CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — The Chicago Fire Department is ending its long tradition of allowing firehouse dogs, after an incident at a West Englewood fire station over the weekend.
The fire department says an overhead door was being repaired at Engine 116 at 60th and Ashland, and the door was open. The firehouse dog reportedly got out and attacked and killed a small dog that someone was walking.
On Monday, Fire Department Spokesman Larry Langford said the acting fire commissioner has ordered that all firehouse dogs be removed.
This has brought complaints on the social media page “CFD Firehouse Pups,” some asking why not just remove the one dog and not order such a sweeping end to a longstanding tradition.
“This one wasn’t a problem until he was a problem,” Langford said. “You never know. You’re in a situation with several firehouses and dogs in the houses, and until something goes wrong, everything is right.
“But if this were to happen again next week or a child was involved, the question would then be: Why did you allow the other dogs to stay when one dog already hurt another animal?”
The department will check with all 96 firehouses to make sure dogs are removed, Langford said. He says he expects firefighters will give the ousted mascots a place in their personal homes.
“There will be some hurt feelings,” says Langford, who agrees the dogs have been good for morale. “But as long as the dogs are taken care of, the firehouse will go on without them.”
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