DEPARTMENT PETS

Paterson Fire Department Dogs, Pets

The history of most fire departments across the United States includes pets and the animal most commonly associated with firehouses, firemen and fire engines is the dog, especially the Dalmatian breed. These faithful and intelligent animals represent an old breed that were originally know as "carriage dogs." They had a natural affinity for horses and loved to run alongside their owners coaches. So it is easy to understand how they became known as "fire dogs" during the 19th and early 20th centuries when horses were prevalent in firehouses. Almost all of the old fire department lithographs and photos show dalmatians leading horse drawn steamers or even sitting on the later motorized engines. There have been many Dalmatians associated with the Paterson Fire Department but few records exist detailing their stories.

June 1, 1871: Neptune Engine Company 2 has two pets

August 1, 1877: Passaic Engine 1 keeping hen and rooster

The Press

January 22, 1879: Protection Engine company 5 has a rather aggressive dog called Potcheese (after company nickname) with similar characteristics to Vigilant 6 pet called Bulger

1948 article in "The Fireman"

June 20, 1879: Members of Neptune 2 seeking murderer of their pet dog

June 20 Press

June 21 Press

March 1, 1881: Company dog to enter a dog show in New York City

Press

December 16, 1884: Potcheese the beloved company dog and firehouse protector passes away

Paterson Press

December 19 Paterson Press

January 11, 1887: Funeral of Vigilant 6 beloved dog "Bulger" - who died on January 10

Paterson Press

January 12 Guardian courtesy Dennis Morrison

From a 1948 article in "The Firemen"

Buglers Tombstone - 1948 article in "The Fireman"

August 8, 1883: Paterson Volunteer Department - Vigilant Engine Company 6 of the Volunteer PFD was located at on Market Street very near Straight Street Below is the sad story of the mascot who met an unfortunate death - During a response the pet was "mildly" kicked by one of the firemen. Had an incredible, respectful funeral.

Courtesy Jim Eifler

January 7 Guardian

September 10, 1885: Passaic Engine 1 has a pet cat

Paterson Press

June 4, 1890: Pet cats (Maud and Minnie) at the Godwin Avenue firehouse

Morning Call courtesy Dennis Morrison

February 2, 1897: Engine 7 cat is highest jumper in department

Paterson Daily Press

May 1, 1900: Incident at Truck 3, Godwin Ave Firehouse where horse kills company pet cat. Cat was trained to slide down pole.

Paterson Daily Press

August 4, 1910: Death of company cat called "Wang Doodle Johnson" facetiously reported

Paterson News courtesy Dennis Morrison

October 15, 1917: Pet cat called "Red Mike" at Van Houten Street headquarters

Morning Call - courtesy Dennis Morrison

1936: The following graphics are from Biff The Fire Dog, achildren's 90 page book (size 7 3/4 by 5 1/2 inch) was written about the Paterson Fire Department during the height of the Ahrens Fox era. It is a fictional story about a boy (Tom) and Captain Peters and Fireman Joe. August "Gus" Peters was a real Paterson Fireman (President of the FMBA) at the time who did care for a dog. The author J. Harold Straub was President of the Paterson Board of Education. The book remarkably provides a feeling of firefighters, firehouses and fire scenes. There are dozens of more graphics in the book. Top see all of the pages and graphics CLICK HERE

September 25, 1941: Paterson News Story on Department Dogs: Truck 3 has an 18 month old Dalmatian called Smokey. "Fritz" is a Dal at Engine 4 and had his own badge attached to his collar. Engine 3 has 3 month old pups called "Chief and Mate" and Engine 6 has a 14 month old "Buttons."

During the Ahrens Fox era several dogs were mascots in Engine Company 3, 4 and 6 ,Trucks 1 and 3. Truck 3's dog was called Smokey (seen below) and when he rode with the apparatus he was decked out with a red and gold blanket bearing his name. There is a famous picture from the Paterson News with Smokey sitting up high in the tiller seat with his front paws steering the apparatus.

Men of Truck Co 3 on Godwin Ave with "Smokey". L-R: William Flynn, Aurelio Riga, Captain Joseph Dayspring in center & Angelo Contini and Tommy Ingram

Circa 1949 -- Dayspring Collection

Below is a handwritten incident report filed by acting Captain Edward Heitzman regarding Smokey and some children

Circa 1949 at Godwin Avenue -- Dayspring Collection

Dayspring Collection

Below on driver's seat is the Dalmatian of Truck Co 1 on Jackson Street, circa 1940s

Dalmatian with men on apron of 72 Jackson Street and at "party scene" below

Beatrice and Dorthy Salmanowitz dancing! (Anthony Natoli Collection)

Engine Company 4's dalmatian was named Fritz and on his collar wore a special badge engraved with his and the Company name making it official for him to accompany the men as they worked. After he passed away, the men of E4 obtained a female dalmatian called "Princess."

