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Have you ever run calls with a Fire Station Dalmatian on board or is this just nostalgia?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by ashfire on
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Back in the 70s we had a open cab pumper and we had a dalmatian as mascot that rode on calls. They would chain him on when we went out the door. We haven't had a mascot since.
With the new enclosed apparatus it would be safer for having one but the membership has changed so much that a mascot wouldn't fit in.
Someone has to be in charge of the dog and not too many would want to be.
One member in our station became the master of the dog but when they left the dog the dog became a problem and a terror to the neighborhood.
We had to give him away.
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Permalink Reply by Oldman on
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I never had mine on a call, but she did ride in parades and to PR functions.
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Permalink Reply by John Sees on
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I have heard of it back in the 70's also. I visited a company in MD. that had a open cab engine, they said at one time they had a Dalmatian, the dog learned the company tones and would be the first on the engine. It is a shame how things change over time, no more open cabs, Dalmatians, poles between floors or riding tail borad. The fire service is going down hill.
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Permalink Reply by Roy Walker on
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Just like Oldman says we used to do P R and parade runs with the chiefs dog on board. Guess if we had a call during that time he would have been a forced rider.
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Permalink Reply by Allen Wahlstrom on
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been on since 83 and never even worked in a station with a Dally. Had one for 7 years and he did come to the station regularly, but never rode on the apparatus...
They need a lot of attention, and todays fire service is too business oriented to allow for that kind of time with the Dal's.
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Permalink Reply by Fireyladd - Retired Chief Sharp on
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Jack, we used to have a station Dalmation. Actually 2 of them at different times. But no, the never rode on the truck to calls. Obviously several times in parades and to the schools for fire prevention.
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Permalink Reply by Jack/dt on
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John,
Not to mention being thrown out of the open cab in a rollover, potential for dog bites, sprains/broken bones sliding down the pole or being flung from the back step on a tight turn. The good old days...
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Permalink Reply by Mike Schlags (Captain Busy) Retd on
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I think it's more a matter of the fire service just making changes. Each generation see's things that they knew and grew to love go bye bye. Imagine the firefighters who relied on horse drawn fire apparatus converting to motorized engines. Or how about firefighters accepting paramedics and such a strong role in EMS, noting that Australia still maintains no EMS training or patient contact, the way it used to be prior to the 70's. Changes keep coming at us with the advent of more hazardous materials and now worrying and preparing for the horrific potential of a WMD event. I don't think the fire service is going downhill John, but conversely, maybe it's us instead...
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Permalink Reply by Capt./Chaplain Mike Petrosky on
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Yeah, back in the early '90s when I first started we had a guy ( now my brother-in-law ) that had a dalmation that would ride with us occassionally. He naturally was at the house all the time, trainings or just when we were hanging out. He was deaf and was trained to hand signals and would go to all the parades and pr's that we had. Always a big hit with the kids, always! Sure do miss those days! Now we have a arson dog but it sure isn't the same, shepards aren't the same. I don't miss all the white dog hair on my class A thought!
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Permalink Reply by David Walker on
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well i havent been on with the department for a long time at all. i haven't seen any dally's at the station but i did see one at a medical call a few weeks ago. he seemed to know his calling being that he was so excited to see the engine!
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Ya, what you said is true, no argument. I ride in the enclosed cab, wear my seat belt, enjoy the heater
in the winter and air condition in the summer. But there were advantages also. Hope I did not upset you to much.
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John,
Not upset at all, just hate to see what are actually improvements in the fire service be seen as the "good ole days." Never rode the tail board, had an uncle that did, fell off and ended his career. Hard to imagine hanging on for dear life (literally) as any kind of advantage.
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