Public Service Profile By Lauren Bertovich
T
PEYTON’S K9S
he future lies in the hands of the chil- car wash at Advanced Auto Parts Store in Irwin, dren, with the potential to do great and Pa on May 5th 2019 from 12-4pm. She has also caring things for society. In a time when been invited as a guest to the Blue Line K-9 ConInternet fame and video game addiction ference of 2019 where she will have the opporisn’t uncommon, some folk may worry about the tunity to shake paws with K-9 officers and their type of future we are rushing towards. And then handlers from around the country. There are a little girl with a big heart comes along and hope T-shirts available to help Peyton and her cause. is restored. They will be available for purchase at the conferPeyton Estochin, age 7, is more than moti- ence and also online at www.Peytonsk9s.org. The vated when it comes to her extracurricular ac- shirt was designed by McKeesport firefighter Matt tivities. She enjoys singing and takes voice and Holtzman and is available for purchase for $20. piano lessons after school. Peyton has a great afEveryone can take a lesson from this little finity for animals and loves riding her horse Royal girl with a big heart. The world needs people like and playing with her two German Shepherd pup- Peyton to remind us that through the eyes of a pies, Gemma and Jada. Her love for animals has child anything seems possible and in their hearts inspired Peyton’s philanthropic side and given there are good deeds and unselfishness. If you bloom to Peyton’s K9s, a non-profit assisting the would like to help Peyton and her K-9s please K9 units of area police departments. visit their website at www.Peytonsk9s.org or on Last year Peyton learned a Police K9 officer Facebook @Peytonsk9s. named Farkle had been diagnosed with cancer. Farkle’s veterinary bills surpassed $10,000, a huge pressure on his department. Farkle, like other dogs in K9 units, received years of training in narcotics and rescue that costs around $20,000 to complete, making him an integral part of the department worth saving. So Peyton took it upon herself to raise money for Farkle’s bills and help she did with her Sweet Tea stand last August. Within a couple hours, Peyton had made over $700 for Farkle’s treatment. Peyton made plans to sell sweet tea again this spring and summer, but decided she was not going to wait that long to help. In January of 2019 she sold hot cocoa at an ice cream stand, Christy Park Cones, that was closed for the season and owned by family friend Peyton’s Sweet Tea stand raised $700 for K9 Farkle. Greg Lombardo. Friends and volunteers brought baked goods to sell at her stand and show their support for her efforts. Her event was an even bigger success, earning over $2,400 within two hours, donated to McKeesport K9 Unit. Peyton has gained a lot of attention in the surrounding counties. Her family is from Allegheny County but talk of her efforts to support these animals has spread through Washington and into Greene County, where she is helping raise funds for Sheriff Deputy Mandy Stauffer and her German Shepherd named Dagen. She will also be helping out Lone Pine with their K9 unit. Peyton’s next event will be a Peyton presented a check to the McKeesport K9 unit. The Peyton’s K9s shirts are available for sale.
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GreeneScene Magazine •
APRIL 2019
