This is an interesting and moving story of some of the animals who served with the FDNY in both a working and mascot positions. Many of the animals showed great compassion, intelligence and bravery in the performance of their duties and paid the ultimate price for it. Many of the stories take place in Old New York where the equipment and men raced to the fires by horse drawn vehicles. Naturally many of the stories involved those horses who often, in an attempt to save a human life, would sacrifice their own. The same can be said about many of the dogs who raced ahead of the wagons in an attempt to clear the way. The greatest danger they seemed to face was being trampled by the hooves or the wagons.

The book is filled with stories of many species but the two already named and cats were the sources of most tales. There are numerous stories of an animal entering a burning building and bringing out another animal or a baby. There are also stories of dogs who knew a firefighters was incapacitated and sounded the alarm so a rescue could occur. But what is even more touching about these animals is the bonds that they had with their humans and with other animals who might share the same station with them. They were deeply mourned when they passed and this book does justice in singing their praises again one hundred plus years later.

Five purrs and two paws up.

There was obviously a ton of research that went into this book. It was well worth it. Sometimes funny, a lot of times heartbreaking, this was a wonderful book with a ton of history. What I most appreciated were the updates on how and where things are now. I definitely recommend this especially if you are familiar with New York.

First, let me say I am not a person who feels the need for trigger warnings. I don't belong to the generations that think such warnings are necessary. Yet I do feel the need to warn animal lovers about the contents of this book. Unlike the book's description, there are many, many stories that are not going to "thrill and amuse" you. Because there are many, many stories about the tragic deaths of of the animals associated with the firehouses. In fact, author Peggy Gavan started off the book describing the horrendous ways some of the horses who pulled the fire engines were injured or killed. She then ends the book with story after story of the deaths of dogs, cats and horses who lived in the firehouses.

Not that there are no amusing stories. There certainly are many, just as there are countless stories of animals saving humans or other animals. Their courageous acts were truly astounding. Moreover, the dedication, love and care the firefighters showed the firehouse pets was both heartwarming and heart-rending. The reader also acquires much knowledge about firefighting in New York City in the late 1800s and early 1900s. In addition, the reader learns that until about 1907, the horses who were retired from the department where put up for auction, and sold to anyone who needed a workhorse for anything. Black Beauty anyone? See? It was impossible to enjoy this book knowing things like that, and reading about all the horrible ways the firehouse pets died.

I was pretty excited to read this book: the Bravest Pets in Gotham about the firehouse animals. Not only were animals workers for early fire houses, but they were pets - cats, dogs, birds, turtles and even monkeys.

Some interesting history is shared early: Assigning horses unique names - 1500 horses throughout the boroughs. Fire dogs served as early sirens and cleared the way for the horse drawn apparatus.

Overall though this book is disorganized. The subheadings in the chapter is a bit chaotic and random. You would think you were learning about monkeys, but then it would go back to the dogs and the cats. It needs work - this “historical hook” section is just confusing.

Photos were included but I think it needs more; articles were quoted, and photos were mentioned, but more could be shown in the book.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in return for an honest review.

This well-researched book was delightful to read. Beyond stories of heroism by four-legged creatures, there is a lot of interesting information about firefighting by the New York Fire Department in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s.

Fire horses were amazing! There are stories of horses bounding at the sound of the gong, slipping themselves in their harnesses, racing through the streets to the fire and even ignoring their own injuries at times to get to the fire. If one of them slacked off, one might nip them to keep them in line. There are also amusing stories of how the community interacted with them, and their antics, such as one who would wander at the fire to find vegetable stands where he could snatch bananas, or amuse himself by playing tricks on the firemen by ringing the bell.

Second, we all think of the Dalmation as the iconic mascot, but they were also working animals. Their job was to run ahead of the horses and wagon to clear a path, and they weren’t always Dalmations. These dedicated canines would rush into buildings to save their fellow firefighter and rescue victims, even carrying babies out of danger. There are heartwarming stories of how they cared so much for their fellow firefighters they would carry coffee in a pail to the men. One would even take the trolley to visit his master at home.

Third, there were a whole lot of other animal mascots: monkeys, goats, turtles and birds. Some even accompanied the firefighters on a run, with one bird barking out commands in English and Yiddish.

Delightful stories!

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