Fritz sitting atop the Ahrens Fox pumper of Engine company 4 at the Slater Street Firehouse

Engine 3 on 12th Avenue had two Dalmatian pups called "Chief" and "Mate." The firemen of Engine 6 regarded their dog "Buttons" as a good luck charm. Engine 3 also had a Dalmatian called "Skipper" who is seen below (sitting in the driver's seat of the cab of the company's Ahrens Fox pumper) with Captain Lester Reiche.

Captain Lester Reiche and Skipper

1948 NJ Exempt Fireman's Parade in Paterson: L-R: Unknown FF, John Rankin and Paul Shaw with Dalmatian on Old Gooseneck float

September 11, 1950: Missing "Spot" the company Dalmatian of Engine 9 on Main Street

Paterson News

April 1958: a lion receives rabies vaccine at Engine 12 quarters

courtesy Richard Davenport

May 14, 1962: 3 alarm fire at 704-710 Main Street (across form St. Joseph's Hospital).Smokey is made an honorary department member/mascot by the FMBA. Photo is at Engine 9 at 586 Main Street. FF Robert Woodruff, Roger Dumas and Captain Joe Leonard. In rear is the company's 1953 Seagrave pumper.

Among the most famous Dalmatians was "Cindy" who was given to the men of Engine Company 3 on 12th Ave in 1956. Her markings were quite distinct in that she had a large patch over the right side of her face and ear. In her early years with the company she had her own seat on the apparatus and often entered buildings with the firemen. During her first pregnancy she became too heavy and then retired from active firefighter to house watchman. She developed a habit of gathering the men's scattered shoes and placing them at the rear of the firehouse after the apparatus left quarters.

Cindy's favorite fireman was Captain Lester Reiche who often took her swimming in a nearby park. The dog took it very hard when the Captain made the Supreme Sacrifice.

The most amazing statistic regarding Cindy was her abilities as a mother. In her years at Engine 3 she produced 90 pups, each of which found a home (many with firemen). In 1962 she made the transition to a new firehouse on Lafayette Street and became a good friend of the men of Truck Company 3. In the new location she became a formidable guard dog and few people could enter quarters without her approval. Legend has it that she was not particularly fond of chief officers or priests. There was also a story when a stranger was held captive in the firehouse for a number of hours until firemen returned from a call and rescued him. Cindy never failed to get excited over the ringing of the bells and never had a day off or vacation. She is seen below with the FMBA Softball team at Riverside Firehouse. Cindy had over 90 puppies over time.

Top- Joe Brower, Tom Alala, Howie Marcom, George Maloney, Frankie Calamita & Bill Savage. Middle- Joe White, Mike Ross, Fred Ricciardi, Bill Vitale, Mel Gabriel, Joe Saia & Randy Reid. Bottom-Angelo Maza, John Mauro, Tippy Nicolazzo, Frank Malzone, Bill Shortway & Red Mosca.

May 8, 1967: Dog rescue from Passaic River at North Straight Street

Morning Call courtesy Dennis Morrison

September 19, 1967: Cindy bites a policeman

Morning Call - Courtesy Dennis Morrison

It was a very sad day when she finally passed away in 1967. She was so famous that the Paterson Evening News ran a obituary story with a picture on September 12.

Courtesy Dennis Morrison

1968 Ball Book: Smokey the Dalmatian: at left is 3rd Battalion and at right Engine Company 3

Courtesy J Behnke & Sellitto Family

An unusual way of obtaining a Dalmatian occurred in 1969 when then Assistant Chief William Comer wrote a winning essay in a contest sponsored by the International Municipal Signal Association. The puppy was presented at an official ceremony in the presence of the Mayor and Fire Commissioner.

January 5, 1969: 9:19 AM Engine 3 with F/F Hubie Donnellan rescues dog from icy river

January 7 Paterson Evening News courtesy Dennis Morrison

FF Donnellan

May 1971: The men of Engine 3 adopted another Dalmatian to replace Cindy. He was named Smokey and was actually rescued from the dog pound by fireman Herbert Donnellan.

Hancock Collection

Smokey on Engine Co 3 Seagrave

Don Giaquinto collage

April 14, 1989: Elmo the Dalmatian of Madison Avenue

Elmo the Dalmation

June 15, 1989: Elmo returns to firehouse - was found by George Washington Bridge

Herald courtesy Dennis Morrison

Elmo in Truck 1 cab at fire scene

Mike McLean photo

January 1, 1990: Elmo, the Dalmatian mascot at Madison Avenue quarters struck by a car

January 2 Herald courtesy Dennis Morrison

Circa 1991: Below is "Nozzle" at Southside Firehouse with BC Robert Meyers (1st Battalion) and men of E6 and R2. L-R B/C Robert Meyers, F/F's Paul DiFalco, Charles Onorato, William Henderson, Captain Bruce Selowentich, F/F's Robert Poloniak and Andrew Ackerman circa post 1991. Nozzle passed in 1993.

