Wednesday, October 20, 2021
6-7 p.m. ET
We’re all familiar with the mounted patrolmen of the NYPD and the horses and Dalmatians that worked for the FDNY. But during the 1800s and early 1900s, most of New York City’s police and fire stations also had cats and other dogs and animals on their rosters. I like to call all of these bravest and finest animals of Old New York the FURst Responders of Gotham.
For example, in 1915, there were more than 100 cats on active duty with the NYPD. During that same time period, there were reportedly 90 dogs and 120 cats among the 200 fire companies in Manhattan and Brooklyn (and I think these numbers are very low). Most of these mascots served as companions for the men. But many were also working animals that helped protect property and save lives.
Join me on October 20, 2021, as I explore the city’s police and fire history while sharing some amazing stories of Old New York’s four-legged bravest and finest. This will be the debut for my FURst Responders of Gotham presentation, which is a prelude to my (possibly) next book of the same title.
Hear about:
- America’s very first police K-9 unit, which was formed in Brooklyn
- The famous monkey and cat mascots of “The Finest Fire House in the World”
- The last horse-drawn fire engine in the history of the FDNY
- Strike, the kitten-saving police dog of Tribeca
- The canine detectives of the Long Island Railroad Police Force
- Arson and Homicide, the cats on the job at Police Headquarters
- Robert Bruce MacMurray, the horse-saving fire dog
- Tootsey, the feline firefighter who loved to ride on fire engines
Registration
This program is being sponsored by the Boonton Holmes Public Library as part of their Virtual Happy Hour Program. To sign up for this free program, please click here by October 18.
I am available for virtual author events across the United States and for
in-person presentations in the New York City metropolitan region (including northern New Jersey and the Hudson Valley). If your organization or library is interested in hosting a program, please contact me at pgavan@optline.net
