An Unlikely Boss Rules the Johnston Fire Department

Alexis Johnston lives a pampered life.

You would never be able to tell that two years ago she was severely injured after being hit by a car. The black Labrador retriever had no home to go to.

Today, she rushes to the door, wags her tail furiously and chases the neighboring business' cat.

That's right, Alexis is the dog.

It didn't take much for the fire personnel in Johnston to fall for the little bundle of energy two years ago, said Chief Jim Krohse.

"We have personnel that are in both Johnston and Grimes," he said. "One day in the fall of 2009, a Polk County Sheriff officer brought an injured dog to the Grimes station. He asked the guys to watch her until the Animal Rescue League could pick her up. She was in a lot of pain, but she was a sweetheart. They made a fort around her to make her comfortable."

That short time was all it took for the firefighters to fall for the pooch.

"We felt compelled to follow-up with her," Krohse said. "With the ARL a stray has to be held for a week before it can be adopted."

Alexis' injuries required surgery and she would have been euthanized if no one claimed her.

"The guys couldn't stomach that," Krohse said. "We found a vet in Johnston at that said he would do the surgery for nothing."

Steve Safris, the Westfield veterinarian, said Alex needed surgery to fix a fracture at the head of her femur.

"The fire department was interested in keeping her, so our decision to do the surgery free was in that scenario we rely on them when we need them, so we decided to do that," Safris said.

However, the injuries were so sever that a special orthopedic surgeon had to be called in. The firefighters all chipped in to pay for the specialist.

"It's always better to have someone that does it more come in," Safris said. "They make sure that everything goes well and ensure the best recovery."

And recover Alexis did. But the decision on where to keep the dog was still up in the air.

Firefighter Tradition

"I come from Chicago, and all the stations have dogs," Krohse said. "The concept was can we bring her here to the station? It wasn't a slam dunk."

In fact, the city of Johnston doesn't allow animals in city buildings. 

"There were a lot of big questions to be answered," Krohse said. "We did some research on how many dogs are in Iowa stations. We found zero at the time."

After some discussion and a little work, the stray dog found a home with the Johnston Fire Department. But she still needed a name.

"We had asked the firefighters for ideas for a name," Krohse said. "We ran a contest for suggestions, but we had taken in a new rescue engine made by a company named Alexis. So we all agreed on that." 

The Firefighter Association pays for Alexis' food and veterinary costs.

"She lives here rent free," Krohse said. "We keep her in the station, she doesn't stay in the sleeping quarters.

"It's really worked out well, she has a large family," he said. "She definitely knows who the soft touches are. She gets treats for going to the bathroom outside and she knows tricks. She loves to sit in someone's lap, and she's not a little dog."

Safris, the vet, said Alexis has healed well and is just a normal dog now.

"You can hardly even tell she had problems when she was younger. She moves well and she's adapted well to the fire department environment," he said.

Alexis' Fans

While the department hasn't taken Alexis to schools when visiting classrooms, several classes and organizations visit the fire station.

"One day there was a line of kids waiting to pet her," Krohse said. "She was scared of kids initially, but now she loves kids."

Randy Garcia, who works for the department through the Fraser Ambulance Service, said Alexis has fans.

"My daughter, Zoey, comes here to see her and no one else," Garcia said. "She comes on Fridays and the first thing she says is 'I want to see Alexis'."

Tristan Johnson at times serves as the department's dog trainer, leading Alexis in tricks and the always popular Stop, Drop and Roll manuever.

"She's such a sweet soul that she's hard not to like," he said.

Which isn't hard to tell at all, as a large letter from a local kindergarten class clearly states that students were excited to see Alexis.

"We wish we could come see your dog Alexis" it read.

"She has definitely paid in dividend," Krohse said. "She's been a great PR tool, as well, everyone loves her. She was very busy during Fire Prevention Week. She's always a hit at our open house pancake breakfast."

A Member of the Department

Alexis might not be the co-worker most firefighters expect to have, but she's an easy one to get along with.

"She makes the day go quicker. She make for an interesting day," Johnson said.

Safris said studies have shown animals can help reduce stress.

"I don't think there is a more stressful job than a firefighter," he said. "I think she offers a bit of stability there. When they come back she's always waiting for them. People with pets tend to deal with stress better."

Occasionally, Alexis will ride along on calls, Krohse said.

"At first she needed a step ladder to get up," he said. "She's not very brave, she cuddles up when the sirens are on."

Alexis even has a Facebook page to connect with the community. The department posts photos from events and friends post kind messages for the Johnston Fire Station staple.

"We have people stop by just to see her," Krohse said.