Sunday, September 18, 2011

Erin shares her story



Erin's story:

I adopted Nikkita from the ASPCA in NYC a long long time ago. She was the best dog in my lifetime so far. She loved to swim, ride in the car, play, protect- you name it- she did it. I was NOT ready to lose her. In August of 2010, I went for a Sunday drive with my dog. She was unsecured (as usual) in the backseat. We were stopped in traffic on the highway. I was the last in line. I looked in my rearview to see the car behind me was not stopping. I had no time. I screamed for Nikkita in hopes of getting her attention. The car slammed into the back of my car without even attempting to brake.



Immediately after the accident, Nikkita seemed fine, however we still took her to the vet. The vet said there was nothing we could do and to watch her. Within two days we knew something was very wrong. Nikkita lost her eye sight and use of her motor skills. We took her back to the vet, again there was nothing we could do and I saw the "bad vet face" as we left. Nikkita soon then started to pass out and seemed to go into a coma while she was sleeping. She was euthaniezed in our home soon after. I then had to talk to insurance companies about my "personal property". Let me tell you that a family member is just not personal property. All the money in the world couldn't bring back Nikkita. We now have Nikki, awesome - but not Nikkita. Nikki has a seat belt. When she chewed through it as a puppy- I bought another one. In fact, that trip was one of the only trips to the pet store without my dog. Why? No seat belt.

After this accident I asked myself- Would I have let my 6 year old child ride around unrestrained in the car? Never. Why did I let Nikkita unrestrained? Of all the stupid stuff I had bought for her over the years, I couldn't have spent $40 bucks on a pet seat belt? How many times have both Nikkita and I walked past them in the pet store? Really?!

Please please please keep on passing this on and thank you again for doing what you do. If my story can teach or help others- please tell it. Thank you and best of luck.

Erin Lysaght


Thank you Erin for sharing your story to help others. There are many great products out there from companies such as Kurgo and others to help protect your pets while traveling in a vehicle. Please research and find the right products for you and your pet, it could save their life.

Friday, September 16, 2011

Freedom and Woofstock!


This weekend is twice the fun in Pennsylvania. I'm at Freedom Toyota in Harrisburg, PA on Saturday from 2-5 pm. This is one of my fun dealer appearances with giveaways, training/pet travel safety Q&A sessions, and more. Central Pennsylvania Animal Alliance and the Humane Society of Harrisburg Area will be there with animals that need to be adopted. I've already worked with the Freedom Toyota team at their Hamburg, PA location and they are a great group!

The Saturday afternoon dealer event is to gear up for Sunday's Woofstock in Harrisburg, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Riverfront Park. This is a huge pet expo with vendors, entertainment, a walk/5krun, and much, much more.

Hope to meet some PA area pet people at one or both events. Come out and let's talk pet travel safety. Peace!

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

See you this weekend!


With the long weekend ahead of us the possibilities are endless! I have just the thing for you if you are in either of these areas...I'll be in Colubus, OH on Saturday, September 3 and in my local area of Nashville, TN on Sunday, September 4.

Ohio folks come on out to Germain Toyota for their Pet TAILgating party on Saturday from 11 am to 3 pm. Enjoy refreshments, enter your pet in the Best Dressed Pet Contest, and more!

Nashville, let's give a great hometown showing at Toyota of Cool Springs on Sunday after church from noon to 4 pm. Not only am I based in the Nashville area, but my sponsor Pedigree is based in Franklin as well!

Both events will feature numerous pet related vendors, pets available for adoption, education on pet travel safety, my Q&A sessions, and gift bags for the first 150 people as well as door prizes from Pedigree and Kurgo.

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Tour Sponsor Spotlight: Kurgo


One of the joys of joys of owning a dog is going places together. Kurgo's award winning line of pet travel products makes this simple joy easier and more secure. Brothers Kitter and Gordie Spater pull from their real-life needs to design products that make traveling and getting out with your dog easy, the way it should be. Their products designed for vehicles (such as the Backseat Barrier, pictured above) are of course a perfect fit for my mission of spreading the word about pet travel safety on my Toyota tour. We have developed a great partnership that includes product inserts that feature my Kurgo exclusive training tips! Check out their full line of products on their website. You'll see why Kurgo makes it safe and easy for you and your dog to GO TOGETHER.

Monday, August 22, 2011

Giveaway-a-Day


Check out my Giveaway-a-Day contest going on this week on my official Facebook fan page. I have some great products up for grabs this week including a couple of WalkieWay collar/leash combos (these units are super strong!) and several products from my friends (and tour sponsors) Kurgo. Kurgo has some amazing products to help you and your pet travel together safely. I'll have more on Kurgo later this week with a Tour Sponsor Spotlight. For now, good luck with the contest!

Monday, August 15, 2011

On the road update


My most recent on-lot dealer event was a Beaverton Toyota on July 16 as pictured above with the gals from Spot Magazine. Margie at Beaverton Toyota is a long-time pet advocate and she and her team really know how to put on a great event, thanks to all.

Next was the San Antonio Pet Expo on July 23. This is a great expo series, the organizers of this event put on 17 total expos all across the country and I have partnered with them to do on-stage Q&A sessions at those expos which I appear. Next up I will be at their Denver Pet Expo this Saturday, August 20 so if you are in that area come on out and have your dog training and pet travel safety questions ready for me! It's sure to be a great event.