My Scooters...

We're motorcycle people, so when the subject comes up, we like to talk about our trusty steeds. While everything else in our lives might look like a comic strip, our motorcycles are always there to pull us back to Earth. I can't speak for anyone other than myself, but when the presures of life hit me like a ton of bricks, the seat of my bike and my favorite road always manages to deflect some of the blows.

I've managed to collect a few bikes throughout my 30+ years of riding, and my current inventory (lol), is a diverse lot. I like to say, I have a bike for every mood and situation.

2002 Kawasaki ZRX1200R

Have you ever owned a bike, years ago, that you sold more or less against your will? Back in 1990 I was the proud owner of a Kawasaki Zephyr. I managed to hold onto this bike for about 2 years, before family needs took my toy. Out went the bike, but I always told myself I would replace it someday.

The ZRX has been a great additon, and in a way shoots me back to my old Zephyr days. I'm not a young guy anymore, and the more up-right riding position goes a long way. Nothing beats this bike for scooting back and forth to work, and up the canyons on the weekends.

BMW HP-2 Enduro

Yep, I'm one of those guys who took a look at this bike and had to have one.

My plan was to buy the bike and set out on a 95% dirt road/trail tour, leading me from the Southern AZ border, to the Northern border of Washington State. This ride has yet to happen, so it has limited riding time. I would ride it more, but it's a bit tall to be stopping at a stop light every mile.

Here's a quick story about the HP-2. I bought the bike and one of my riding buddies (who owned a KTM Adventure) talked me into an over night ride "Off-Trail". Who would think that in the middle of summer, in Arizona, that we would find over 12 river crossings? Needless to say, the bike hit the ground several times, as I failed to man-handle this massive machine. Riding one of these can be scary. Nothing like a dirt bike with a 1200cc 105hp engine. It never got washed down the river, but close. Of course I bought all the protective covers, after I needed them....lol.

BMW K1200LT

Yes, I enjoy BMW motorcycles. I bought my first LT in 2001. At the time I had a 1999 Harley Classic sitting in the garage with about 30,000 miles on the odmeter. My wife wasn't happy (two touring bikes sitting side by side in the garage might have been over-kill), but I had a thirst for a more "full featured" touring bike. I sold it in 2005, after a ton of great tours.

In 2007 I was asked to accompany my father and sister on a 5000+ tour to Jainesville, WI. I didn't have the ZRX yet, and only the HP-2 was in the garage. I had great luck with the LT, so off I went to the BMW dealer. I found a 2002 in great shape, at an OK price, and the rest is history. My plan was to sell it after the trip, but its never made it into the paper. Nothing beats it on longer trips, so I just don't have the heart.

So there you go. I think I have all my needs covered, well, for now anyway.

Is there truly "Year Round" clothing?

Down here is Arizona, we live in a oven 7 months of the year. When April starts to to roll off the calender, the Temp. outside begins to inch up past 90 degrees. The winter jackets and pants get put away until November, and even then they see only part-time use. Needless to say, you just put over $400 of gear in the closet.

Up until just a few years ago, apparel did not exist that could take the two extremes. You either wore one, or the other, with few choices for the in between. There are now options, and here at the store I dwell on them. I carry very little of anything else. Personally, I have other things to spend my money on, and if one jacket/pant can handle the load, I'm all for it.

JACKET: There are several choices (Joe Rocket- Alter Ego & Tourmaster Flex-2), and my favorite is clearly the Flex-2. The jacket is VERY well made, easy to use. It works great in the summer as a mesh jacket, and in the winter as a full-on cold weather jacket. It's not just me. We've sold 100's of these jackets, and not one customer has been disappointed.

Not so with the Alter Ego. The outer Cordura shell comes off in panels, and zipping everything up can be a little more involved than I like. The outer shell on the Flex-2 comes on and off easily, and can be put on without removing the jacket. Just a better design.

Here's a story for you. When the Flex-2 came out I had a customer from Montana call and asked for my opinion on a winter jacket. He was also hoping he could remove the liner and use it in the summer, so venting was a huge need. I told him to try the Flex-2, but he had doubts it would be warm enough. He bought the jacket, and I got an email about 2 months later stating that the jacket worked great, and he had also been using it as a ski jacket...lol.

