The Bravest Pets of Gotham

In the late 1800s and early 1900s, the Fire Department of the City of New York permitted firemen to keep one dog, one cat, or singing birds in their firehouse. These animals, in addition to the horses that pulled the apparatus, provided companionship for the men, who were required to work and live at their firehouses for weeks at a time with only a few hours off for meals and family time. Many fire companies in Old New York broke the rules and welcomed multiple mascots into their firehouses. Some companies also had unique firehouse pets, such as monkeys, goats, and turtles. The Bravest Pets of Gotham will take readers on a fun historical tour of the FDNY and firefighting in New York City via more than 100 amazing, emotive, and oftentimes hilariously absurd stories of the FDNY horses and mascots whose acts of bravery, extraordinary intelligence, and funny antics deserve to be told and preserved.