Dogshttp://www.ravishingbeasts.com/dogs/en-US2008-11-22T20:57:03ZSquarespace Site Server v5.0.0 (http://www.squarespace.com/)Dogs in Spacehttp://www.ravishingbeasts.com/dogs/2008/4/3/dogs-in-space.htmlrachel2008-04-03T19:37:08ZThe first creature to be lauched into space in spaceship Sputnik 2 was Laika (Barker in Russian), a stray Siberian husky nicknamed Muttnik by the American media.  Two Russian dogs had previously achieved sub-orbital flight, but Laika was the first earthly creature to go into orbit and prove that life was indeed sustainable outside our atmosphere if, that is, various life-support systems are in place. Sadly, the batteries of Laika's system ran out a few days into her journey. 

Strelka_spacedog.jpgMore Russian spacedogs followed Laika including Strelka and Belka whose bodies are preserved at the Memorial Museum of Astronautics in Moscow. Sputnik 5, was launched on August 19, 1960. On board were the dogs Belka ( Russian for Squirrel) and Strelka (Russian for Little Arrow). Also on board were a grey rabbit, 40 mice, 2 rats, flies and a number of plants and fungi.  After a day in orbit, the spacecraft's retrorocket was fired and the landing capsule returned to earth with all passengers alive and well. Strelka went on to have six puppies, one of whom named Pushinka (Fluffy), was sent to President John F. Kennedy's child Caroline by Soviet premier Nikita Khrushchev as a present. Pushinka's descendants are still living today.

Other interesting facts include Strelka and Belka's stuffed world tour.  The image above shows Strelka in Australia in 1991.  As a friend remarked: "Posthumous fame is one thing, but posthumous touring..."

for more information on dogs, monkeys and oher animals in space: http://www.spacetoday.org/Astronauts/Animals/Dogs.html

 

]]>Balto the Sled Doghttp://www.ravishingbeasts.com/dogs/2008/3/4/balto-the-sled-dog.htmlrachel2008-03-04T00:33:08ZBaltoCarcass.jpgBalto was the lead dog on the final leg of the January 1925 serum run to Nome, which transported diphtheria antitoxin from Anchorage to Nome in order to combat an outbreak of the disease.  During white-out conditions, Balto kept the team on track and succeeded in getting the serum to Nome in time to prevent any more deaths.  Balto began an instant celebrity.  A bronze memorial statue of Balto stands in Central Park with the noble words:

DEDICATED TO THE INDOMITABLE SPIRIT OF THE SLED DOGS THAT RELAYED ANTITOXIN SIX HUNDRED MILES OVER ROUGH ICE ACROSS TREACHEROUS WATERS THROUGH ARCTIC BLIZZARDS FROM NENANA TO THE RELIEF OF STRICKEN NOME IN THE WINTER OF 1925  ENDURANCE   FIDELITY  INTELLIGENCE

And, of course, despite all that Endurance and Fidelity, Balto was also stuffed.  But first he toured California with his entire team as part of a vaudeville act and then languished in a Los Angeles sideshow until a Cleveland businessman, George Kimble, bought the team for $2,000 - a lot of money back in the 1920s.   On March 19th, 1927, Balto and his six other teammates - Foz, Sye, Billy, Tillie, Moctoc and Alaska Slim - were paraded through downtown Cleveland.  People lined the streets.  A band played.  And on their first day at the Cleveland Zoo, fifteenth thousand people came to see Balto and the rest of the dogs.  Balto died at the Cleveland Zoo on March 14th, 1933 at the age of 14.  His mount was displayed at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History.  Read more about Balto's serum run +

]]>Owney the Postdoghttp://www.ravishingbeasts.com/dogs/2007/3/16/owney-the-postdog.htmlrachel2007-03-16T21:27:17Zowney_postal_dog.jpgOn display at the National Postal Museum in Washington D.C. is Owney the stray-mutt-turned-postal-mascot.  As story goes, Owney the pup wandered into the Albany post office in 1888.  He was cute and sweet and liked the smell of mailbags, even following them into the railcars.  In fact, Owney travelled the rail across the country with the mail, and since no train every derailed (a common disaster) while he was a passenger, he was adopted as mail mascot.  In 1895 Owney even made an around-the-world trip, traveling with mailbags on trains and steamships to Asia and across Europe.

But Owney grew irritable with age.  He bit a reporter and was shot only June 11th, 1897 in Toledo.  Despite that unfortunate hitch in the Disney-esque story, everyone loves a stuffed mascot, so off Owney went to the taxidermist along with his jacket custom made when the dog tags he was given on his travels began to weigh down his collar.

http://www.postalmuseum.si.edu/exhibits/2c1f_owney.html

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