RIDES TO FIRES

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 188, 8 May 1944, Page 6

RIDES TO FIRES

Wellington Brigade’s Terrier Mascot ON JOB AT ALL HOURS With small legs braced against the sway of the machine, Hags, two-year-old pedigree wirehaired terrier, mascot of the Wellington Fire Brigade, rides to every call standing behind the driver. Acquired some seven months ago, Rugs soon became the pet of every fireman, and has since been made a fully-fledged ‘official” member of the fire brigade with the permission of the superintendent himself, Rags came to the fire station from his original home in Wellington of his own accord. He arrived one day, muddy and grey with dirt, was accepted by the firemen, aud after a bath showed little inclination to leave. His former owners were informed, but to the firemen s joy it was decided that he should remain. Though he attached himself to one fireman in particular,, Hags’s popularity is universal. Evidence of this was shown when their mascot once jumped into the moving part of an open gear-box and badly cut his jaw, necessitating a trip to a veterinary surgeon and several stitches. When an appeal was made among the firemen for money to cover the expenses of the "operation, it appealed within a few minutes. At meal-time, too, the keenness of the firemen to share their food results in an exceedingly well-led d<> Rags's chief interest, however, lies with the fire brigades. At any time of ni-ht or day, and in all weathers, the sound of the alarm bell will send him scampering and barking excitedly for the first machine. Even before the first fireman has appeared, Rags is U P ° n , stand and impatient to be off. Attempts to hold him.back after the alarm has run” have produced frantic bowling and incredible ferocity for « small dog. Through one attempt to detain him Rags missed the brigade and ran after it all the way to the fire in Willis Street. Outgoing machines, however, now count Rags as important a part of their equipment as the hoses. . . Once the fire is reached. Rags> is usually content to sleep on the machine, yet on occasions he has followed the firemen into the thick of the flames. When in the middle of a large gorse fire recently, the wind changed and suddenly turned the flames back on to the firemen. Rags displayed considerable intelligence in burying his muzzle in the damp earth. As a true fireman, Rags, like the others, possesses a Wellington Eire Brigade insignia, which he wears on his collar.