Public Service Profile

Public Service Profile

PEYTON’S K9S

By Lauren Bertovich

The future lies in the hands of the children, with the potential to do great and caring things for society. In a time when Internet fame and video game addiction isn’t uncommon, some folk may worry about the type of future we are rushing towards. And then a little girl with a big heart comes along and hope is restored.

Peyton Estochin, age 7, is more than motivated when it comes to her extracurricular activities. She enjoys singing and takes voice and piano lessons after school. Peyton has a great affinity for animals and loves riding her horse Royal and playing with her two German Shepherd puppies, Gemma and Jada. Her love for animals has inspired Peyton’s philanthropic side and given bloom to Peyton’s K9s, a non-profit assisting the K9 units of area police departments.

Last year Peyton learned a Police K9 officer 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 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 outLone Pine with their K9 unit. Peyton’s next event will be a car wash at Advanced Auto Parts Store in Irwin, Pa on May 5th 2019 from 12-4pm. She has also been invited as a guest to the Blue Line K-9 Conference of 2019 where she will have the opportunity to shake paws with K-9 officers and their handlers from around the country. There are T-shirts available to help Peyton and her cause. They will be available for purchase at the conference and also online at www.Peytonsk9s.org. The shirt was designed by McKeesport firefighter Matt Holtzman and is available for purchase for $20.

Everyone can take a lesson from this little girl with a big heart. The world needs people like Peyton to remind us that through the eyes of a child anything seems possible and in their hearts there are good deeds and unselfishness. If you would like to help Peyton and her K-9s please visit their website at www.Peytonsk9s.org or on Facebook @Peytonsk9s.