Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog on Peggy's Pet Place Website in Peggy's Pets Blog

Guidepost pet columnist, Peggy Frezon, wrote a very nice post about Sparkles [the Fire Safety Dog] and shared Sparkles' story on her Peggy's Pets blog today. Peggy writes for Guideposts magazine, is a regular contributor to Chicken Soup for the Soul. and she is the author of the upcoming memoir, Fit for a Dog.

Read the post about Sparkles HERE.

Thank you Peggy for helping share Sparkles' story and for sharing links to our sites and our children's fire safety books. Sparkles and I are truly grateful and we appreciate you helping us keep children and their caregivers fire safe!

Daryn Kagan Makes Inspirational Video about Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog

Thank you to Daryn Kagan for helping share Sparkles' story and the fire safety message. We would also like to thank Daryn for including Sparkles in her second book, all about inspiring animals and featuring her 3-legged wonder cat, Tripod that will be published by Guideposts Books in April 2011. We are truly honored!



Daryn Kagan is the creator and host of DarynKagan.com, an inspirational online community that features a daily Web cast of stories that, "Show the World What is Possible." DarynKagan.com has become a daily destination for thousands of Internet users who seek news stories that inspire. Launched in November 2006, the Atlanta Journal Constitution described DarynKagan.com as "a lively gathering spot," while the Boston Globe noted DarynKagan.com is "bucking the media tide," with its "emphasis on stories that illustrate the triumph of the human spirit."

Before heading into cyberspace, Daryn anchored both news and sports for CNN. Described by the Los Angeles Times as a "CNN mainstay," Daryn traveled the world during her 12-year tenure at CNN, and reported live on-site during numerous global events, including the war in Iraq from Kuwait. Daryn also reported from Africa during a 10-day tour with rock band U2's Bono and U.S. Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill, and provided the CNN News networks with in-depth reports on AIDS and famine. Her reports were featured on CNN.com, along with a daily blog that chronicled her reports, experiences, and travels in Africa. Additionally, Daryn reported from across the U.S. to cover numerous Presidential elections, the Space Shuttle Columbia tragedy, and the hunt for the Washington, D.C. sniper.

Daryn was on the air live during the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. She reported throughout that day and covered the unfolding event from CNN's world headquarters in Atlanta, as well as from the network's Washington, D.C., bureau, as the crisis turned into a search-and-rescue mission that evolved into a war on terrorism. Before joining the news team on CNN, Daryn served as a news anchor and reporter for CNN/Sports Illustrated, the 24-hour sports news network from CNN and Sports Illustrated, covering such major events as the Super Bowl, the NBA playoffs and international figure skating.

To read more inspirational stories, visit Daryn's site HERE.

Thanks, Daryn!

Stay safe everyone!

New Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog Video!

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

New Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog Video for Children

Great News!

* This blog post was originally posted on January 29th, 2009. To learn the latest about this incredible story, please visit Sparkles' Save Page.

Yesterday I received a note from Principal Tanya Davis, on the heroic behavior of two Celia Clinton Elementary students.

Recently, the Rotary Club of Tulsa purchased Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog, a children’s fire safety book, for each of Davis’ students. Sparkles, being the ever faithful fire safety educator that she is, made the trip with me to share her book and fire safety messages at the school.

Below is Principal Davis’ note:

“The other day one of our Kindergarten student’s house caught fire in the middle of the night. She and her father both escaped. The father spent a few days in ICU for smoke inhalation on a ventilator. After a few days out, she came back to school and I had the chance to talk with her. I asked her how she got out of the house. She said, "I crawled on the floor just like Sparkles taught me to." She got down on the floor and demonstrated it to me right in the office floor. She said "smoke was everywhere and I stayed low to get away from it." I knew you would want to hear that!

Then, I was walking down the hallway on Monday and one of my third graders came running up to me and said, "Mrs. Davis, my microwave caught on fire and I grabbed my brothers and sisters and we got out of the house because we saw smoke." She took a quick breath and then said, "Sparkles taught us to get out quick, so we ran outside. My mom couldn't find us because we were all outside." She said "Firefighter Dayna and Sparkles would be very proud of us." I told her I would email you and let you know about this.”

Sparkles and I are thankful that the children and their families are safe. We appreciate Principal Davis for sharing this fire safety story!

Here are three news stories from Tulsa stations:

Video #1
Video #2
Video #3

An article in the Tulsa World appeared on November 25th. It may be read HERE or by clicking on the photo below.

A few pictures from the event on November 24 may be seen HERE. Notes from students at Celia Clinton may be found throughout the blog.

Blogs have been posting stories as well and some may be found at the following locations:

Author Cheryl Rainfield's Blog

The Dalmatian Location

Kid Tested, Librarian Approved Blog

For more information on Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog and her work in helping keep children and their caregivers fire safe, please visit her website Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog's Website. More information may also received by contacting Dayna Hilton at firefighterdayna@firefighterdayna.com.

The children's fire safety book, Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog, may be purchased from Amazon.com.