Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog and Author Dayna Hilton Celebrating Release!

Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog and Author Dayna Hilton are celebrating the release of the 2nd edition of Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog! After a successful print of 15,000 of the first edition, the new edition is now available by ordering at your local bookstore and on Amazon.com.

A portion of the proceeds benefit the Keep Kids Fire Safe Foundation.

9/11 Memorial Service at the National Fire Academy

Wanted to share a link to a video of the memorial service at the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg. Maryland that I took for Firehouse.com. It was truly a moving ceremony (my eyes leaked). I have forever etched into my memory the day that I played my bagpipes at the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation 9/11 Memorial Service in Washington, DC. on October 2001. Words can't even begin to explain how I felt that day.

To view the video, click HERE.

Tango's Progress

Tango is in Texas learning how to be a fire safety dog. Kari, Jerry and Elaine are doing an amazing job! They have shared with me that Tango is beginning to work off leash some. That is great news! We miss you Tango!

Book Review by Zebee at Zooprise Party

Sparkles and I love nothing more than having our book reviewed! Thanks to Zebee at Zooprise Party for the great review and for helping spread the fire safety message!

Click HERE to read the review!

Enter for your chance to win a copy of the children's fire safety book, Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog

Drawing for Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog & Firefighter Dayna Facebook fans on August 31st at noon. Win a copy of Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog book and audio book. Join our fan pages to be entered into the drawing.

Sparkles' Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sparkles-the-Fire-Safety-Dog/58302653884?ref=mf

Firefighter Dayna Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Firefighter-Dayna/48990952627?ref=nf

Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog Visits Congressman Boozman

Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog and I attended National Night Out last night at the Marvin Vinson Center.

We were very excited to see our good friend, Congressman John Boozman. Congressman Boozman is one of our biggest fire safety supporters, and it was nice to say hello and catch him up on a few of the exciting fire safety projects that Sparkles and I are involved with at this time.

Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog's New "Save" Page

We have a brand new Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog "Save" page on Sparkles' website. This page is now complete with newcast videos, testimonials, links to articles and more.

Visit this page to see how Sparkles has helped save lives!

To visit the page, click HERE.

New Video of Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog and Her Two "Saves"

In January 2009, Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog and her book, Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog, were credited with helping save the lives of two children and their two families.

Thank you to the Rotary Club of Tulsa for the use of this video which documented the experience.



To learn more about this story, click HERE.

Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog Featured in NFPA® Sparky® Activity Book.

Thank you to the good folks at the National Fire Protection Association for including Sparkles in their new Sparky's Activity Book.

Sparkles was really excited to be included in their "About Dalmatians" section in which they featured a real fire dog.

To learn order the activity book or to learn more, visit the NFPA® website HERE.

Thank you to the Kids Firefighter Blog

Thank you to the Kids Firefighter Blog for including information about our Firefighter Dayna fire safety site! The kids Firefighter Blog is a great source to find Kids Firefighter activities, gear, toys, videos, games and events on the Internet.

To visit the blog, click HERE.

Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog in Courier Democrat

Thanks to Courier Democrat reporter Justin Hook for the amazing story that he wrote about Sparkles and her quest for helping teach fire safety.

Since May 2003, Sparkles has reached millions of children and their caregivers with the fire safety message on Sprout, Sprout on Demand after Fireman Sam and the Sprout website. Rescued from a home with 62 other dogs, Sparkles had an unfortunate life. Now, Sparkles is a very happy dog, helping Firefighter Dayna teach fire safety all across the United States.

The article appeared in the July 5th, 2009 issue. Please check back soon for a link to the article.

Firefighter Dayna and Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog Donate Books to the Great Sprout Tuck-In

Publisher and Author Dayna Hilton and Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog recently donated 25 copies of the children's fire safety book, Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog, to The Great Sprout Tuck-in. The copies were signed by Firefighter Dayna and "pawed" by Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog.

The Great Sprout Tuck-In is a prosocial initiative that extends Sprout’s “good night” mission and encourages families to share in the spirit of giving.

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Sprout is the first 24-hour preschool network created for children ages 2-5 and their parents and caregivers and is available on TV, on demand and online.

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In partnership with the Pajama Program, a national nonprofit organization, it is their goal to help ensure that every child has a good night by donating new bedtime books and cozy pajamas to the Pajama Program.

Sprout will match donations of new pajamas and new books for up to 100,000 children in need during the first year of The Great Sprout Tuck-In, which will run through September 30 of this year.

The new pajamas and new books collected by the Pajama Program and The Great Sprout Tuck-In will go directly to children in need all over the country, including those in foster care who are waiting and hoping to be adopted.

The Pajama Program is a perfect fit with Sprout’s mission. Since it was launched in 2005, Sprout has been committed to following every step of a preschooler’s day — from early morning until bedtime. Sprout's signature programming block, The Good Night Show, helps children wind down with bedtime stories and other evening routines, providing our viewers with good nights. Now with The Great Sprout Tuck-in, Sprout can provide children in need with good nights, too.

