That’s right, 50 years ago today, Russia sent Belka and Strelka into space. The two dogs spent a day orbiting the earth in Sputnik 5. When the spacecraft’s retrorocket was fired, the dogs were found safe and sound in the landing capsule, yay!

They were the first living creatures to travel to space and return to earth alive. Thanks to them, the first human, Yuri Gagarin, was launched safely into space just eight months later.

Belka (which means “white”) and Strelka (”little arrow”) did have some company in the capsule. Along with them for the ride were 40 mice and two rats.

A few months after the flight, Strelka gave birth to six puppies. One of them, named Pushkinka, was given by Russian President Nikita Khrushchev to President John F. Kennedy’s daughter Caroline in 1961. (Sorta like how President Kennedy’s brother Edward gave Bo to the Obamas!)

Most of the “Space Dogs” that Russia sent into orbit were small, female strays that were picked because they didn’t have to stand to pee. That’s right, the pooches had to sit still the whole trip. The dogs were trained to sit for long hours at a time, held down by harnesses, and to wear heavy space suits without trying to chew or wiggle their way out of them. I sure love to go bye-bye, but these space trips don’t sound like they were any fun at all.

Some of the other Space Dogs weren’t as lucky as Belka and Strelka. At the start of a flight just a month before theirs, pooches Bars and Lisichka were killed when the booster rocket blew up during the launch.

What really bums me out is that some of the dogs sent into space weren’t even ever meant to survive. Laika, a stray Husky mix, was the first pooch to go into orbit in Sputnik 2. (In America they called her “Muttnik,” BOL.) She was given just enough oxygen, food and water to survive for a few days. When the life support system batteries died and the capsule ran out of air, poor Laika died up there, all alone and probably really, really scared.

I’m totally proud of Belka, Strelka, Laika and all of my fellow pooches that were trailblazers in getting humans into space – but I sure am glad dogs aren’t sent into space just to die anymore.

PHOTOS: spacetoday.org

Last week, two construction workers in West Palm Beach, Florida saw a skinny little male puppy – with a 20-pound chain around his neck, yikes! – start to stumble across a real busy street. His buddy, an older black Pit Bull mix, moved in and helped him cross the street.

“They seemed to be friends,” David Walesky of Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control told PEOPLEPets.com. “She was nudging him, telling him to get out of the road. They were crossing traffic. He was worn out and she was in front of him saying, ‘Let’s get across this together. I’m waiting for you, buddy – let’s go.’ ”

Walesky said she was encouraging him and guiding him across the street. “He was up and moving, but it is difficult to drag that heavy of a chain,” he said.

The construction workers picked up the pooches and took them to a nearby shelter. But shelters aren’t always a great place for dogs, as I know all too well. When a super nice lady named Kay-Lynette Roca heard that the dogs might be euthanized (after all that – can you imagine?!), she rescued them and brought them to her Safe Harbor Animal Sanctuary, which is the only one in South Florida that takes Pit Bulls. You know, I hear Miami is exciting and all, but since Pit Bulls and mixes like me are banned there, guess I’ll never know for sure.

BOL, the black dog was named “Brains” and the skinny puppy was named “Brawn.” Now they’re chilling together at the no-kill (yay!) sanctuary while Brawn gets treated for heartworms and puts on some weight so he lives up to his name. Then the pawls will get to stay on a 28-acre ranch, lucky dogs!

Well, I guess they’re not really lucky unless they find a furever home together. Roca said she’ll only adopt them out that way, since she doesn’t want them to ever be separated. She thinks they ran away from a terrible situation. In their neighborhood some humans put heavy chains on their dogs to bulk up their muscles. Hey, stupid people, ya ever heard of a long walk or hike?

“They seem to know one another,” Roca said. “She is protective of him, and she seems to be the leader.” She said both pooches are “very sweet” and show no aggression toward humans or other dogs. (Gosh, that sounds just like a whole lot of Pitties I know!)

If you can use a little Brain and Brawn, visit the sanctuary’s website or call 561-747-5311.

PHOTO: PEOPLEpets.com

Leroy is a 3-year-old “Terribull” adopted from a Carson, Calif. shelter by i Love Dogs writer Laura Goldman. When he’s happy, Leroy snorts just like a pig. He really misses his gal pal Sophie, who passed to the Rainbow Bridge last November. But he adores his new pawl Ella and his chew toys (a little too much). Check out Leroy’s other articles!

I’ve had a pretty crazy week, if you want to know the truth. First I’m in the small place with the bars and the barking dogs, and the lady who bought me a Kong. Then these cool people come to see me and give me tummy rubs and play with me and let me bite all over them and stuff. Next thing I know, I’m all woozy with a big plastic thing around my head and the cool people are giving me hugs again.

So there I am thinking things can’t possibly get any weirder than they are right now, when they take me to this house that has this really big dog in it. I’m so excited, right, cuz I wasn’t allowed to play with dogs in the place with the bars and it’s been so barkin’ long since I’ve been able to play. We do some sniffing, and then we’re at it. She’s way bigger than me, but she’s still got tons of energy just like me. The plastic thing is cramping my style, so I ditch it, but I’ve got some soreness inside me from when I was woozy. This girl is all right, though–she plays hard, but knows when to rest, too.

