The San Francisco call., 1897-01-31
Cocker Spaniel Which Has Saved Two
Homes by the Most Novel Methods,
Nevertheless He Is Not Fenans PeE9ery House Dog Should
Add His Accomplishment to That Of Catching Burglars
Money Cannot Buy This Rare Canine.

rHE only dog in this country that
SE7 makes practice of putting out fires
J4SS is owned by II. H. Burns Of Ira
verse City, Mich.
The animal is pretty cocker spaniel,
Baby by name, and not only does he put
out fires, but he goes about it with dis
play of intelligence which many human
being might envy or use with advantage.
Money cannot buy this little dog from
his owner. On two occasions he did the
work of paid fire department, saving his
masters home from the results of disas-
trous blaze and on another occasion he
did like service for a neighDor whose
house took fire while the family was in
another part of the house. Only for
the prompt action of the dog the house
would have burnt down.
The one particular trick, however, which
has made Baby the pride and admiration
Of the entire city of Traverse is the man.
her in which he puts out fires. Fire in
kny shape is something which he does not
kpprove, and even as a puppy he showed
the most pronounced dislike for it. The
lighting of match anywhere near him
was a sure signal for a series of growls and
vigorous attempts on his part to reach the
offending fame and putting it out by hit
ting it with his paw.
This peculiar trait was encouraged in
the dog, and be soon became to feel that
it was MS duty to put out every fire he
saw. However, he seemed to know, in
tuitiveIy, that q fire in a stove or CRATE
Eas not to be interfered with.
Recently Mr.. Burns and his family had
occasion to 90 away from home for short
time, leaving Baby in charge of the house.
He had often acted in the capacity of
housekeeper before and everybody felt
perfectly safe in leaving him on the watch.
Just what happened during the family's
absence is not known, but passing neigh
Dor saw smoke coming out of an upper
window of the house and heard furious
barking from the inside.
Forcing an entrance the neighbor found
the house filled with smoke and Baby
rolling about on the floor in the act of ex-
tinguishing the last fame of what had
evidently been a good-sized blaze.
There was big hole burnt in the car.
pet where a coal had evidently snapped
out of the CRATE and started the fire. and
goodly portion OF Baby's long silken hair
was singed. The dog, however, did not
bit of fame was extinguished, he jumped
up and showed every evidence OF being
well satisfied with himself and his work.
Baby's other experience as local fire
department was in the house of neigh
Dor whom Mrs. Burns was visiting. The
dog was with her and, for few moments,
was left alone in a room in which there
was an open CRATE fire.
The attention of the occupants was at
tMcted to the room in which the dog had
been left by hearing him growing and
knocking the furniture about. On enter
ing the room Baby was found with
small rug in his mouth drawing it back
and forth over a small portion of the car
pet which had been set on fire probably by
live coal.
For these two acts of unusual intelli-
gence Baby is the pride OF everybody in
Traverse and should anything unfortunate
happen TO him the entire community
would feel it was personal loss.
On another occasion Baby put out
small blaze in an entirely different man
ner. A gentleman was sitting in a store
near the dogs home holding lighted
cigar in his hand. Baby went into the
store, and, catching sight of the lighted
cigar, he stole quietly up behind the gen.
tleman, and with a quick stroke of his
paw sent the cigar flying across the room,
where he proceeded to extinguish it by
repeatedly striking itwith his paw.
In appearance Baby is an unusually
handsome dog He has long, silky, black
hair, and eyes that sparkle with intell-
gence until he looks as if he could speak if
be only would.
From the very first day that Baby-then
hnffy ball of wavy black hair-became
member of the Burns household he
showed evidence of unusual intelligence
ana ability to learn. AS he grew older
sr tricks as sitting up and begging for
sweets, playing dead, sneezing and bring
ing his masters shippers seemed part OF
his natural instinct; but in addition to
these ordinary tricks Baby acquired of his
own accord number OF tricks in which
he seemed to take delight. especially
when ne got an opportunity of showing
them to an admiring crowd.
For some unknown reason Baby has an