Jiggs, a once fit and friendly fire dog, became overweight from visiting too many restaurants, and grumpy when taken away from the restaurants and the horses.
Jiggs was born in March of 1917 and was given to Brooklyn's Engine Company 205. He took a liking to the men, especially Engineer Thomas "Smoke" McEwan, and loved doing his job. When the bell rang, he would bark and jump with excitement, and easily keep up with the horses as they ran to the scene of the fire. He was a friendly dog but his enthusiasm got him into trouble a couple of times - once when he tried to become friends with a horse and getting booted through a window, and another when trying to slide down the pole and breaking his leg.
For the first few years, Jiggs was at a healthy weight around 70 pounds, but then he made friends with chefs at nearby restaurants who loved giving him treats. In 1922, motorized engines replaced the horses and Jiggs was no longer getting his daily exercise. By 1923, with too many treats and not enough running, Jiggs weighed 118 pounds. He soon developed gout and was put on a strict diet. He lost some weight over a couple of months but soon regained it.
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| Smoke McEwan trying to console Jiggs |
In 1925, the company relocated to an area far from his favorite restaurants. The once "best natured dog in the world" became ill tempered, snapping at people, including children. He was considered a danger to the public and was put to sleep. Sadly, Smoke McEwan was on vacation and unable to be with Jiggs at the time of his death
