Over the last 13 years, the Worcester Fire Department (WFD) has named 22 puppies through charitable donations to their annual Worcester Firefighters 6K (WFD6K), which began in 2000 following the December 1999 Cold Storage Fire where six firefighters were lost. In addition to supporting our Name a Puppy program, the WFD sponsored the Tweed Litter in 2019. Tweed gave birth to 10 puppies on December 28.

Five puppies named by the WFD are currently in training:

• Jake, who is part of the NEADS Trainer String Training program, is named as a general shout out to all firefighters. Jake – A term for a firefighter, is used mostly in the Northeast US. The term is normally used by firefighters, or fire buffs, speaking of another firefighter, or other firefighters. To be a “Good Jake” is a very high form of praise from fellow firefighters.
• Porter, currently in our Prison PUP Program at JJ Moran in Cranston, RI, is named in memory of a retired member of the WFD who has since died, firefighter James Mateychuk.
• Elwood, currently in the Prison PUP Program at MCI Norfolk, and Cinder, currently in the Prison PUP Program at Northeastern Correctional Facility in Concord, MA, were named in memory of firefighter Robert Halloran. FF Halloran spent nearly 30 years with the WFD, beginning his career at Providence Street before shifting with Engine 12 to Franklin Street station.
• Moose (#2), currently with a Full-Time Puppy Raiser. Moose was named in memory of firefighter Lt. Jason Menard, who died in the line of duty.

11 puppies named by the Worcester Fire Department – Blaze, Rescue, Maurice, Ed, Luke, Cliff, Nikki, Gilbert, Gianna, Windy, and Franklin – have served or are currently serving as Service Dogs, Service Dogs for Hearing, Assistance Dogs for the Classroom, a Service Dog for a Child with autism or other developmental disabilities, and an Assistance Dog for the Courthouse. Six of the puppies the WFD named were released from the program.

The WFD6K focuses on the community and bringing the city of Worcester and surrounding towns together to celebrate the spirit of the day. NEADS is proud to be one of the local charities that the WFD has chosen to support through this fundraiser.

Updated 5/2024; Originally published 10/2022