His milky whiteness and flowing mane and tail made him a dashing figure with two other chargers drawing the water tower  as he raced to the scene of fire . Fire chief Keating referred to Chubby as “one of the strongest, most willing and good-natured ever in the fire department.”

Fire companies began to switch to motorized engines in the early 1920s and Chubby was retired in 1926. He spent seven years in retirement at the Dog Protective Association farm on Scottsville Road. During that period hundreds of Rochesterians and Monroe County folk made special visits to see him.

Chubby went to greener pastures in February of 1933 and was buried in a straw lined grave in the fields where he loved to roam. Deputy Safety Commissioner, Curtis W. Barker and Fire Chief Maurice Keating attended Chubby’s burial ceremony. Miss Mary Foubister, secretary of the Dog Protective Association, commenting on Chubby’s death said, “It is only fitting that we say goodbye to this great animal. He will be missed by everyone who ever saw him. As near as our records and those of the city show, he was 33 years old at least.”

Mr. Baker was commissioner when Chubby as well as several other horses now dead, were retired in the final group of animals which left when the fire department was completely motorized.