Dalmatian
The Dalmatian was first used in the fire
service when most fire companies were volunteer or privately operated. There was
some competition for services. Some of the firefighters were actually recruited
not only for their strength in fighting fire but for their fighting abilities to
protect the company and its equipment. Insurance companies paid the fire company
that put out the fire, so the one that made it to the scene, hooked up to a
hydrant and completed the task, got paid. The dogs worked well at this task of
protecting not only the horses, but the equipment in the stations and on the
fire ground as well.
Early firefighters took tremendous pride in their companies. They would turn out
and parade through the city at almost any occasion. Great care was taken in
making your rig more fancy than the next one. Polished brass brilliant paint
jobs and gleaming leather were always maintained. It was only natural that when
word of this remarkable spotted dog was heard, companies had to have one.
Dalmatians began appearing with fire companies and they had the expected impact.
People pointed and gawked. They were that extra piece of fancywork that every
Jake wanted on his rig. The Dalmatian did the job proudly but they had some
drawbacks. They were hard to get and many of them were deaf. The American fire
service was well served by this noble breed.
These free roaming dogs would dash out at passing teams of horses. They would
nip at the legs of the horses and generally harass the equines. In addition to
keeping the horses calm in the stable, the coach dog also had to fend off these
marauding dogs whenever the steam engine traveled over the road. It was a very
common sight to see the dog running out in front of the horses.
Today the Dalmatian serves as a fire house mascot, but back in the days of horse
drawn fire carts, they provided a valuable service. Dalmatians and horses are
very compatible, so the dogs were easily trained to run in front of the engines
to help clear a path and guide the horses and the firefighters to the fires
quickly. They are still chosen by many fire fighters as pets in honor of their
heroism in the past.