PANTS: Since I like the Flex-2 I also like the Flex-2 pant. Same reasons I like the pant, just a simple solution that works. I also like the Tourmaster Venture Air pant. Still warm down to about 40, but yet more mesh for the summer months.

The bottom line is that there is apparel that can be used summer and winter, you simply don't have a ton of choices. It's just a good thing that what is out there, is highly functional.

Electric Clothing

I know, I know, there are those of you out there that think buying electric underclothing is a HUGE waste of money. I get told everyday that if you have a winter jacket and pants, you should be fine. It's almost as if by using them, you're less of a rider, or your missing your "tough guy" gene. All I can do is smile as I turn up the heat on my heated jacket....lol.

Is heated clothing over-kill? Well, if staying warm, in any climate, is over-kill, then I guess it is. There was once a day when I felt that it was a luxury, and not worth the expense. Those days stopped the second I rode with my first electric jacket...lol.

Sure, the REAL good stuff isn't cheap. I prefer Firstgear Warm-n-Safe, but started with Tourmasters Synergy products. Both work, but the Firstgear product is just a bit better. Here in AZ it does get chilly in the winter. If you live outside the city limits, it can plunge to the mid 20's. Add windchill, and it's near zero. Granted, this is for only 4 months of the year, but it's a cold 4 months...lol. If you live inside the city, add about 10 degrees...

Is a warm jacket enough? Absolutely. Will you be more comfortable in electric clothing? Absolutely. Is it worth the expense? Absolutely. There's nothing better than sitting on your bike, plugging in, dialing up the heat, and ENJOYING the ride.

Are there any other benefits of having heated underclothing? For those of you that don't have a winter jacket, or are in the need of a new one, give it some thought. I used to wear my winter jacket, but now have zero issues wearing my summer mesh jacket on most cooler days. I toss in the jacket liner, slip on my heated jacket, and I'm off. This works down to about 40, and I've yet to get cold. It's nice to toss the liner in my bag when it's time to head home, and have the use of of mesh jacket. If I had the winter jacket only, the ride home would be a bit on the warm side...

For those out there that foo-foo using this stuff, I can say one thing for sure. Like me, once you take the plunge, no one is going to pry you out of your heated jacket on cold days. You won't be standing in your garage, staring at your bike, debating if you want to battle the cold. You'll slip on your jacket, gloves and pants and jump on.

Our #1 Question?

As a company, we've been around since the late 1990's. We've done our best to treat our customers right, and now that times are tough, we have an OUTSTANDING grass-root customer base. We're doing fine.

Granted, we've had to make changes. We've made a few cut-backs, have fewer employee's, and really have to be smart about how we do business. I look at this as a HUGE plus. When a company is forced to look harder within, you're forced to see where your weaknesses are. Even the most sound aspect of your business, now takes on a totally different light.

I would like to think that by doing this for as long as I have, I have the base to make smart choices. What shocks me are the companies that think that they have the magic idea that's going to shield them from difficult times. Some think that bigger is "always" better. They think that if they're open 7 days a week, extend their hours, or attend every event, that the additional cash flow will justify the expense. "I'm not going to crawl into a hole like others..! I'm going to expand at all costs..!"

First, being smart about where money ends up isn't "crawling into a hole." While expanding (if done smart) can be good, it's easy to forget where you came from, and how much expansion costs. It's also a given that employee's are the single largest expense most companies have. Many employee's don't understand that, so the owner better.

Secondly, it's way to easy for owners to think that if they expand hours, attend every event, or have 3 people sitting around waiting for the next customer, these efforts equal positive cash flow. They can, but often the end result isn't completely positive.

So why do a blog, that might be taken by some as a "what not to do" memo to other smaller companies? The fact is, those companies that involve themselves in these beliefs are going to do it anyway. One day employee's will come to work, and there will be a CLOSED sign on the front door.

My concern is for those customers who purchase from them, and have no idea what state these companies are in. They make a purchase, wait a week for their goodies to arrive, make a call when it doesn't, and only then find out that there is a closed sign on the door. I can't tell you how many times this has already happened, and it's just the beginning. The winter months are typically the slowest times (even with Christmas). Like my long time distributor Rep stated, "I have 4 major accounts that won't see Spring..".

My advise; just be careful. If you have a relationship with a company, and in the past have been treated right, give it a lot of thought before you jump ship. While price is important in these times, there's also a value associated with a smooth transaction....

California Dream'in...

