Dalmatian-mad Scott Erbele sees spots everywhere he goes!
The retired firefighter (USA) owns the largest collection of Dalmatian-related items with a whopping 1,152 to his name.
From plush toys to figurines and artwork to Christmas decorations, you name it, and Scott has probably got a Dalmatian-themed version of it.
His path to record-breaking was paved not long after he was born in 1954, when his parents bought him a Dalmatian lamp.
To this day, it remains one of his most prized possessions.
Scott has even added to his collection since we verified it thanks to a trip to the Dalmatia coast in Croatia – which the dog breed is named after – during a cruise with his husband Rey.
The father-of-two told us how his obsession with the black-and-white canines really began when he fell in love with the fire service.
Dalmatians have a long history as fire dogs, mostly due to how compatible they are with horses.
They were trained to run in front of the horse-drawn fire engines to help clear a path towards the blaze firefighters needed to conquer.
“My parents bought a home in 1963, located in Silver Spring, Maryland, fortunately (for me) across the street from the volunteer fire station,” Scott reminisced.
“The alerting siren would blow, and I would run to the firehouse, answer the phone, and open the doors for the arriving firefighters.
“I was kind of adopted by the firefighters, and always hung around the station, but don’t worry, my parents knew where I was!
“The day I turned 16, I became a member. Through the years I rose through the ranks, and served as Deputy Chief, and president of the department. I am a life member but have long been inactive.”
Scott became a professional firefighter with the Arlington County, Virginia, fire department in 1975 but had to give up the job he treasured so much in 1997 when his hearing loss became a safety issue.
But of course, one thing he will never give up is his love of Dalmatians.
Scott has had dogs as part of the family his whole life, and got his first real-life Dalmatian, Wendy, in 2003.
He is now a proud dog dad to Dal Betty, named in honour of his mother, and mix breeds Lucy and Anabelle.
It was actually things related to the fire service that he first began collecting, later narrowing his collection down to his most-beloved items, the Dalmatians.
Speaking to us from his home in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Scott beamed with pride as he showed us all of the different helmets he wore during his service, hung on the wall of the room that houses his collection.
Explaining his love for Dalmatians, Scott said: “They are fiercely devoted animals. Their personality is very loving, yet very protective. Ours have been quite the watch dogs.
“They make quite a noise when someone comes to the door. Delivery people for years have always told us they respect our animals and would not dare enter our house. Betty is now just approaching two, so she is still full of energy. She and Lucy run circles around each other.
“Annabelle is getting up there in age but loves playing with the other girls.
“Betty, like our previous Dals did, always gets the attention of people. They are beautiful animals. The spots on a soft coat of white fur are so attractive. All three dogs are cuddle buddies, and must be with us on the couch, or in bed. They start the night on their beds, but all end up on our bed during the night. They’re the children.”
Scott admitted there is one downside to living with Dalmatians – the white fur they leave everywhere that he calls “Dalmatian glitter”.
By the early 2000s, Scott found he had a full cabinet of Dalmatian collectibles, and that he’d often “go crazy” when he spotted Dalmatian items he didn’t already own.
A self-confessed “neat freak”, Scott says he’s always kept his collection contained in cabinets and mainly in his home office, although it’s started to spill out into the rest of the house, with artwork adorning the walls in his hallways and living room.
In fact, the Thomas Kinkade prints he owns – one a firehouse theme and one featuring Disney’s 101 Dalmatians – are the most expensive parts of his collection, priced at around $2,000 each.
Scott’s collection grew when an old co-worker named Randy Higgins kindly passed on the Dalmatian collection of his late father Frank, who Scott had also worked with in the past.
But no matter how much his collection has grown, Scott’s favourite item is still that lamp his parents bought him when he was just a baby.
He said: “It's followed me through life. Why, and how, I have kept this little light, is beyond me. But I never threw it out. And here it is shining brightly.
“Perhaps my other favourites are the figurines as angels. All dogs go to heaven. Otherwise, I can look from shelf to shelf, looking at the collections within collections, and just smile at them all. So unique and beautiful.”
Scott and Rey’s house during the festive period is truly something to behold.
As well as the 8 ft tree decorated with Dalmatian ornaments, string lights and ribbon, they also have giant inflatable Dalmatians that sit out on the front porch.
Scott, who shares his two children with his ex-wife, added: “My kids (rightfully so) think I am nuts. I just consider myself eccentric.
“It's keeping me young and entertained. My partner Rey is a saint. Our friends come to visit and are fascinated, and fellow Dalmatian friends are mesmerized. I get so many favourable comments on Facebook from the Dalmatian groups. And yes, there are others out there just as crazy.
“I am sure I will be outnumbered at some point. In which case, I will try again. Since the record count in February, I have easily acquired another 50 items. It's just so much fun. Somehow, I need to get this under control. I must have spots!”
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