Loss....

[Guest guest]

Fairwell Ranger....thank you for your dedicated and faithful service!!!

Firefighters mourn loss of department's dog:

TEXAS CITY — Ranger, the beloved Dalmatian that brightened many children’s days

and was the faithful companion of the Texas City Fire Department, died Thursday

of old age. He was 13.

Capt. Ganesa Warren, of the Texas City Fire Department, said Mayor Doyle

gave Ranger to Station 1 in November 1994.

Warren said everyone at the fire department was saddened by Ranger’s passing.

“He helped with public relations and fire prevention events,” Warren said. “The

children usually would come in and see him and the children at school would ask

about him a lot. Over the years, his health began to deteriorate.”

Firefighters were giving Ranger medication for arthritis and pain, but he was

rushed to an animal hospital Thursday about 5 p.m. suffering from breathing

difficulties, Warren said.

“He was well taken care of,” Warren said. “It was probably all those home-cooked

meals and the stuff he really didn’t need. He made it through the new year with

us, but we suspected it was going to happen pretty soon; we just didn’t know

when.”

Several firefighters went to the animal hospital to visit Ranger before he died.

It wasn’t immediately known if the mayor or firefighters would seek a

replacement puppy.

“He’s irreplaceable,” Warren said. “If the mayor decides to give us another dog,

we’ll welcome it with open arms, but there will never be another Ranger.”

The fire department’s sign at 1725 25th St. honors Ranger. Plans for a memorial

weren’t set as of Friday, Warren said.

---------------------------------

Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now.