Just finished a whirl-wind trip to CA to visit some Distributors, and I'm exhausted. It's not the amount of miles we went, but the "type" of miles.

I have no idea how people live and work in LA. The roads are a mess, the traffic is enough to push the Pope into committing a road-rage crime, and then there are the drivers that "think" they can multi-task. At one point it took us 40 minutes to travel 5 miles. On top of that, CA allows motorcycles to split lanes... Every bike we saw did it. Talk about taking your life into your own hands.... While CA is a helmet law State, no helmet is going to help if you go down in heavy traffic. I say I wouldn't do it, but I'm sure with time my attitude would change. Maybe...

I wonder how many crashes take place because of splitting lanes? I was amazed how close side mirrors came to these guys. I can say with confidence that hitting a few must be common place. Then you have the riders that aren't happy with just splitting lanes, but they also add a few quick lane changes. Zipping between vehicles, then all of a sudden yanking it across three lanes of traffic, only to split more lanes. I was scared just watching the show. While I was at the distributors I asked how many people crash doing this stuff. They all had stories, and all said it was pretty common.

With this being said, you would think gear would be worn by everyone, right? WRONG. Of course everyone had on a helmet (helmet law State), but I was amazed how many riders didn't have on jackets, pants, or even gloves. I see riders here in AZ without gear, but we can't split traffic. Add that, and I was amazed riders still felt comfortable wearing shorts and tee-shirts... I would think the armour in a jacket would come in handy taking out all those side mirrors..lol.

Anyway, I have a new appreciation for our freeways downtown....

Video on the site.

I just want to thank everyone who has taken the time to thank me for doing the videos on the site. It feels great to know that it's helping.

If there is a downside, it's how the video's have spiked our telephone traffic. Not that the actual calls are an issue, it's mainly that there's no way to handle them all, at any given time. Our website gets National attention from our advertisements, and we would need a staff of 20 to even begin grabbing the phone each time it rings. Needless to say, our voice mail gets a workout. I also want to handle many of the questions personally, and many customers want to speak with me about various products.

If you fall into this situation, please know that I return every call the same day. There is one exception, I don't call back East after 5pm Pacific time (8pm Eastern). I have a phobia about calling way to late, and waking someone up...lol.

Getting back on the track..

I'll admit it, I have a very compulsive personality. When I do something, I just plain do it. The same held true when I decided to start a Helmet Harbor Race Team. It started off slow, but grew into a huge deal and expense. Huge enclosed trailer, truck, 3 race bikes, 4 easy-ups, outdoor coolers, fresh tires twice a weekend, you name it. Not to mention the 4 National race schools I attended to get "just a little faster." When all was said and done, I had a HUGE amount invested in equipment, and each weekend (sometimes 3 a month) were costing me 3k.

I get asked, "What happened?" all the time. I simply say, all involved got mentally tired. What started as fun, turned into stress. We stopped being thrilled to just be on the grid, into "I've got to beat that guy, and that guy, Hell, all of them." If one of us did poor, everyone felt it. Attitudes toward the sport simply changed.

Personally I could see a change. When I started I was in the back. Everyone beat me. Near the end, I felt I had a chance to win. I had bumped to the expert class, and was finishing high. I was actually hanging with guys who were AMA fast. In a nutshell, I got good. The younger guys on our team could feel me breathing down their necks, and because of that, didn't have an issue stuffing me in corners to keep ahead. By the way, this was mutual. In some races our team finished 1, 2, 3 and 4, and from the stands we looked like a freight train going around the track. Our bikes matched, and it was easy to see how well we were doing as a team.

The end came rather simple. Near the beginning of year 4 I put my guys in a room and asked if they wanted to continue. All said that they had enough, and that fast it was over. The trailer was sold, the hauler traded, and the bikes/gear placed in storage. Other than the occasional track day, we never came close to a track.

This brings me back to the present. I've had a break, and the itch is returning. However, this time it's going to much more simple, and would need to be for me to even think about a comeback. No team, just me. I hauled bikes for others for 4 years, I will be getting some payback. No trailer, hauler, just me and my bike.

Why, after a 3 year break? Simple, my attitude has changed, and I'm not all about beating, anyone... I think this time I will focus more on helping younger, and new riders. Put those schools to work and try to pass on a little of what I've been shown. Sure, I can see myself racing a little, but back as a amateur. Good bye white plate, hello yellow. New bike? Maybe, but I don't see it happening anytime soon. My old trusty steed will do just fine for what I have planned.

