with her, as a news release about the event welcomed "dog lovers and animal advocates" but specifically prohibited dogs -- "This event is for people only, please do not bring dogs."

Kelley Baumgartal, of Mars, stood beneath a lamppost banner for this past Thursday's Steelers' kickoff and held a sign that said "NFL: You are as sick as Vick," with a picture of a disfigured pit bull.

Ms. Baumgartal, a nurse who rehabilitated an abused pit bull, said she would not be able to go back to her career if she committed a felony, and neither should Mr. Vick.

It was a sentiment shared by her fellow pit bull lovers yesterday afternoon.

"Some people deserve a second chance," Mary Anne Fisher of Mt. Lebanon said. "Not Vick."