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Fire station dogs
CLEVELAND, Ohio (AP) - The lanky, spotted dogs long associated
with firefighters are no longer needed to hunt firehouse rats or
run alongside horse-drawn fire wagons.
Increasingly rare Dalmatians at fire stations have a new job:
public relations.
Sparky and Quint, both 6-year-old Dalmatians, call suburban
Cleveland fire stations home - and they stay there instead of
riding on the trucks when their many masters leave on calls.
Many fire departments have rules against pets, as keeping dogs
in firehouses can be problematic, especially if a firefighter is
allergic.
Today's firefighters are responsible for emergency medical
services, arson investigations and public education, leaving little
time to feed and care for animals. Some departments worry about
lawsuits if a dog were to bite someone.
Fire officials in Columbus, Toledo and Dayton said their fire
stations lack dogs.
Eastlake and Sheffield Lake firefighters say their dogs'
easygoing disposition - unusual for the notoriously high-strung
breed - made the decision to keep them easier.
Sparky makes roll call every morning and then makes rounds to
get daily treats from the fire chief, secretary and fire prevention
officer. Quint, whose hangout at the Sheffield Lake station is an
old recliner, has to stick with dog food because of health
problems.
Both stations have installed electronic fences, which causes the
dogs' collars to shock them if they try to leave, to protect them
from traffic.
Mayor Dan DiLiberto picked out Sparky from a litter of seven in
1997 and presented him to the station. The dog sleeps in a large
cage, and knows to go there when firefighters tell him to go
"home," keeping him safe when fire equipment rolls out.
Sparky has his own business card and fire plug - spotted, of
course.
The dogs have mostly ceremonial duties such as riding in parades
and greeting station visitors.
Sparky can stop, drop and roll on command.
"Kids today like interactive learning," Eastlake Fire Chief
Richard Sabo said. "They relate better and learn more by
remembering Sparky doing that than reading about it in a
brochure."
(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
with firefighters are no longer needed to hunt firehouse rats or
run alongside horse-drawn fire wagons.
Increasingly rare Dalmatians at fire stations have a new job:
public relations.
Sparky and Quint, both 6-year-old Dalmatians, call suburban
Cleveland fire stations home - and they stay there instead of
riding on the trucks when their many masters leave on calls.
Many fire departments have rules against pets, as keeping dogs
in firehouses can be problematic, especially if a firefighter is
allergic.
Today's firefighters are responsible for emergency medical
services, arson investigations and public education, leaving little
time to feed and care for animals. Some departments worry about
lawsuits if a dog were to bite someone.
Fire officials in Columbus, Toledo and Dayton said their fire
stations lack dogs.
Eastlake and Sheffield Lake firefighters say their dogs'
easygoing disposition - unusual for the notoriously high-strung
breed - made the decision to keep them easier.
Sparky makes roll call every morning and then makes rounds to
get daily treats from the fire chief, secretary and fire prevention
officer. Quint, whose hangout at the Sheffield Lake station is an
old recliner, has to stick with dog food because of health
problems.
Both stations have installed electronic fences, which causes the
dogs' collars to shock them if they try to leave, to protect them
from traffic.
Mayor Dan DiLiberto picked out Sparky from a litter of seven in
1997 and presented him to the station. The dog sleeps in a large
cage, and knows to go there when firefighters tell him to go
"home," keeping him safe when fire equipment rolls out.
Sparky has his own business card and fire plug - spotted, of
course.
The dogs have mostly ceremonial duties such as riding in parades
and greeting station visitors.
Sparky can stop, drop and roll on command.
"Kids today like interactive learning," Eastlake Fire Chief
Richard Sabo said. "They relate better and learn more by
remembering Sparky doing that than reading about it in a
brochure."
(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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