I was told by a track manager that, "Todd, if you get your times down, I will bump you to expert. You know that right? I don't see you with a yellow plate long." Well, if that holds true, and I'm at that level again, I guess I'll bump. Funny how before bumping up was all I thought about, now it sounds disappointing. The difference this time will be, I won't be pushing myself to make every pass, or out to out-break everyone. If it happens, great. It's going to be about going out, having fun, and having new stories to tell. That simple.

Live in the South, and still wear a leather jacket?

Owning a store located on the surface of the Sun, we figure out real quick what works in the heat. Leather isn't one of them.

I've heard it a thousand times. "I really want this leather jacket, is it perforated? I don't want to get hot during my rides." I can do nothing short of chuckle out loud. I can't count how many times I've spoke with customers who have visited other stores, have been told that Cordura and leather work great in the summer, as long as they're vented. I lecture every day that you can have 50 vents on either of these jackets, and you'll still cook above 90 degrees. Simply, these two materials should be your last choice.

Leather retains heat. I've gone out on test rides, cooked, and then tossed the jacket on the couch after returning home. 30 minutes later the jacket is still warm to the touch. Leather soaks up and retains heat. It's that simple, and 100 vents or perforation isn't going to fix that.

Cordura is a tight weave cloth, and allows zero air to pass through. Yes, you can add vents, but look at the next Cordura jacket you see. Most of the time the vents are designed to keep out the wet, and use Velcro to make this happen. Often, what vents are there will close by themselves, and now you have zero ventilation. It's like pulling on a trash bag. It's also why most of the winter jackets are made out of Cordura.

Mesh jackets are the only way to go. Many have an inner rain liner that you can remove. Others have both a rain liner and the thermal liner to keep the cold at bay. Here in AZ you simply have a jacket that works year round. I've actually ridden with my mesh jacket, with the liners installed, all the way down to the high 20's. In the summer the whole jacket is a vent.

The one question I get more than any other is, "I've heard that the mesh will melt in a crash if you drag long enough." Look, if you start melting a mesh jacket, that's your last worry. You have greater issues to deal with...LOL Yes, mesh, Cordura, and even leather will grind through if you slid on one spot long enough. The jackets seams are what to focus on. The seam is what will fail first, which if happens, will expose your skin to the concrete. I've seen too many mesh jackets to count after they've been crashed. The mesh is damaged, but didn't cause injury. Simply, they are safe.

In a nutshell, if you ride in the heat you owe it to yourself to purchase a mesh jacket. You'll thank me for it later.

2008, what a mess...

I've been around since the late 1990's, and I've never seen anything like 2008 when it comes to product. Or should I say, lack of product so late in the year. Nothing is more frustrating, and time consuming as try to get product that doesn't exist.

Now why this is happen appears to the great mystery of the century, and not just one company is involved. I've seen it from Bell, all the way down to HJC, AGV, Tourmaster and Cortech. How can a company advertise a 08 product in November of 07 and still not have it in June?

Some say it's the weak dollar. US companies are holding off their purchases hoping the dollar gets stronger, and thus they pay less. Others say it's nothing more than strong demand because of the high gas prices. More people are riding, more product is being sold, and less is available.

Regardless of what's going on, or the excuses behind the issue, it equals a HUGE pain for everyone involved, right down to the customers. All I can hope is that those in charge make some good choices and make things happen. If not, you'll see Dealers like myself start looking harder at product that we can actually sell. If I was a young company looking to break into the market, this looks like a gift. Let's see if they take advantage of it.

Aren't we going "GREEN"?

I was down at my local BMW dealership last week picking up some OEM parts, and I got to joking with one of the part managers. One thing led to another, and I made a comment that I was "going green" by riding to work each day, instead of using my truck a few times a week. The part manager overheard my comment and joked, "So you're riding your bicycle?" I of course got the point and replied, "Well, I guess I've gone pond green".


Here in Arizona we have only 10 days of rain a year. Rarely will it freeze, and when it does, the roads seldom become slick. We have little excuse not to ride year round. Sure, it gets hot in the summer, but only the ride home is brutal.

