Why do firehouses always have dalmatians?
In the time of firefighting with horse-drawn wagons, dalmatians cleared the streets for the oncoming pumpers. When the fire alarm sounded, the dalmatians were first out of the firehouse, barking in the streets to announce the approaching firemen’s coach. (Some firedogs continue this tradition by either proclaiming a rig’s departure or by serving as an added “barking siren” when making a run to the scene of a fire.) Two distinct skills possessed by the Dalmatians made them an ideal complement to firehouses. The first was their ability to calm horses. Horses are known to be extremely afraid of fire. Despite this fear, horses were necessary to bring the fire coaches as close to the flames as possible. The presence of the dalmatians was a needed distraction for the horses, allowing firemen to employ their equipment more effectively. As a result, Dalmatians played a vital role in firefighting and were used extensively throughout Europe. Dalmatians were also valued for their ability to prote
