Dalmatians have a natural affinity to horses, and in Europe, Dalmatians were often stable dogs and carriage dogs, running along beside horse-drawn carriages. In the United States, the natural talents of the Dalmatian were developed to assist in firefighting. They were trained to run in front of the fire engine to clear the way and to guide the horses to the fire as quickly as possible. They were also used as rescue dogs to help locate people in burning buildings. Back at the firehouse, Dalmatians served as watchdogs, guarding the firehouse, the equipment, and especially the fast, powerful horses that pulled the fire engines.

But the Dalmatians at the Museum of Firefighting on Saturday weren’t there to work. They were there to hang out and be admired and petted. When asked why some Dalmatians had more spots others, one Dalmatian owner responded, “It depends on how much black Magic Marker you use.”

In addition to meeting the Dalmatians, children who attended Dalmatian Day could meet a real arson dog and be greeted by Good Neighbor Bear. Magician Joey D. entertained the crowd with amazing magic tricks and a few goofy ones—like when he misheard "yellow bandanna" and tried to fold a yellow banana.

Inside the Museum there were many more things to see and do. The film Operation Dalmatian played all day, and there were Dalmatian crafts and a puppet show about fire safety that featured a Dalmatian character. Kids could have a great time and take home with some nifty souvenirs—a red plastic fireman’s hat, cardboard Dalmatian ears, and white balloons with black spots.