Currently I'm riding a very plush BMW K1200LT. My routine is to head out to the bike, start the engine, hit the radio button, turn on the heated hand grips/seat (winter), and slap on my helmet. I pass by the gas station on the way to work, hit my bike computer button and smile as it indicates 45mpg... Nothing better than seeing that number each morning.

I'm proud to say that we have a strong "grass root" customer base. There are customers who have been shopping with us for over 10 years. They are more than customers, but truly friends. When I suggest a product, I take it to heart. When a product is expensive, I make sure to explain why.

The high price of gas has turned many into everyday commuters like myself. It has also motivated many to update their older gear. Here is the dilemma many face. How can I ride each day to save money, then walk into a store and spend $400 on new gear. Doesn't that scratch out any savings? Here's the math...lol

If you take the $400 and divide it by $3 (price of fuel) it comes out to 133 gallons of gas. If your car/truck gets 20mpg that it comes out to about 7 fill ups, or 2660 miles. A 30 mile commute each day equals about 88 trips, 17 weeks, or about 4 months... In other words if you buy the gear, ride each day, 4 months in you're in the black. Less if you're like me, and your car/truck gets only about 12mpg...

The bottom line? You must have comfortable gear to even get onto a bike day after day. Once you do, the savings can start. You will also have something that will serve you well into the future. You save money in the long run, have a comfortable ride, and everyone wins...

"Todd, what do you wear?"

As you would suspect, after trying on endless streams of helmets and jackets, customers often ask me "What do you wear?". If you've read through our site, I mention often that I try to Demo almost everything we sell. It only makes sense that the product I keep for my personal use, is what I feel is the creme of the crop.

I'm the first to point out that what I like, might not be what they like. Everyone has a different head shape, body shape and expectations.

I require three main things when I choose a product;

• BULLET-PROOF. There is no hidden rule that a jacket can only last 2 years before it starts to have seam issues, or a helmet should start falling apart after 5 years. If I have ANY issues during the demo, it NEVER makes it into our store. Often, it never makes in into our online store, and if it does I point out the issues in the evaluation.
• PRICE. While there are occasions when paying a little extra is well worth it, the product needs to make sense. I tell customers all the time that if there is a $50 difference between two similar products, I better be able to justify it. Many times I can, but often I can't. Also, if a jacket is $200, I should be able to justify the cost. You don't always have to spend a lot to get a lot.
• COMPANY SUPPORT. While there are a TON of manufacturers, not all of them are easy to deal with AFTER the fact. If something breaks, or there is a defect, the manufacturer should be pleasant to work with to resolve the issue. Nothing is worse than jumping through a bunch of hoops just to get an issue resolved. There's not a PERFECT product on the market, and issues can come up, but these issues should not be hard to resolve.

If you were to walk into our store, you would see a wall of Tourmaster, Fieldsheer, and Joe Rocket Jackets and pants. My favorite, Tourmaster. Like I mention above, I personally feel they have the most solid product for the price. I current wear of 07 version of the Cortech (Tourmaster) GX-Air w/Leather. I demo'ed the jacket, and just can't bring myself to wear anything else. It's warm when the weather gets chilly, and does a GREAT job during our harsh summer heat. I also wear the Tourmaster Venture air pant. I also REALLY like Alpinestars products. In many ways, they blow everyone else away. However, they are more expensive. I have over 2 dozen crashes in one of their suits, and without repair I'm still using it. Solid seams, and great materials, equals an outstanding product.

My favorite helmet of all time?  My Arai RX7.  I'm Currently wearing a Shoei X-11, but I have a feeling that I will be moving onto the Shark RSR2. Both helmets are great, but the lack of weight on the Shark is appealing. The problem with switching from the X-11 is that you're spoiled, and often other helmets just don't excite you. I've worn the helmet in the past for the demo, so I know what to expect. Makes things a LOT easier.
If I had one word of advise it would be to ask those that you trust for an honest opinion on product before you buy. As we all know, there are a TON of companies selling product, but there are a few that stand out.

Safety Standards...

I can remember 10 years ago when there were just two (2) helmet safety standards to concern yourself with in the US. DOT and SNELL. Everyone I spoke too had generally the same opinion; DOT was what made a helmet legal to wear on the street, and SNELL was what you looked for to ensure you were protected. Oh how times have changed...

