Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog on Local Station

Friends of Sparkles with their copies of Cesar's Way Magazine

The pictures are coming in! Friends of Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog were asked to take a picture of their four-legged friend or child with the cover of the July issue of Cesar's Way Magazine (or the article about Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog). These entries go into a drawing to win some very special items to help keep you and your family safe!

Thurman and Brian checking out the article

Thurman and Brian's mom, Devri, posing with her copy of Cesar's Way Magazine.

We can't wait to see your pictures! Click HERE to learn more about how to submit your photo!

Let's Celebrate Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog being featured in Cesar's Way Magazine!

Let's celebrate!

A note from Sparkles!

I am one lucky dog! Thanks so Cesar Millan, an article about my journey to become a fire safety dog, as well as valuable fire safety tips to help keep you and your family safe, are in the July 2010 issue of Cesar's Way Magazine.

Take a picture of your four-legged friend or child with the cover of the July issue of Cesar's Way Magazine (or the article about Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog) and your name will go into a drawing to win some very special items to help keep you and your family safe!

A random drawing will be held to select one winner who will receive one of the very first copies of the revision of Sparkles' children's fire safety book, Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog, due to be released in July! The book will be autographed by Children's Author Firefighter Dayna Hilton and "pawtographed" by Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog!
The winner will also receive a Talking Combination Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm from our good friends at First Alert! Woof!





Send your photo to me, Sparkles, along with the name of your four-legged friend(s) to sparkles@sparklesthefiresafetydog.com (include "Cesar's Way Magazine" in the subject line) or upload your photo on Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog's Facebook page. One entry per person. All countries welcome! I love my friends from all across the world! Drawing to be held June 31, 2010. Good luck and stay safe my friends!

This contest not affiliated with Cesar's Way.

Cesar's Way Magazine Features the Inspirational Story of Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog

Seven years ago, I was surfing the internet looking to add a Dalmatian to our family and found “Daisy” on the Dalmatian Assistance League of Tulsa website. Never in a million years did I ever dream that that would be the beginning of our journey in the fire service together. We have been blessed with having so many amazing to share the fire safety message far and wide to millions of children and their caregivers.

Thanks to Cesar Millan and everyone at Cesar’s Way Magazine, Sparkles’ story will be shared in a three page spread in the July issue of the magazine. We couldn’t be more honored and excited! And, the icing on the cake is that the magazine will also include fire safety tips. This means more to Sparkles and me more than anything. Helping save the lives of children and their caregivers, reducing injuries and decreasing property loss from fire, that is our mission. Every fiber of our being is dedicated to helping keep everyone safe!

Sparkles and I would like to share a very special thank you with Rick Markham, the writer of Sparkles’ inspirational story. Rick, we appreciate you more than you know and we enjoyed the whole experience so very much!

According to his website, Cesar has been called a Dr. Phil for dogs, and for good reason. Cesar's amazing rehabilitations of aggressive, scared, lazy, compulsive, and jealous dogs captured the national spotlight when his National Geographic Channel (NGC) series Dog Whisperer premiered in September 2004. Regular viewers soon came to realize it wasn't the dogs but the quirky owners who needed Cesar's help the most. In January 2006, Dog Whisperer returned for a primetime second season with expanded hour-long episodes.

Cesar’s Way is an all-inclusive lifestyle magazine for loving and dedicated dog owners. This publication was founded by and is editorially directed by Cesar Millan, an internationally known professional dog trainer and truly an expert in his field. Also known as “The Dog Whisperer,” Cesar offers his readership authoritative practices, philosophies, and teachings. Every issue of Cesar’s Way includes real-life testimonials, feature articles, exclusive interviews, and advice columns. This publication provides information on a wide range of relevant topics, such as nutrition, behavior, familial assimilation, training, and more. The articles in Cesar’s Way focus on specific issues that all canine owners come across; for example, how to prepare your dog for travel, how to maintain a pup-friendly home, how to connect with your dog’s energy levels, and much more. Sections titled “Your Photos…” and “Pup Stars” are included in every issue, and feature the adorable and melt-worthy pictures that any canine-lover will look forward to. Cesar’s Way helps dog owners be effective disciplinarians, while instilling comfort and confidence into the beloved relationships they share with man’s best friend.”

The issue will be out on the shelves in a couple of weeks. We would love to hear what you think about the article!

Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan Airs Fridays, 8 PM ET/PT on National Geographic

Learning to Draw Sparkles

As I mentioned in a previous post, I am trying to learn how to draw so that I can capture Sparkles on paper.

It has gone from being challenging, to being so much fun!

Today, I applied many of the concepts that I learned in Sandra Angela's books. She is truly my Fairy Art Mother!

Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog's New Banner!

Learning to Draw with Art Coach Sandra Angelo

Ever since I was little, I have loved to draw. The only problem is that I am not very good at it!

Even though I have two degrees; one in art and one in communications, you wouldn't know that I have one it art as I tend to draw very simple figures.

Over the years, I have met some of the most amazing people on Facebook, and Sandra Angelo is one of them. An incredible artist that I really look up to, she has a passion for drawing and teaching others to become artists.

I contacted Sandra several months ago and shared with her that I would like to be able to draw pictures of Sparkles to help support the work of the Keep Kids Fire Safe Foundation. I had two big challenges facing me~ One is that I tend to be a perfectionist and the other is the lack of time for any "down time" due to our very busy schedule (I am a volunteer who works 14-16 hour days on fire safety projects).

After visiting with Sandra, I realized that her program was perfect for me, and without further hesitation, I signed up to take Sandra's 90 Day Home Study Course, "Draw PETS 101."

In Sandra's first book, she talked about the importance of spending at least 30 minutes a day on art and shared arts therapeutic value. I loved the concept, but was in the middle of our Midwest Fire Safety Tour. It seemed like I kept putting this project off because I was "too busy" or maybe even a bit scared that I would like this drawing so much that it would take me away from what I love to do. Not true I later learned!

Over the past few days, I finally committed myself to begin reading Sandra's books and finally got to put Sandra's teachings into when I got to Book Four.

Today's project was "Draw the Dog's Eye." I don't know about you, but I love starting "small" and this activity was just right!

I started out by drawing the outline of the eye first and have to admit that I was so nervous that the pencil was shaking!

After I got into the "groove" of drawing, I was starting to have fun and actually enjoyed it! It was very relaxing!

Here is a picture of my finished assignment. Sandra's drawing is on the top, and mine is on the bottom:

I am looking forward to the challenge and spending many more relaxing days drawing!