The Bravest Pets of Gotham: Tales of Four-Legged Firefighters of Old New York

In the late 1800s and early 1900s, the New York Fire Department permitted firemen to keep one dog, one cat, or singing birds in their firehouse. Since the firemen were required to live and work at the firehouse full-time, these animal mascots—along with the horses that pulled the fire trucks—were their constant companions, making a dangerous workplace feel more like home.

The Bravest Pets of Gotham takes readers on a fun historical tour of Old New York, sharing touching and comical stories...