| Click HERE to download the PDF version of this press release |
|
EYETIQUE TEAMS UP WITH ANIMAL RESCUE FLIGHTS TO CREATE 'PUPPY EYES' DOG RESCUE CAMPAIGN, BENEFITTING CANINES, CUSTOMERS
PITTSBURGH. When Eyetique Vice President Brad Childs is not working for Pittsburgh's finest cutting-edge eyewear and accessory shop, chances are you can find him in an airplane. As an experienced private pilot, the Pittsburgh native believes in making the most of his time in the air.
'As a pilot, you can fly to New York to have dinner or head to Nemacolin for a spa treatment on a whim, but that is not who I am at all,' he said. Last December, Childs agreed to take part in a rescue mission to save 'Monty,' a soon-to-be-euthanized American bulldog who was neglected while living in Oklahoma. Subbing in for a fellow pilot at the last minute, Childs completed the seventh and final leg of the shuttle journey, delivering Monty to a Northeast Philadelphia non-kill adoption agency, where he quickly found a loving family and home. For Childs, the flight in his four-seat Piper Warrior left an immediate impression which led to his involvement in more than 10 additional airborne rescue missions. Now, Childs and Eyetique are teaming up with Animal Rescue Flights, or ARF, to help support the movement to end canine euthanasia in the United States. Through the Pittsburgh eyewear company's new storewide campaign, 'Puppy Eyes,' Eyetique customers and the general public are getting a chance to make a difference as well. By bringing bags of dry dog food to any Eyetique store during the entire month of July, customers will receive a matching dollar discount on their next Eyetique eyewear or accessory purchase for every pound they donate. For example, a 10-pound bag will earn customers $10 off their next purchase, a 25-pound bag will equal a $25 discount, etc. Rewards can be made up to $100 off in total purchase savings. 'Our goal is to collect 50,000 pounds of dog food through this fundraiser for Georgia area shelters, which have a very, very high kill rate,' said Childs, a life-long dog lover who, along with his wife, Linda, and two children, owns two dogs including 'Jesse,' a locally rescued German Shepherd. 'We will then caravan the supplies to the region on Aug. 18 by plane and on the ground. We’ll use tractor trailers, trucks, RVs, hopefully hundreds of vehicles. We hope to be able to feed dogs in need for at least a year. But we need help.' After delivery, Childs said the caravan will begin an important second phase: bringing the dogs back to northeast non-kill shelters that are fully prepared to handle them with high adoption rates. 'These dogs will literally get a new lease on life,' he said. For Childs, 35, who also serves as an organ donor transport pilot and as a volunteer firefighter in Upper St. Clair, the 'Puppy Eyes' program is a special cause. 'Animal abuse and neglect is such a terrible thing. Personally, I feel very fortunate that Eyetique has put me in a position to even be able to do something like this.' 'Animal Rescue Flights transports a lot of dogs,' said Childs, noting that he and other pilots donate their time and expenses...from fuel to airplane maintenance...to fly to each mission. 'If there's a mission available and weather permitting, we're willing to fly every weekend. We’re not going to say 'no' to a dog.' For more information about 'Puppy Eyes' or to make a donation, please call Brad Childs, Eyetique vice president, at 412-551-2689 or email him at mailto:bradchilds@eyetique.com.
About Eyetique: Now celebrating its 30-year anniversary, Eyetique was founded by president Norman Childs in Squirrel Hill with the goal of offering the finest eyewear available. Since 1979, the company has grown to six stores throughout Pittsburgh and continues to set the standard in customer service, style, and price. For more information about Eyetique and its line of products and services, or to schedule an eye exam, please call your nearest location or log on to www.eyetique.com.
About Animal Rescue Flights (ARF): Animal Rescue Flights (ARF) promotes, plans, and performs the transportation of animals from overcrowded shelters where they face certain death to other parts of the country where qualified families are waiting to adopt them. Due to the complexity and distances needing to be covered, Animal Rescue Flights works with various pilot organizations that specialize in these types of flights to find the most efficient and timely method of transporting the endangered animals. Our goal is to find the resources to accomplish these flights and to plan and coordinate each project with those involved. For more information about ARF and how you can help, log on to www.animalrescueflights.org. # # # DOG FOOD DROP POINTS Dog food donations are now being accepted at all six Eyetique locations as well as other fine business locations: Squirrel Hill, 2242 Murray Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15217, 412-422-5300, 800-422-5320Wilkins Township, 3444 William Penn Highway, The Shoppes at Penn Center, 412-825-5300Wexford, 10644 Perry Highway, Wexford Plaza, Wexford, PA 15090, 724-940-5300Shadyside, 5508-5510 Walnut Street, Shadyside, PA 15232, 412-441-5300South Hills, 1825 Washington Road, South Hills Village Mall, Pittsburgh, PA 15241, 412-854-2222South Side Works, 436 S. 27th Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15203, 412-431-2222ALTERNATIVE DROP POINTS The Shadyside Inn Suites, 5405 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, 412-441-4444, www.shadysideinn.comocreations LLC, 313 East Carson Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, 412-481-9478, www.ocreations.com |
