Butler firehouse dog celebrates first Christmas with crew
When Santa made his flyover of Butler County, he made sure that Arlo, the Butler City Bureau of Fire’s dog, wasn’t left out from experiencing the holidays, too.
“I’m pretty sure he got a couple new toys. I noticed a few new ones when I came in today,” Jon Mann, one of the firefighters said Sunday, Dec. 28.
Arlo was adopted by the department from the Butler County Humane Society in June and celebrated his first Christmas there Thursday. Members of the bureau said after he was adopted, they hoped he would serve as emotional support and as a way to connect with the community more.
In the six months since, whether it was coming along to trick or treat or having people honk when he’s out on walks, Mann said the community has shown nothing but love for Arlo.
“Just the other day, one of the local residents brought him a Christmas present. He just sat and waited while the little boy opened it for him and sat it on the ground,” he said.
Mann said when Arlo isn’t trying to play, he’s usually sleeping in his crate or in his bed in the bunkroom. Even so, he said it gives the crew something to entertain them during quieter shifts.
“(When) running calls, it’s not like coming back and we have to wait for another one. We come back and we get to play with him. It gives us something to do,” he said.
Arlo was scheduled to begin basic obedience training shortly after his adoption, which Mann said he did well with. Now, his training is primarily focused on being more comfortable around other dogs.
Mann said one of his favorite quirks about Arlo is his bedtime routine.
“We’re watching TV in the dayroom and he’ll start heading to bed and then he’ll turn around and look at us and be like ‘are you coming?’” he said.
