• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to secondary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
The Relief

The Relief

  • Facebook
  • Flickr
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Home
  • Medical
    • Claim Status
    • What’s Covered
    • Eligibility
    • Change Dependents
    • Prescriptions
    • Find Medical Care
    • LiveHealth Online
    • Wellness Plan
    • Medical Equipment
    • Medicare
    • Long-Term Care
    • Vision
    • ID Cards
    • Kaiser Plan Member
    • PPO Summary Plan Document (SPD)
    • Medical Forms
    • Transparency in Coverage
  • Relief Benefits
    • Firefighter Event Reimbursement Form
    • Medical Equipment
    • Sick & Injury
    • Life & Accident
    • Death Benefit
    • Family Support Group
    • Assistance / Advancements
    • Estate Planning/Trusts
    • Scholarships
  • Ten Bells
    • Death Notices & Funerals
    • Report a Death
    • Member Deaths – A to Z
  • Retirement Corner
    • Scheduled Retirement Events
    • Retirement Announcements
    • Plan a Retirement Event
    • How To Retire
  • Calendar
    • Special Fundraisers
    • Events
    • Retiree Breakfast / Lunch Reunions
    • Memorials / Funerals
    • Firefighter Event Reimbursement Form
    • Add an Event
  • Grapevine
    • Current Issue
    • Articles
    • Columns
    • Mailbox
    • President’s Message
    • Advertising
    • Submit an Article/Photo
    • Archives
  • Donate
    • Donate Now
    • Widows & Orphans Web Site
  • About Us
    • About The Relief
    • Contact Us
    • Careers / Employment Opportunities
    • Board of Trustees
    • Testimonials

Top Fire Dog Contest

November 1, 2013

Fire Station 10 & WilshireWilshire, our own LA fire dog, was selected as one of three finalists in the “Chicago Fire” Top Fire Dog Contest. NBC flew the Dalmatian and his handler, Ryan Penrod (FS 10-A) to NYC for a Today Show appearance on September 24, 2013. “Yes,” says Ryan, “I requested that Wilshire get his own seat on the plane and NBC agreed!”

The three finalists, Dempsey from Indianapolis, Smokey from Jacksonville, Ill. and Wilshire were chosen from more than 100 firehouse dogs nationwide that entered the contest. After their guest spots on “Today,” the public was invited to cast votes for their favorite firehouse pooch on Today.com. The winner, in addition to being named “Top Dog,” would earn a cameo role on the popular primetime drama series about the Windy City smoke eaters.

“It was a whirlwind 24 hour turnaround trip,” said Penrod. “Besides doing the show, we only had time to see the 9/11 Memorial and FDNY’s 10 house.

gv_nov-2013_top-dog-wilshire2The competition to be the alpha dog was pretty intense. Dempsey, a 2½-year-old Boxer/Mastiff mix, was intentionally set on fire by a juvenile in 2011. The fire burned all four paws, legs, his underbelly and part of his tail. Smokey, a Labrador Retriever mix, was inside a home that was engulfed in flames. Her lifeless body was brought out and, with the aid of a veterinarian, was kept on oxygen 24/7 for three days until revived.

In the end, Smokey, the pup from Illinois, received the most votes from viewers. Her win secured her cameo on an upcoming episode of “Chicago Fire.” Hope she’s got some TS on the books to take time off from her duties of helping kids learn how to stop, drop and roll.

But Ryan was not really disappointed. “It will be pretty cool to have a nationally recognized fire dog as the mascot for our education room at the museum,” he said. Ryan and Wilshire are currently working on plans to make Wilshire a “live” exhibit for school children at the LAFD Historical Society’s museum in Hollywood. Beyond showing proper stop, drop and roll techniques, Wilshire teaches kids about the importance of healthy eating and exercise by lifting a 100 lb. dumbbell and running on a treadmill.

Filed Under: Articles, Grapevine Tagged With: Ryan Penrod, Today, Wilshire

Primary Sidebar

Paid Advertising

Share!

Gene Cooper – Born to Build

Generations – Part Cuatro

The Los Angeles Firemen’s Relief Association’s Holiday Dinner Dance

Secondary Sidebar

The Firemen's Grapevine

Categories

  • Articles (713)
  • Board Minutes (172)
  • Columns (185)
  • Department In Action (63)
  • Featured (85)
  • Health & Fitness (31)
  • Highlights (85)
  • Mailbox (64)
  • Memorials (27)
  • Retired Guys (33)
  • Sports (68)
  • Training (7)
Chris Stine

President’s Message – February 2023

Coming just after January, which is the month of new beginnings, is February. From the Latin word Februarius, meaning “to purify,” February was known as the “Month of Purification” during ancient Roman times. It is a … Continue Reading about President’s Message – February 2023

Archives

  • 2022
  • 2021
  • 2020
  • 2019
  • 2018
  • 2017
  • 2016
  • 2015
  • 2014
  • 2013
  • 2012

Footer

Main Office Numbers
(800) 244-3439 Toll-free
(323) 259-5200 Direct

Office Location
7470 N. Figueroa St
Los Angeles, CA 90041

Los Angeles Firemen's Relief Association
  • Home Page
  • Contact Us
  • Links
  • All Forms
  • Staff Directory
  • Board of Trustees
  • By-Laws
  • Privacy Policy
  • Site Map

Give To A Hero

Widows, Orphans & Disabled Firefighter’s Fund
Donate Now

Copyright © 2023 · Los Angeles Firemen's Relief Association