SNELL has taken a beating over the last 2 years. Motorcyclist came out with a article proclaiming SNELL was "too hard" to protect a rider in a "average" motorcycle crash, and DOT topped their list in regard to protection. By the way, ECE 2205 (European Standard) also proved to be superior to SNELL. Since, SNELL has anounced plans to change their standard for 2010, making it very simular to ECE 2205.

Now I've read online those who support SNELL, and see the change as nothing more than a "change". SNELL does this every 5 years, so why should this "change" be any different? I see it very simply. In the past, while the standards changed, prior cerified SNELL helmets could still pass. In a nutshell, SNELL 2000 and even most SNELL 1995 helmets could still meet the SNELL 2005 standard. With this change, according to SNELL itself, only about 20% for the SNELL 2005 helmets will pass the 2010 revision.

Since 2002, when Suomy entered the US market with the DOT, European standard Gunwind model, I've been a supporter. Dealers often used SNELL as a selling point. Typically SNELL helmets were more expensive, which made for larger margins. Slogans such as, "Do you really want to put a cheap helmet on a priceless head?" were also used to motivate buyers to spend more money, and increase profits. DOT took a beating, and was reduced to a joke.

Here are a few facts that many don't know.

• Shoei and Arai both make an European standard version, and a SNELL, US version of their models. While I like thinking we as Americans are special, this makes little sense. It drives up manufacturing costs, and those costs get passed onto us.
• While DOT has always been looked down on, it has always been a GREAT (not OK) standard. Nothing is perfect, but for motorcycling it makes sense. Also, did you know that the AMA states, "SNELL M 2005 or DOT FMVSS 218". Notice the "or". It's also recognized around the World as a standard good enough to wear on the race track.

More and more companies are bringing in ECE 2205/DOT versions of their helmets. This is a great thing, and I think you will see more of it in the future. Is SNELL dead? I don't think so, but as the change for 2010 shows, they will have to rethink a few things to keep their heads above water.

Buy a helmet based on what you "require" from it, not by price. If you want a helmet that vents great, has a high end liner, or is super light, then expect to spend more. If you need a helmet that is only above average in these areas, you can find a helmet under $200.00 that will be both safe and comfortable.

Loss

While not a "MOTORCYCLE" topic, it's something I'm dealing with at this moment.

I grew up in a family that included pets as part of the family. My earliest memories are of me sitting in my backyard talking to my best friend, our family German Shepherd. She was always there to discuss my problems. While her answers were a bit difficult to understand, she always listened, which was all I needed.

When I started my own family our first pet was a white German Shepherd, Shafer. I created a special platform in my jeep so she could go everywhere with me. I never outgrew this type of companionship she provided. She passed away after battling a heart ailment. Our vet came to our house and put her to sleep as she chewed her favorite tennis ball, and rested her head in my lap. One of the saddest days of my short life. I still have that tennis ball, in a special place.

About 8 months ago I lost Liebe, who had kidney failure. She lived 8 years longer than we were told. Liebe was special because I actually brought her into this World. She was a puppy from a litter Shafer #2 had in my extra room at our home. This time we went to the Vet to have her put to sleep. Again, she died resting her head in my lap. My grief was different, but just as intense. I knew she had years with my family that no one expected, but it's hard to grasp the up-side, and easy to be selfish wanting more.

Now for the source of my current stress and emotional depression.

My last German Shepherd, Panzer, is getting near the end of his life. Everything inside me says it's time to put him to sleep. He's having a hard time holding down his food (regardless of special diets), has painful joint issues, skin cancer and is going a bit senile. I always told myself that it was time when he was having more bad days, than good ones. I've postponed it several times hoping a new food would help, or giving medication for his joints would help with the pain. At first some solutions worked, but he's getting worse. However, he still has good days, and at times appears fine on many levels. I often wish it was more "in my face" like the situations above.

Currently I'm still torn, but I know it will all come to a conclusion. I owe it to him to see that he isn't in pain, and that he has a good quality of life. I also know that this isn't the time to think about whats easier for me, but what's right for him.

Those that read this might not relate to feeling the way I do. I have friends myself that have a much more detached attitude when it comes to their pets. All I can say is that I'm not one of them. I remind them that I'm the guy who organizes fund raiser rides for the local no kill shelter. I'm also one of 80+ that attend these events. Loading a family member of over 10 years into your car, seeing the uncertain face as you walk into the vet, and taking on the roll as the exicutionaire isn't an easy trip...