Doberman Kisses Fireman

Some photographs need no words to touch our hearts. One such photo is that of a Doberman giving a firefighter a kiss.

But what’s the story behind it? Who is that Doberman and Fireman?

Unfortunately, some things circulating on the internet don’t tell us the truth.  Fake news has always existed but luckily it’s now easier to check facts. Thanks to the Snopes website we have the real story behind this photo. (Snopes investigates rumors and urban legends.)

red doberman fireman kiss
Credit: Patrick Schneider

Although the photo is real, the details have been altered a bit. The photo was taken during a house fire in 1999 and shows fireman Jeff Clark being licked by a pregnant, red Doberman named “Cinnamon”. The photo description has people believe that Cinnamon was thanking the firefighter for carrying her out of the burning house, saving her life.

What, in fact, occurred at the time:

During the house fire, there was already one dog outside in the yard and another one (Cinnamon) ran out of the house on its own. When the firefighter knelt down and removed his mask, Cinnamon walked over and licked him at the perfect moment for photographer Patrick Schneider. The fireman didn’t really rescue the dog in some dramatic fashion as we may imagine. She wasn’t carried out of the burning house. But regardless of the exact details of the event, it’s still a beautiful moment between a human hero and a canine. A heart-warming moment is frozen in time and preserved forever.

Jeff Clark works for the Charlotte Fire Department. And pregnant Cinnamon gave birth to five Doberman puppies. She eventually passed away in 2005.  Thanks, Cinnamon and Jeff for this warm moment, and Patrick for the great shot.

Read more:  Old vintage Doberman photos >>

13 thoughts on “Doberman Kisses Fireman”

  1. Thanks for the truth behind this photo ( Will Cook), I love this photo regardless of the made up stories. A beautiful, magnificent Dobe just spreading it’s love. More people need to know what Dobes really are. I have a Red Male (my third Dobe) that looks almost identical and have enjoyed mine so much!

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  2. this particular picture may not be 100% true but i’m positive that there are firefighters that put their lives in danger every day to save not only humans but also our canine and feline “kids”. i thank them and its still a SPECIAL picture!!!

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  3. I love how this article talks about how people has taken this story to another level but the funny part is that was my dog. Her actual name is “persimmon” like the fruit that grows on trees. Only a sissy would name a clipped ear dockedtail Doberman pinscher cinnamon. Next thing the dog was never pregnant. She was spayed at like 1 year old. So next time an article is wrote about someone else dog how about you get the facts straight.

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  4. I am a firefighter and the owner of 5 doberman, past and present. As a firefighter I can appreciate this photo without the story behind it. The picture speaks for itself. God bless all firefigther and all dobermans.

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  5. I really didn’t think the story was completely accurate, That being said though, there’s no denying that whatever the true story is, it’s still a wonderfully heartwarming photograph. One of my all-time favorites.

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  6. It´s a lovely scene,The pregnant dog kissing the fireman.
    Animal have a pure sentiment, and gratitude that most the humans does not have.

    While more I know humans, I love more the animals.

    The local news, need to make an interview with this hero.

    Luiz Lima
    Brazil – Rio de Janeiro

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  7. this maybe an old story ,yet i got it today in an email on july 28th,2009 .
    i work with animals have for over 12 yrs. all i gotta say is thank you to God, the fireman , the photographer & staff plus bless her soul cinnamon for such a BEAUTIFUL story !

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