I have been sharing with you my experience with dogs and other animals for quite some time now and it occurred to me to wander a little bit into history as well, but into an interesting one! I’d like to introduce you to several well-known dog personalities that I admire in a way. Since after all, dogs play an important role in our life, so let’s take a look what have they’ve achieved in the time of our life together.
Laika lived for only about three years (*1954 - ✝1957) and as the first living creature from our planet, it got to the orbit of the Earth.
This historic event took place on the 3rd of November 1957. She was transported there by the Soviet satellite called Sputnik 2. The reason for its flight was the fact that at that time, only little had been known about the effect of cosmic environment on a living organism. Which implies, that flights into space with human crew had to be preceded by sending of animals.
However, she wasn’t the first dog that visited space. Border of outer space, that is 100 km above the Earth, had been crossed before her by the dog pair Dezik and Cygan. Those were sent in 1951 from a spaceport on a ballistic route to the height of 101 km.
Laika’s original name (literally translated as Barker) was Kudriavka (literally Ringlet). She got even many other names, but she became famous under this one, which, by the way, is the name of a breed of hunting dogs from northern Russia and Siberia.
She was a little two to three-year-old tramp from Moscow, a crossbreed weighing only 6 kg. The scientists presumed that stray dogs would be used to tough life and that’s why they would be better at withstanding both the training, but also the task.
The training itself took place by gradual adaptation to a tight cabin, where it was possible only to sit, stand or lie down, to turn around was impossible. She was also being prepared for the overload in a centrifuge, for the noise upon launch and special mushy food designated for the journey.
Laika’s launch took place without any trouble. Only after the release of the satellite from the rocket, an issue came up: the satellite remained connected with the last degree of the carrying rocket. This resulted in malfunction of the temperature regulation system. Even though Laika was agitated, her pulse returned back to normal on the orbit and she even had something to eat.
However, her return to the Earth wasn’t planned, such technology wasn’t developed at that time. She had food for seven days with her and then, she was allegedly supposed to be killed by a programmed injection. Her life was, however, much shorter. She survived only several hours on the orbit. After five to seven hours, she showed no signs of life. The cause of her death remains unclear, the Soviet Union would release contradictory statements in the following years. There were claims that she died due to overheating, due to a lack of oxygen after the batteries malfunctioned, even that she was killed according to plan.
Western animal rights advocates criticised the sending of Laika to death. Other flights of dogs to the orbit were then planned with a re-entry, within the scope of preparations for the flight of the human. Since owing to Laika, it has been proven, that a living creature will survive an ascent to space and even a longer stay on the orbit in a state of zero-gravity.
In the Star City, where Russian cosmonauts get ready for a flight, Laika has a memorial. Another one was built in 2008 on the grounds of the Institute of Military Medicine in Moscow. Laika also appeared on numerous post stamps across the whole world. Her story is being continuously remembered, a comics was made about her, her name appears in songs and in band names. It may not atone for her faith, but it might at least honour her memory.
Although I sometimes temporarily care of some brown rats, I still consider myself to be a beginner in brown rat keeping. In the beginning of this year, a white lab brown rat ended up in my temporary care. I noticed that Běluše (that’s how I called her...
It sits with great difficulties. It also looks like it is very painful. It seems that any contact of the tail and ground causes great pain. As well as any touch when I try to find out what’s wrong with its tail. We came back from swimming where our dog...
Summer fun begins now. And I can’t imagine a summer without our activities together with my dog. What about you? Plan where you and your doggie could spend time before the temperatures are scorching and not a single branch moves on trees and we all...
Some dogs are already born with sensitive digestion, at some it may occur later in life. Or an allergy for a component of the food they used to like and we considered as suitable may occur. For such cases, meat cans can be a great supplement of normal...
If you decide to head to the streets of your city during a hot summer day, remember that pavements you will be walking on are much warmer that the air. In general, I try to go out with my dog during hot summer days as least as possible but if we go...
That brown rats are social rodents and love and look for the closeness of not only other brown rats but also their owners is a well-known fact. They feel lonely and sad without any interaction
Weekend or holiday is here and you are thinking about what to pack? You definitely shouldn’t forget your first-aid kit. And also the one for your dog! Properly equipped first-aid kit is a must. If you are struggling with deciding what should be...
Our personal experience is what influences us most in our opinions. But if we don’t have it or can’t get it at least from a friend or family member, it is more difficult for us to imagine how living with a giant furry friend looks like. And if it comes...
The best option for living of a small rodent are big aquariums, plastic boxes or cages. And I don’t mean big as high but rather with as big area as possible. Hamsters are naturally running creatures and need enough space. Max has a space of the...
If you are going for your holiday by car, you may be considering bringing another passenger with you. Your dog can be a great companion, so you don´t want to leave it at home. However, your time off by the sea might hide various obstacles, starting...
Turkey, the homeland of angoras and Turkish Vans is almost cats’ paradise. Even though veterinary care is quite expensive here, also cats living outside are taken care of well. Even in large cities like Istanbul and Ankara you can encounter a lot of...
When I was a child, our dog changed my life. He taught me lifetime love for living beings but also responsibility, patience and caring for others. Scientist has found out those are not the only benefits the life with an animal has for children....
