I began writing a column about dogs and how their interaction with firefighters helps to prevent wildfires and assists firefighters.
But I got sidetracked writing about Dalmatians and firefighters. So, this is a column about Dalmatians, horses and firefighters — but mostly Dalmatians.
I have had Dalmatians for most of my life. If you grew up in Montecito, you may remember Owen Cathcart and his Dalmatians on San Ysidro Road. He taught almost every kid in Montecito to ride horses.
My older sister, Mary, is an excellent equestrian, and he gave her our first Dalmatian. After this dog died, I got a Dalmatian puppy from our neighbor, Pamela Boehr (thanks, Pam).
I named him Pal, and he was my constant companion in middle school and high school. He rode endlessly in my blue convertible VW Bug. He lived well past my college years and graduate school.
My old veterinarian practice, Your Pal’s Pet Hospital, was named after Pal. Our Dalmatian now is Jasper, posing in the above photo at Montecito Fire Station 91.
English aristocrats in the early 1700s were among the first known to use Dalmatians to accompany their carriages and English stagecoaches because the breed has a calming relationship with horses.
They frequently ran in pairs on either side of the coach. Thus, the name “coach dogs.” The more Dalmatians you had running with your carriage, the better your aristocratic standing was.
Dalmatians and fire trucks go together like salt and pepper. In the 1850s, fire equipment changed from teams of 20 firefighters manually pulling hand-pumped engines to horses pulling the heavier steam-driven engines.
Along with the horses came the Dalmatians. Dalmatians are athletes, they can run fast for long distances, are loyal companions, have a special relationship with horses, do not fear fire and have a strong guarding instinct.
Horses do not like smoke and fire and become uneasy at the scene of a fire, so the Dalmatians remained with the horses to keep them calm.
When other dogs ran after the horses, fire engine and firefighters, the Dalmatians would chase them away. The Dalmatians also stood guard near the engine to ensure that no one stole the firefighters’ equipment or horses.
The fire station would ring a firehouse gong as an alarm and their dogs were trained to run out of the station and bark to let the public know the fire engine was on its way.
Their plethora of spots made them easily seen by pedestrians. Plus, they often barked as they ran, helping to clear the path to the scene of the fire.
Dalmatians were natural fire alarms, fire engine sirens and flashing fire truck lights.
By the 1870s, the New York Fire Department had Dalmatians at most of its stations, and this was the beginning of an enduring relationship that continues today.
Even when horses were replaced with trucks, firefighters kept Dalmatians around as faithful firehouse dogs.
Sparky the Fire Dog is a Dalmatian who has been the official fire-safety mascot of the National Fire Protection Association since 1951.
Sparky today has his own website and makes public service announcements about fire safety for kids.
After FDNY’s Ladder 20 division lost seven firefighters in the collapse of the World Trade Center during the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the Rochester, New York, Fire Department presented the station with a Dalmatian puppy as a support and companion dog.
Named Twenty, the dog brought a much-needed morale boost and accompanied the firefighters on all their calls — sitting in the truck rather than running alongside it. Twenty lived until 2016.
After Twenty’s death, the station received another Dalmatian puppy named Tank. The fire company says Tank “now hangs out at the firehouse, rides on the rig, and poses for pictures.”
When you watch this year’s Super Bowl on TV, you will most likely see a Dalmatian in the Budweiser commercial as the dogs have been traveling with the Budweiser Clydesdale horses since 1950. The 1999 Budweiser Super Bowl commercial is considered one of their best Dalmatian commercials.
When I was in college, our family donated a Dalmatian puppy to the Montecito Fire Station at 2300 Sycamore Canyon Road. The firefighters gave him a wonderful life.
As a veterinarian I love all dogs, but I must admit Dalmatians have a special place in my heart.
