NYS DOS, Fire Safety for Kids, About Hershey

NYS Department of State

Kids' Room

I would like to tell you a little about myself. I am a chocolate Labrador Retriever and I am 11 years old. I have been with OFPC for 9 1/2 years. I wear a badge just like all the firefighters and my badge is #1. There are two other arson dogs, and their names are Buddy and Mica. We are trained accelerant detection canines. That means we are trained to go into a fire scene after it has been put out; and if there is concern about how the fire started, we sniff for certain materials that may be used by bad guys to start or spread a fire. We are like fire detectives. The work that we do helps the firefighters and the police track down and arrest the people who start fires.

You may have seen us on television or in the newspapers after a questionable fire.

My partner and handler is Richard Rogozinski. His friends call him "Rogo." We work together investigating questionable fires, and he keeps my training at its best. But he also takes care of me, and I live with him and his family. We are always "on call," 24 hours a day. Together, we have worked at 400 fire scenes. The other arson dogs have partners and handlers too.

Sniffing out the cause of fires is difficult work, but I am rewarded with much praise and playtime with Rogo for a job well done.

If you would like to know more about us, go to the next page.

Hershey says, "Kids, always remember: Firefighters are your friends."