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Fleck the Fire Station Dalmatian - Why do Dalmatians have spots? |
by Kate Simmons >> more about the author
Fleck lived at the fire station with his fire-fighting friends. Not only was he a buddy to the firemen, he was a helper. Fleck would guard the fire truck while the men worked to put out the flames they were battling. Fleck’s white coat was dotted with black spots that reminded the firemen of the flecks of ash that flew from the tall flames. They’d named the dog Fleck, knowing that he would be loyal and brave.
One day the firemen were called to fight a fire on the outskirts of town. It was a grass fire that was beginning to spread! By the time the firemen reached the flames, they could see the fire moving closer to a nearby house. A man walked toward the fire truck to meet Fleck and the firefighters.
“Everybody’s out of the house,” he said. “But we have a horse in the barn that doesn’t want to leave. We need to get her out of there!”
“Help is on the way,” Marvin the fireman said. He then turned to Fleck and added, “You stay here and guard the truck.” While patting Fleck on the head, he motioned for most of the firemen to begin putting out the fire, but called a few of them to help get the horse out of the barn.
Fleck stayed near the truck. He was a great guard dog. Once he’d chased away a couple of mischievous puppies that were chewing on the fire hose! Another time during a fire, a man wanted to borrow the firemen’s axe to chop wood. Fleck barked loudly to let the firefighters know that someone was touching the equipment on the fire engine.
Today Fleck was as watchful as ever. While guarding the truck, he looked in the direction of the barn. He could see his firemen friends encouraging the horse to leave. Fleck could see her head and front legs, but she stomped her hooves, refusing to move any farther.
As the flames got closer to the barn, Fleck knew he had to help. Guarding the truck was important, but he needed to make sure the horse was safe! As he ran toward the barn, Fleck could hear the firemen calling to the horse: “Sally! This way!” they said, over and over again as they tugged on the reins of her bridle.
Fleck knew what to do. He circled Sally one time then began to trot in the direction of the fire engine. He looked back and could see Sally watching him with curious eyes. Since she wasn’t following, Fleck ran back to her, then used his head to motion in the direction of the truck. Again he began to run, this time more slowly. Soon he could hear the sound of trotting hooves behind him, and it wasn’t long before Sally was ahead of Fleck. He was happy to let her take the lead as he ran alongside her.
When they reached the fire truck, Sally’s family embraced her, and they thanked Fleck, who barked happily. He would guard Sally for a bit and make sure she stayed away from the flames. Once the grass fire was put out, Marvin and the other firemen came to congratulate Fleck.
“I never thought Fleck would be the one to save Sally,” Sam the fireman began.
“I’m not surprised,” said Marvin. “Dalmatians used to help guard the horses at night back in the days when horses pulled fire wagons. The horses and Dalmatians were good friends. The Dalmatians even kept the horses calm.”
“Like Fleck did today!” Sam added. He turned to point to Fleck, but he had returned to his post as guardian of the fire truck, and this time, Sally was standing by his side! As the smoke started to clear and the flecks of ash began to settle to the ground, Marvin, Sam and the other firemen knew what a special friend they all had in their Fleck!
One day the firemen were called to fight a fire on the outskirts of town. It was a grass fire that was beginning to spread! By the time the firemen reached the flames, they could see the fire moving closer to a nearby house. A man walked toward the fire truck to meet Fleck and the firefighters.
“Everybody’s out of the house,” he said. “But we have a horse in the barn that doesn’t want to leave. We need to get her out of there!”
“Help is on the way,” Marvin the fireman said. He then turned to Fleck and added, “You stay here and guard the truck.” While patting Fleck on the head, he motioned for most of the firemen to begin putting out the fire, but called a few of them to help get the horse out of the barn.
Fleck stayed near the truck. He was a great guard dog. Once he’d chased away a couple of mischievous puppies that were chewing on the fire hose! Another time during a fire, a man wanted to borrow the firemen’s axe to chop wood. Fleck barked loudly to let the firefighters know that someone was touching the equipment on the fire engine.
Today Fleck was as watchful as ever. While guarding the truck, he looked in the direction of the barn. He could see his firemen friends encouraging the horse to leave. Fleck could see her head and front legs, but she stomped her hooves, refusing to move any farther.
As the flames got closer to the barn, Fleck knew he had to help. Guarding the truck was important, but he needed to make sure the horse was safe! As he ran toward the barn, Fleck could hear the firemen calling to the horse: “Sally! This way!” they said, over and over again as they tugged on the reins of her bridle.
Fleck knew what to do. He circled Sally one time then began to trot in the direction of the fire engine. He looked back and could see Sally watching him with curious eyes. Since she wasn’t following, Fleck ran back to her, then used his head to motion in the direction of the truck. Again he began to run, this time more slowly. Soon he could hear the sound of trotting hooves behind him, and it wasn’t long before Sally was ahead of Fleck. He was happy to let her take the lead as he ran alongside her.
When they reached the fire truck, Sally’s family embraced her, and they thanked Fleck, who barked happily. He would guard Sally for a bit and make sure she stayed away from the flames. Once the grass fire was put out, Marvin and the other firemen came to congratulate Fleck.
“I never thought Fleck would be the one to save Sally,” Sam the fireman began.
“I’m not surprised,” said Marvin. “Dalmatians used to help guard the horses at night back in the days when horses pulled fire wagons. The horses and Dalmatians were good friends. The Dalmatians even kept the horses calm.”
“Like Fleck did today!” Sam added. He turned to point to Fleck, but he had returned to his post as guardian of the fire truck, and this time, Sally was standing by his side! As the smoke started to clear and the flecks of ash began to settle to the ground, Marvin, Sam and the other firemen knew what a special friend they all had in their Fleck!