Getting Closer

[Jewel Jade]

Happy September Everyone! 

It's been a little while since I've put in an update on the Walk, so I want to let you all know just where we are right now.  

Things are pretty much ready to go, except that we are still waiting on confirmation of a couple of possible guest speakers.  We've asked the Veteran's Affairs, PTSD team to come and speak about the signs and symptoms of PTSD related to dog attacks. We are currently communicating with them and waiting for a confirmation. 

Yesterday we talked to some firemen of the Tucson Fire Department, told them all about our Walk, and invited them to come and speak on the topic of first response related to vicious dog attacks. We also asked them to bring a fire engine for the kids at the Walk. That would be something really fun for the kids.  They were very receptive and happy to hear about the Walk.  We talked about some of the Tucson victims, like Miriam Seymour and Michael Cook, and just the fact that there are SO MANY victims. These particular firefighters told us that they'd been first responders on some very serious dog attack calls. They did say that they'd have to first speak with their Captain about whether or not they can come and participate, but are indeed very willing to. We left them with a few fliers, and a t-shirt to hang in their station. 

Later this month, we are going to start putting fliers out everywhere around town.  We will also talk to the food vendor, East Coast Super Subs, and get their certificate for the park.  I plan to give the food vendor manager a t-shirt to wear at his restaurant to advertise the upcoming Walk. We will also post fliers in his restaurant downtown.  

I am currently getting photos and stories together to make some poster boards for the Walk.  The poster boards will include Victims's photos and various other images related to dangerous dogs. 

Also the Walk video has been modified/revised to reflect some more recent victims as well.  You can watch the revised version here....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=924-e6o6zQc

We are still waiting on confirmation from the Red Cross about whether they can be present to sign people up for a future blood drive for dog attacks victims. They are short-staffed and all are volunteers, and there have been several storms, and crises in which the Red Cross is needed, so it may be very difficult, if not impossible to get them to the Walk. However, if we can't get the Red Cross there for whatever reason, maybe having the Tucson Fire Department there with their fire engine would make up for that. 

The Walk website has been revised as well, and a Facebook button has been put on it, as well as a button to quickly download the flier.  You can check out the website here.....http://walkforvictimsofpitbulls.blogspot.com, and don't forget to come and "LIKE" the Facebook page.

There are ads out there now about the Walk in the Tucson Citizen classifieds, Craigslist, and many websites and facebook pages continue to advertise the Walk for us, which is wonderful! DogsBite.org also has a banner up on the website to advertise the Walk. We're definitely getting the word out there.  The Facebook page for the Walk has reached over 5900 people! Amazing! It appears that so many people have wanted something like this for a long time! 

Things are definitely moving along well, despite some minor annoyances, and we are getting excited that the Walk is getting closer! Stay tuned for more updates.