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To learn how you can help make a difference or for more information on The Great Sprout Tuck-In, visit their website HERE. To learn more about the children's book, Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog, visit HERE.

Thank you to FireRescue1.com

Thanks to FireRescue1.com for adding our fire safety blogs to their blog and for sending out the notice to their over 60,000 members!

Sparkles had the opportunity to meet some of the staff from FireRescue1.com at FDIC in Indianapolis in April.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxSparkles with FireRescue1’s Gina Ciccarelli

xxxxxxxxxxxxxSparkles with FireRescue1’s Jennifer Hickerson

To visit their blog, click HERE. To see the newsletter that went out to their members, click HERE.

Thank you so much for helping us spread the fire safety message!

New Video Release of Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog Meeting Governor Mike Beebe

On June 20th, Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog was honored to meet Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe.


Thank you, Governor Beebe, for all that you do to help keep Arkansans fire safe!

Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog Meets Governor Beebe

Today Sparkles was excited to meet Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe. Governor Beebe is a big supporter of the fire service and helping keep Arkansans fire safe. We were thankful that he had time to take out of his busy schedule to meet Sparkles.

To see more pictures, please click HERE.

Fire Safety Efforts Mentioned on Floor of Congress

Recently Congressman John Boozman mentioned our fire safety efforts on the floor of Congress. We are thankful to Congressman Boozman for his support over the years in helping us keep people fire safe.



To see the C-Span article click HERE.
To learn more about the 2009 NFPA Fire Safety Educator Award, please click HERE.

Sparkles in this Months Issue of DogSport Magazine

Our book, Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog, in this months issue of DogSport Magazine! The review is in the DogSport Magazine's Bookshelf section on page 90.

Here's what the DogSport staff had to say about Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog:

"Sparkles is a Fire Safety Dog from Clarksville, Arkansas that travels with firefighter Dayna Hilton teaching fire safety messages to children all across the United States. Together the two have reached millions of children and their caregivers. The National Fire Protection Association, in 2007, stated that there were more than 1.5 million fires reported in the United States, with 3,430 civilian deaths and 17,675 civilian injuries and Sparkles and Firefighter Dayna hope to change these statistics, one presentation at a time. Sparkle's tail wags in excitement about learning and teaching fire safety together and riding in the big red fire truck! Dayna begins this book by highlighting important words or phrases that should be explained to children much like she begins her presentation when visiting local elementary schools. This book teaches the most important fire safety information that children should be learning at a young age to be prepared in case of a fire emergency. The photos help to illustrate what is being taught and Sparkles participates as well, crawling and getting low. Children are also taught how firefighters will keep them safety and whey the wear "special clothes" in a fire. This is a wonderful learning tool for children! Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog literally is a brilliant quick and easy read for children. Not only will they learn the importance of fire safety, but also by using the beautiful Dalmatian dog in colorful pictures throughout the book, it almost guarantees this becoming a child's favorite book to read and re-read all the while re-learning the importance of fire safety. Reading gives children skills in hangling complex thoughts, ideas and teachings. DogSport Magazine recommends.... every classroom investing in bringing this book into elementary schools to help in teaching fire safety. "

Hi paw to everyone at DogSport Magazine for helping us spread the fire safety message!

Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog Book Featured in Home Safety Council's "Start Safe" Program Materials

Thanks to Meri-K Appy and everyone at the Home Safety Council for including Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog in their new pre-school curriculum, "Start Safe."

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Fires and burns are a big problem in America for preschool-aged children. Each year, thousands are injured or killed from accidents in the home that could be prevented. The Home Safety Council has teamed up with Weekly Reader Custom Publishing on Start Safe: A Fire and Burn Safety Program for Preschoolers and their Families.

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Funded through a grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security/Office of Domestic Preparedness, Start Safe provides resources for preschool teachers and administrators to work hand-in-hand with a local fire department. Working together, using developmentally-appropriate teaching tools from Start Safe, teachers and local fire safety experts can deliver life-saving lessons to the preschoolers. Perhaps even more importantly, they can also reach parents and caregivers with key safety messages and help them take action to reduce the risk of fires and burns at home.

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Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog is featured in their Teacher Resource section. To find more information and access to free materials, visit HERE.

New Video of Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog at Work

Sparkles and I recently returned from the Fire Department Instructor's Conference in Indianapolis. Below is a video of Sparkles at work.

Sparkles Attends the Fire Department Instructor's Conference in Indiana

Sparkles and I traveled to Indiana to attend the Fire Department Instructor's Conference in Indianapolis. We had the most amazing time, seeing old friends and meeting new ones!

Sparkles poses outside the Indiana Conference Center

On Wednesday, Sparkles finally had the opportunity to meet Jake the Fire Dog. Jake teaches fire safety in Michigan.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxSparkles and Jake pose for pictures.

On Thursday, Sparkles and I were at the National Volunteer Fire Council booth.

Saturday we were at the IFSTA booth.