Dog Returned To Shelter Twice Snags Perfect Spot & Job At Fire Station

Everyone has a perfect place to be; however, sometimes it takes a while to get there. This certainly applies to Clementine, a Catahoula leopard dog mix in New Orleans, Louisiana. The pup was adopted from a shelter twice, but each time was returned due to her excess energy. However, finally, Clementine has found herself the perfect home, and a job, at the Cedar Hill Fire Station.

Dog finally gets the perfect home

Clementine was dropped off at the age of three at an animal shelter near New Orleans, Louisiana. She languished there for four months but had to be evacuated to Texas due to Hurricane Ida. The storm slammed the Gulf Coast soon after, but Clementine had already moved away.

While living at the Tri-City Animal Shelter and Adoption Center in Cedar Hill, Texas, the pup was adopted by two different families. Unfortunately, neither adoption worked out partly as she doesn’t mix well with smaller pets. Meanwhile, Clementine also had too much energy for the second family.

Cedar Hill Fire Department looking for a fire dog

It turned out Captain Robert Moree of the Cedar Hill Fire Department had been seeking a fire dog for the station for a number of years. Apparently, he read a study about how dogs can help firefighters cope with the stress and trauma of their jobs. Due to the study, Moree was keen to give the study a real-life trial.

First, the captain cleared the idea with the chief and other firefighters, then he and some colleagues visited the shelter where Clementine was living. In fact, as soon as they spotted the friendly dog, they fell in love.

Speaking of the moment, Captain Moree said they introduced them to Clementine and she took to them, and they to her, instantly. It was dog love at first sight. Moree added that after they cleared another alarm he and his driver/engineer, Bryan Wallen, decided to go and collect Clementine.

Clementine as part of the team

Moreover, while Moree officially adopted Clementine, she now belongs to everyone in the firehouse. In fact, she loves nothing better than to snuggle up with the firefighters between calls.

Naturally, she is always close by whenever anyone prepares food. Besides being so loveable, Clementine has also achieved the goal of reducing stress in the firehouse.

Captain Moree recalls:

Some nights we come back and have difficult things to deal with. She’ll come over and put her head in our laps. She does as much for us as we do for her.

Clementine rides in the fire truck

Besides keeping everyone relaxed and happy at the firehouse, Clementine often goes on calls on the fire truck. Apparently, the hound howls at the sirens and makes all the firefighters laugh, even during difficult times. Reportedly, she is a natural fire dog and she is definitely helping her team cope with the stress. According to Moree:

As firefighters, we’re typically thought of as the ‘macho guys,’ but the things we experience leave a lasting impact on us, and, at times, it can be hard to share our emotions after responding to some tough situation.

Clementine not only makes the station feel more like home during our 24-hour shifts but also offers a positive, constant boost to morale and keeps us excited to come to the station.

Meanwhile, along with finding her perfect home and job, Clementine has won an award. She has been named Dog of the Year at the 2022 ASPCA Humane Awards.

Readers can hear Captain Moree speak about adopting Clementine in the video included here:

Congratulations to Clementine and her team at the firehouse. It certainly sounds like she has returned the favor of her own rescue by rescuing the firefighters too.