Pie Theft Mystery Turns Into Benefit For Ruby The Firehouse Dog

PALM HARBOR, FL -- Sick and tired of being falsely accused of pilfering pie, Ruby the firehouse dog at Palm Harbor Fire Rescue is challenging her fellow firefighters to a pie-eating contest.

The Palm Harbor firefighters have had a good time posting the running saga of Ruby's alleged pie theft on their Facebook and Twitter pages using the hashtags #shewasframed and #rubyisinnocent

It began on Nov. 27 with a post in which Ruby allegedly ate an entire pie while the firefighters were battling a structure fire and then blamed the theft on the Dunedin Fire Department.

Dunedin firefighters left a letter blaming Ruby for the theft and swearing they did not eat the pie.

To determine Ruby's innocence, the Palm Harbor Fire Rescue crew posted a poll. With 574 votes, 72 percent blamed the Dunedin firefighters.

Ruby was finally declared innocent of all charges after photos surfaced showing the real pie thieves.

Ruby was sworn in as the official firehouse dog for Palm Harbor Fire Rescue on Oct. 12.

She was only a few months old when she was burned in a house fire that took the life of her owner and another dog in Blakey, Georgia (see related story).

After Blakey firefighters doused the flames, they searched for Ruby but couldn't find her and assumed she perished in the fire.

A day or two later, when the other residents of the home returned to sift through their belongings, a severely burned Ruby emerged from behind the remains of the house.

She was quickly rushed to an emergency veterinarian who stabilized her. Ruby spent more than a week in critical before she was declared strong enough to be transported to Florida where the nonprofit Suncoast Animal League of Palm Harbor volunteered to continue her care.

It was Rick Chaboudy, director at Suncoast Animal League, who suggested to Palm Harbor Fire Chief Craig Maciuba that Ruby would make an ideal mascot for the fire rescue squad.

The story about Ruby stealing pie has now turned into a fundraiser for the firehouse dog, with the entire community getting in on the joke.

This week Sweet Caroline's Bakery & Cafe, 3347 Tampa Road, Palm Harbor, delivered a pie to the station with instructions to give Ruby a piece.

"In an effort to maintain her innocence with the looming pie-eating allegations, Ruby the firehouse dog has herself challenged the firefighters to a Pie Eating Contest on Thursday Dec. 6, during the Santa Visits the Firehouse Event," reads the Facebook event. "Come out and cast your vote for $1 per ticket and prove her innocence or vote for the innocence of the pie-eating firefighters! All proceeds with go toward the care and keeping of Ruby and her expenses."

The contest will take place from 8 to 9 p.m. at Palm Harbor Fire Rescue, 250 W. Lake Road.

Prior to the voting, kids are invited to meet with Santa, Ruby and Sparky the fire dog at Fire Station 65. The event starts at 6:30 p.m. and Santa will arrive at 7 p.m. There will also be hot chocolate, cookies and holiday music.

Images via Palm Harbor Fire Rescue

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