March 1991: DC Ed Hancock and others with Elmo at Madison Avenue

Hancock collection

October 18, 1991: Elmo at Madison Avenue in front of Ladder 2 and with retired FF Frank Limongi

Herald courtesy Dennis Morrison

Circa 1992: Smokey of Engine 4 (Northside Firehouse)

Summer of 1992 - Craig Lauten photo

Smokey with L-R: F/F Lou Vega, /FF Michael Spada, Captain Al Credidio, F/F Scott Parkin. E-4 Tour 3

Smokey was written up in the New York Times CLICK HERE

Smokey, works as a fire department mascot and guard dog in Paterson, N.J.; The firefighters at the Northside Firehouse on Temple Street in Paterson call Smokey, a friendly 9-year-old mixed breed who looks mostly like a German shepherd, a ''Paterson street dog.'' But it's a compliment to his street smarts, not a slur on his lineage. Smokey has lived and worked at the firehouse since he was a puppy and two firefighters brought him there from an animal shelter in Newark.

Dave Coughlan, a Paterson firefighter who usually watches after Smokey, says the dog doesn't go on as many fire calls as he did when he was younger. ''We watch him a little more carefully now,'' he said. ''We don't want him to get hurt.'' But that hasn't stopped him from working: when he's not on a fire call, he stays behind and guards the firehouse until the firefighters return.
''He's had his share of battle wounds -- stitches for cuts from broken glass and stuff like that,'' Mr. Coughlan said. When Smokey goes to a fire, he often beats the firefighters inside a burning building. ''He's looking for people and pets,'' Mr. Coughlan said. ''Many times he's beaten me into a building and then come out choking while I'm still getting my gear on. Later, he'll check to make sure we're all safe.'' Mr. Coughlan sometimes takes Smokey to his house for a visit. ''But after a few hours, he wants to get back to the firehouse,'' Mr. Coughlan said. ''It's his home.''

Northside Temple Street Firehouse: Battalion Chief Michael Fleming, "Smokey" and Company members: Tour 4, Battalion 3, Engine 4 and Ladder 2. Smokey was adopted from the Newark Humane Society.

July 8, 1994: Elmo passes away

Herald courtesy Dennis Morrison

July 20, 1994: Dino becomes new Dalmatian at Madison Avenue

July 21 Herald courtesy Dennis Morrison

June 11, 1995: Liberty Street fire scene with Smokey on porch

August 17, 1995 - Incident # 953208 – 347 Belmont Ave. @1322 Hrs. Tour 4 on-duty. Mutual aid to Haledon.

L-R: Captain Tony Maldonado, F/F Robert Stemmler. F/F Carlos Pagan, F/F Glenn Calamita, Captain William Henderson, Battalion Chief Mike Fleming, F/F Andrew Ackerman, F/F William Taylor, F/F Rocco Alliotta, Smokey "the dog. "

1995: 100th Anniversary Parade

1995 100th Anniversary Parade: L-R in front: Thomas Alala Jr with the Dalmatian from Southside, Andy Ackerman (shades), Victor Stewart, Anthony Vindeed, Captain Vince Zito. Behind Alala is Carlos Pagan, Manny Rivera and Wayne Walden

Chief - of Engine 5 at Riverside Firehouse

Below in the Captain's seat is "Chief" of Engine 5 at The Riverside FH: So beloved that a commemorative memorial plaque exists on the Firehouse outside entry wall

Chief on Engine 5

Chief and F/F Joe Parkin Jr

1996: Captain Edward Conklin holding Chief the Dog

June 14, 1996 -- Hancock Collection

1996 Ball Book

November 5, 1997: Riverside had just adopted a new mascot who was named "Eddie" in memory of Captain Ed Conklin. Unfortunately within 3 months he disappeared.

Herald courtesy Dennis Morrison

September 6, 1999: Smokey - Mascot of Engine 4 at Northside Firehouse

Herald courtesy Dennis Morrison

July 20, 2001: Smokey the fire dog responds to its last alarm. The plaque reads: SMOKEY - A True and Loyal Fire Dog - Date of Appointment October 15, 1991 - Answered Last Alarm July 28th 2001 - Sadly missed by members of Eng Co. 4 - Ladr Co 2 - Batt 3. Smokey's ashes are encased within wall of the firehouse.