I blogged about Pittsburgh hero Big Ben the other day (go Steelers!), and now another quarterback is in the news. Michael Vick won’t return to training camp this season because he’s allegedly involved with illegal pit bull fighting.

I love dogs. Sometimes it’s not the dog – rather it’s the owner who’s to blame for dog attacks. Mr. Vick’s situation highlights the sort of training that causes some dog breeds to be dangerous. Especially for pit bulls, a potentially dangerous dog breed is made even more deadly by owners who want their pet to live up to its vicious image.

Just the other day, my wife was jogging in our neighborhood when a dog from a nearby yard began to chase her. Fortunately his bark was worse than his bite, but it shows how owners need to take responsibility for their pets. The owner should not have let their pet run loose and unattended in their front yard. That’s why it’s important for dog owners to understand the leash law in their state.

It’s sad to see people, especially children, who have been severely hurt by a dog attack. These injuries are serious, and may leave disfiguring scars and painful injuries. On my website, we have dangerous dog information to help protect you and your loved ones.

So please, train and treat your dogs with compassion, and above all, protect yourself and the people you care about from dog bite injuries.

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Pittsburgh Steeler Training Camp started this week and it reminded me of how lucky Ben Roethlisberger is to be playing football this year. (And how lucky Pittsburgh is!) Just over a year ago, Big Ben was in a motorcycle accident that rocked Pittsburgh and the rest of the Steeler nation. We breathed a collective sigh of relief when our Superbowl quarterback was discharged from the hospital with high hopes of a full recovery.

Big Ben wouldn't go onto the football field without a helmet, and my guess is that if he ever gets on a bike again, you'll see him wearing a helmet. At Edgar Snyder & Associates, we respect bikers' freedom of choice yet we see the devastating head injuries that can result when you don't wear a helmet. Many are fatal. The National Highway Traffic Safety Association estimates that helmets saved 1,546 motorcyclists' lives in 2005, and that 728 more could have been saved if all motorcyclists had worn helmets.

So whenever you're riding on two wheels, we urge you to wear a helmet. And by the way, Go Steelers!

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Several members of my family and law firm attended yesterday's kick-off luncheon for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) Walk for the Cure. It's a cause that impacts my family personally, as well as several people who work at the law firm.

My grandson has Juvenile Diabetes (JD), and one of my partner's sons is also learning to live with JD. In addition, we have several staff members at the law firm who have diabetes.

The speeches at the luncheon were meaningful and inspiring, as diabetic children and their parents lent their experiences to the audience. My partner, Jason Lichtenstein, and his wife Julie are very active with the JDRF. Julie spoke about her journey as a parent with a young son who has juvenile diabetes, and her son's bravery in coping with JD. The Walk has become a day of celebration for their family and mine.

On Saturday, September 15, we're encouraging our staff to walk with us in Schenley Park or sponsor a walker to raise money to help find a cure for JD. Visit www.jdrf.org to get involved with a great cause.

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I know we're still enjoying the summer, but I wanted to talk about a school program that we've sponsored -- one that we believe is impacting the lives of thousands of kids in western Pennsylvania. 

I recently received a package of letters from middle school students who attended the assembly we sponsor with Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, called Road Radio USA. The show is geared to discourage kids from underage drinking and drunk driving. It's unlike any school assembly students have ever attended and all I can say is that you have to experience it for yourself.

Here's an excerpt from a letter sent by an 8th-grader: 
"When I first heard that we were having an assembly about substance abuse, I was not very excited at all. An hour of being told not to drink did not sound appealing...Surprisingly, I had a blast!...Thanks to it, I will remember the risks of driving under the influence."

Other comments include:
"It inspired me to not even start drinking."
"To be honest with you, I was getting ready to go to a party with beer and drink all night. But after I heard what you guys have to say, that changed my life and you saved my life."

The way I see it, if Road Radio helps prevent just one young person from drinking alcohol, it's all worth it.

Learn more about Road Radio and take our quiz to test your knowledge about the effects of alcohol.

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I hope everyone enjoys the 4th of July celebrations, picnics and fireworks. Check out our public service message that we run on television to discourage people from drinking and driving on Independence Day.

Here's a safety alert regarding fireworks, courtesy of the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC). From 2000 to 2006, nearly 50 people died in fireworks-related accidents, with more than half caused by illegal products. In 2006, fireworks sent 6,400 people to the emergency room.

Protect yourself and your family:

• Avoid fireworks in brown paper packaging -- they are for professional shows.
• Never allow young children to play with fireworks. Sparklers injure children under age five more often than any other type of firework.
• Never have your body directly over a firework device when lighting the fuse.
• Move back to a safe distance immediately after lighting.
• Never re-light fireworks that have not fully functioned.
• Never point or throw fireworks at another person.
• Keep a bucket of water or a garden hose handy in case of fire or other mishap.
• Never carry fireworks in a pocket or shoot them off in metal or glass containers.

Have a safe and happy holiday!

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