My latest story is one of my favorites from my upcoming book, The Bravest Pets of Gotham: Tales of Four-Legged Firefighters of Old New York (September 2024). I laugh every time I think about this crazy little dog of FDNY Engine 56. Enjoy.
Posts Tagged ‘fire dogs’
1899: Bang Go, the Wired-Up Mascot of FDNY Engine 56
Posted: 14th February 2024 by The Hatching Cat in Dog Mascots, FDNY Horses/MascotsTags: Dogs of Old New York, Engine Company 56, Engine Company 74, FDNY history, fire dogs
1904: Baltimore, the New York City Fire Dog Mascot of Engine 26
Posted: 25th September 2022 by The Hatching Cat in Dog Mascots, FDNY Horses/MascotsTags: Baltimore Fire, Engine Company 26, FDNY history, fire dogs
During their brief time in Baltimore during the great fire of 1904, the firemen of FDNY Engine Company 26 adopted a stray dog who followed them throughout the day. The men called him Baltimore and decided to make him their mascot. The dog seemed agreeable to the arrangement and traveled back to New York via train to his new firehouse home.
1910 and 1931: Happy and Pansy, the Cat-Saving Fire Dogs of the FDNY
Posted: 16th April 2022 by The Hatching Cat in Dog Mascots, FDNY Horses/MascotsTags: Engine 225, Engine 36, FDNY history, FDNY mascots, fire dogs, John H. Doherty
In 1910 and 1931, Happy and Pansy were two cat-saving fire dogs of the FDNY who ran into burning buildings to save their natural enemy.
1930s: Peggy, Pal, and Bess, the Prize-Winning Brooklyn Fire Dogs of the FDNY
Posted: 13th January 2022 by The Hatching Cat in Dog Mascots, FDNY Horses/MascotsTags: Brooklyn History, Dalmatians, Engine Company 271, FDNY history, fire dogs, Waldheim
For four months in 1936, Bess was the most famous mother of all the Brooklyn fire dogs in the Fire Department of New York. But then her own daughter took over the Top Mom title of the FDNY.
1892: Chappie, the Pedigree Fire Dog of New York City’s Flatiron District
Posted: 9th November 2021 by The Hatching Cat in Dog Mascots, FDNY Horses/MascotsTags: Engine Company No. 14, FDNY history, fire dogs, Flatiron District, New York City History
One of my favorite fire-cat stories is about Peter and Chops, the beloved firefighter felines of Engine Company No. 14 in New York City’s Flatiron District. When I wrote the story about Peter and Chops for my book, The Cat Men of Gotham, I didn’t realize that they had a canine predecessor.
I recently discovered the wonderful story of Chappie, a pedigree pit bull coach dog gifted by William Waldorf Astor who also called the Engine 14 firehouse his home.