National Fire Pup Day

10/1/2021 (Permalink)

The history of firehouse dogs

We all love seeing the firehouse Dalmatian in movies and tv-shows, often riding shotgun in a firetruck speeding to a fire, but do you know how they got there? In honor of National Fire Pup Day, we are going to share the history of the firehouse Dalmatian. 

The Begining

Before there were firehouse dogs there were carriage dogs. Back in the 18th-century dogs were trained to trog alongside carriages to protect the carriage riders from bandits. These dogs were trained to regard strange horses as dangerous and to attack them, giving their owners time to respond to the human dangers. 

Carriage dogs weren’t always Dalmatians, but they quickly became the favorite breed because of their long legs, sturdy bodies, high energy, and obedience, and endurance to keep up on the road. 

Part Of The Firehouse Team

They quickly became part of the firehouse team as horse-drawn fire carriages became popular in the 1700s to protect the expensive firehouse horses, and to clear the route to a fire. The Dalmatian is also known to have a calming effect on the horses, making them the perfect companion to ease the horse’s stress as the firefighters worked to put out the fire. 

The Age of The Fire Engine

As the fire engine beat out horse-drawn carriages, the fire pups were in need of a new job description. By this point, the public liked seeing the Dalmatians with the firefighters and the firefighters liked having the dogs around. The tasks of a modern-day fire pup can include: 

• Companionship for firefighters
• Guarding the firehouse, and chasing out rodents
• Riding to fires and guarding the truck 
• Acting as the firehouse mascot

Not only do fire pups have all the jobs listed above, but they also help with education. Dalmatians are great at helping demonstrate fire safety to the community, and especially to children. You can follow along with our local Charlotte Fire Dogs, Cat and Blaze, on Facebook. 

The Modern Fire Pup

One of the most important jobs a dog in the firehouse can have is being an “arson dog.” These dogs are “sniff out minute traces of accelerants (gasoline, lighter fluid, etc.) that may have been used to start a fire,” according to State Farm’s Arson Dog Program. These highly-trained dogs work alongside firefighters or law enforcement agents to investigate the scene of a fire after the blaze has been extinguished. 

More Than Dalmatians 

Today, fire pups don’t have to be Dalmatians. Any size, shape, or breed can be a fire pup, but of course, the Dalmatian remains the most popular breed in firehouses. 

One thing we can be sure of, no matter how advanced technology becomes, nothing can replace the companionship of the firehouse pup. 

For more information on your local fire station, like how fast they respond, or the services they provide, you can always find information on our blog, or directly on the Charlotte Fire Department or Pineville Fire Department firehouse websites. And remember, SERVPRO of South Mecklenburg County is “Faster to Any Size Disaster” so give us a call (704) 840-6112 if you’ve experienced a fire in your home. 

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