ORANGE CITY, Fla., November 6, 2019 – AdventHealth Fish Memorial recently donated 1,500 stuffed Dalmatian dogs to the Orange City, DeBary and Deltona fire departments.
These fire departments receive nearly 20,000 calls a year and the stuffed animals will be given to children at accident scenes.
This is the 10th year AdventHealth Fish Memorial has given Dalmatian dogs. Historically, the Orange City hospital gave teddy bears, but transitioned to Dalmatians in 2010.
The tradition of Dalmatians in firehouses dates back more than a hundred years. Dalmatians were originally trained to be coach dogs and run in front of the fire cart, clearing a path and guiding horses-drawn fire carriages towards a fire. Even after horse-drawn fire carriages were phased out by motorized fire engines, Dalmatians have remained in firehouses as guard dogs and mascots.
About AdventHealth Fish Memorial
AdventHealth Fish Memorial in Orange City has 175-beds and is one of the six hospitals in Flagler, Lake and Volusia counties that composes the AdventHealth Central Florida Division - North Region. Formerly known as Florida Hospital Fish Memorial, the organization’s parent company changed the name of all wholly-owned entities to AdventHealth on Jan. 2, 2019. Based in Altamonte Springs, AdventHealth is a connected system of care. With more than 80,000 team members, AdventHealth is one of the nation’s largest faith-based health care systems with nearly 50 hospitals and hundreds of care sites in nearly a dozen states. With the mission of Extending the Healing Ministry of Christ, AdventHealth Fish Memorial provides whole person care to heal the body, mind and spirit. For more information about AdventHealth Fish Memorial, visit http://AdventHealthFishMemorial.com.
Photo Caption:
AdventHealth Fish Memorial donated 1,500 stuffed Dalmatian dogs to the Orange City, DeBary and Deltona fire departments to give to children at accident scenes throughout the year. Pictured from left to right in the front row: Josh Sievert, Deltona Fire Department lieutenant; Sam Pilcher, Orange City Fire Department deputy chief; Ryan McNerney, Deltona Fire Department firefighter and paramedic; and Keith Wyche, Deltona Fire Department engineer. From left to right in the back row: Joe Flores, Deltona Fire Department firefighter; Rob Deininger, AdventHealth Fish Memorial CEO; Bill Snyder, Deltona Fire Department fire chief; and Zach Miller, Orange City Fire Department firefighter.