SWAMPSCOTT — The fire department welcomed a new member to its crew Thursday afternoon, an 8-week-old chocolate Labrador retriever named Ryan.
The department named the puppy after Mark Ryan, a Swampscott firefighter who passed away last September at the age of 57. Fire Chief Graham Archer described the name as a way to honor Mark.
Ryan’s mother is Select Board member MaryEllen Fletcher’s dog. She said when Archer learned her dog Pearl was going to have puppies soon, he called to ask if the department could adopt one.
“It’s been a really, really tough last several years,” Archer said. “I thought it would just be a nice sort of turning the corner, turning the page, and there are lots of studies that show the benefits of having dogs.”
Joe Cross, 12, and Camilla Cross, 10, helped deliver and raise the seven puppies in Pearl’s litter. The two Marblehead Village School students were there to drop Ryan off on Thursday.
The two said it was a big responsibility to take care of the puppies. While they were sad to say goodbye, they were glad to see him get a new, loving home.
Ryan will now live full time at the department, getting around-the-clock snuggles.
