HAINES CITY – Six years after being found tied to a post, a pit bull mix named Ember has achieved local stardom.
The mascot for the Haines City Fire Department, Ember can now be seen by the community for the remainder of 2018. Ember is featured in different outfits for a 12-month calendar, with proceeds going to SPCA Florida.
“We’ve been thinking of some good charities, and since Ember is a rescue, the SPCA made sense,” said Jayne Hall, who came up with the calendar idea. “The response has been amazing. Everyone seems to want one.”
Hall is the mother of Fire Department driver engineer Scott Platukas and regularly visits the fire station. She also made all of the outfits for Ember’s photo shoot, which are relevant to the month they appear in the calendar.
“It was all the guys who thought we should make a calendar,” Hall said. “It all just came together. Every time I’d come in with an outfit, Ember would come running. She was so much fun.”
Ember first came to the department in 2012 after being found muzzled and tied without food or water. Firefighters at the time asked to keep her. The department took up a collection for food, water, bowls, a dog bed, vaccinations and spaying.
“From what I’ve heard, you could tell she had injuries to her face that were consistent with dog fighting,” Fire Chief Tim Mossgrove said. “They nursed her back to health and she’s been our mascot ever since.”
Local business Intense Ink helped put the calendar together for Hall and the Fire Department, offering a discount rate for production while putting in the time for graphics and design free of charge.
“We wanted them to be able to raise as much as they could for their cause,” said Jarred Lovell, the company’s president. “We’ve been very involved in the community. This is pretty unique as far as the project itself. We really hope the community enjoys it.”
Every member of the department is featured in at least one picture with Ember for the calendar. The calendar includes appearances from City Manager Deric Feacher and K-9s from the Haines City Police Department.
“You can be having a really bad day and you’ll come in and she’ll see you and come running to you,” Mossgrove said. “She definitely lifts our spirits when we’re down. She really brightens your day and lightens the mood and we love having her.”
Hall said the plan is to make the Ember calendar an annual tradition. In addition to the SPCA, there is some talk about using proceeds to start a scholarship fund to supplement a firefighter’s schooling or EMS certification. About 2,000 calendars will be produced this year and sold at the Haines City Fire Department and Intense Ink at $10 apiece.
“Intense Ink was a great, great help for us with this project,” Hall said. “Ember just inspired me from the day I walked into the department. You have to give all the credit to Ember.”
Mike Ferguson can be reached at Mike.Ferguson@theledger.com or 863-401-6981. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson.