Jack the Biloxi Fire Dog is learning that everything’s not in black and white. On any given day, he knows not whether he’ll in be in a fire station roaming among firefighters, in front of a classroom of young students, or greetings crowds at a Christmas or Mardi Gras parade.
Such is the life with pause of the four-legged, tail wagging, energetic canine, the newest trainee in the Biloxi Fire Department and one with a growing audience of supporters.
Jack, a one-year old Dalmatian, joined the department in November and since Day 1, has become a popular figure in the department. Jack will serve as an ambassador for the department, appearing at a host of public functions to help raise awareness of fire prevention and safety.
In fact, over the past couple of weeks, more than a thousand people have liked Jack, the Biloxi Fire Dog on Facebook, where Jack gives a first-paw perspective of his training and new experiences.
He will also be making numerous public appearances. He is scheduled to appear at the Fire Station 7 ribbon cutting on Jan. 11 and will ride in a fire truck in the Children’s Mardi Gras Walking Parade Feb. 15. His first public appearance, however, was at the Children’s Christmas Parade earlier this month, where he had an introduction into what it’s like to be around large crowds.
“He is a great addition,” Biloxi Fire Chief Joe Boney said. “We are getting him ready for his service and when we feel Jack has met all the requirements that we want him to meet, he will be issued a badge just like every other firefighter in the department.”
Jack also will be a companion for the firefighters. “Unfortunately, he can’t be at all the stations all the time,” Boney said. “He is assigned to Central and will make visits to the other stations to provide companionship to the guys, just for their friendship.”
Jack’s arrival at the Biloxi Fire Department caps a harsh upbringing. A woman found him leashed underneath a house and malnourished. She asked the owner if she could foster Jack and find him a suitable home. After hearing about the Biloxi Fire Department building two new stations, the woman contacted Chief Boney and Jack’s new life began.
Visit Jack, the Biloxi Fire Dog’s Facebook page
News & notes: Weekly report, council, Woolmarket parade, loans
The week that was: Last week, the Fire Department answered 69 calls for service, including 44 medical emergencies and four fires; the Police Department answered 1,890 calls for service, the Community Development Department issued 54 building permits with a construction valuation of more than $535,000; and the Engineering Department continued to progress on projects throughout the city. To see the reports covering last week, click here.
City Council: The next scheduled meeting of the Biloxi City Council is Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. at Biloxi City Hall. To see the agenda and supporting documents, click here.
Woolmarket Christmas parade: The annual Woolmarket Christmas Parade will held in the Woolmarket community on Saturday and included dozens of units, candy and throws. To see a video of the complete parade, click here.
SBA loans: The U.S. Small Business Administration is accepting applications for low-interest disaster loans for Mississippi Businesses and residents that were affected by the flash flooding on May 8 and 9 of this year. For more information, click here.