So there I am, playing and running and jumping and thinking they’ll take me back to the bars one day, but it turns out they never do. I decide this girl must be my sister, cuz they give me a collar that smells like her. They give me my very own bed (never had one of those before!), some Kongs, food, water whenever I want it, and a whole big space to run around in. I also get a lot of treats. I think they’re trying to teach me something–I get lots of love and treats when I do something called “outside potty.” I don’t remember how to do it all the time–play time is just so distracting!–but I try to remember cuz I really want those treats. We go for lots of walks, too. Sometimes I get really sore–Mom and Dad say it’s because I’m not used to moving around so much. I was in the place with the bars for a very long time, and there was no room for playing in there.

Now on top of all this I find out it’s National Puppy Day today. Could things get any better than this? Here I am, a puppy, finding a new home just in time for National Puppy Day, which is all about encouraging people to adopt puppies so they can have new homes. Turns out there’s these things called “puppy mills” that are bad places for puppies to be. And puppies from these places go to stores, like bags of dog food or tennis balls. I think that’s pretty awful, if you want to know the truth. Back at the place with the bars there are lots of puppies who need homes just like the one I got. I don’t know why people would want to make more puppies when there are so many who need homes and are already here.

Anyway, my new sissy says that for National Puppy Day I should introduce myself so you’ll know who I am, in case it’s important later. I’m still little, so I don’t know much, but here’s what I know for now:

• If you’re eating near me, you’d better share. The first time Mom pulled out dinner in front of me, I belly-flopped into her plate.
• If you need anyone to pick up your shoes and carry them off somewhere you can’t find them, I’m your man.
• If you have a Kong, and I have a Kong, I want your Kong. But if you let me have yours and move over to mine, I want mine back again. Then if you move back to yours to let me have mine, I want yours again. Don’t ask me why–that’s just the way it is.
• There is a big hole filled with water in my backyard and I have fallen in like 50 times. It keeps tricking me but one day I tell you I will win.
• If you’re trimming a hedge or fixing a door, I’ll hang out between your feet, just in case you need me to bite anything.
• I am a sucker for head scratches and snuggles.
• If I like you, I will follow you around. Absolutely everywhere.

So long as we’re introducing ourselves, what should I know about you? Tell me in the comments below.

So I was very excited the other day because Mom and Dad came home with a surprise. I’m always excited when they come home because I know I’m going to get some treats and a walk and some really great tummy rubs (and really, what’s better than tummy rubs?) This time, though, they came home with a little doggie for me to play with. I was soooo excited Daddy had to hold my collar so we could have a sniff session. I wanted to start playing right away!

I love playing with other poochies–it was so fun to run and jump and play all evening. I got a bit confused though because when I play with other poochies they always bring their parents, but this poochie didn’t have his parents with him. It was even weirder when it got to be bedtime and the new little guy didn’t go home. I figured he was fun enough that it was okay for him to sleep over, but he kept trying to sleep on my head. I like poochies, but I also like my beauty sleep, and that night I wasn’t getting any!

I figured I better keep him company till his parents came to get him, but they never came and it’s been a few days now and I think what’s happened is that my parents are actually his parents, too, so that makes this little guy my…brother?

I’ve never had a brother before and I have to say it’s kind of weird. We run and play all the time which is soooooo fun. But when I’m lying down he climbs on top of me, and then when I stand up he gets stuck on my back and I have to kind of wiggle to shake him off.

Plus he doesn’t know how things work around here. He doesn’t know which food bowl is his, he drools his water all over the floor, and he poops in the house which I know for sure is not okay. But Mommy and Daddy are trying to teach him so for some reason I get extra love when I poop outside which I already did always anyway. I don’t really get that part, but anything that gets me extra treats is fine by me!

We went to the big store with all the treats to get him a nametag today. Dad says it’s so he won’t get lost if he gets out of the yard (which, admittedly, I’ve done before. Twice.). But he totally embarrassed me barking at the other poochies in the store when they were only trying to say hi. I will have to teach this guy a lot of stuff but the weird thing is that even though I think the big blue water hole in the yard is very suspicious and I don’t go near it, my brother runs right up and barks at it and has even fallen in a few times without being scared. He thinks it’s really fun for some weird reason, so maybe I have a few things to learn from him also.

Either way, double the dogs means double the love because now instead of just Mommy and Daddy giving me love all the time, my brother Diesel gives me lots of love, too.

Do any of you have little siblings? I’ve always been an only pooch, so if you have any tips for me, please leave them here.

Mami went to the Best Friends Animal Society adoption festival last week and she met a big hunk of a dog. His name is Scrappy Doo and he’s very sweet! Sooo nice to other doggies, little humans, and all the big humans. He’s looking to go home with you furever!

If you want to take him home contact Strangest Angels Animal Rescue at strangestangelsr@yahoo.com!

Contact Best Friends Animal Society’s Robin Hammond at robinh@bestfriends.org.

‘alo cachorritos! This past weekend I went with my mami to the Haute Dog Howloween Parade in Long Beach! Phew, so many doggies! So many that I just went right into my crate without even being asked. They were all dressed up!

Anyhowl, they were tons of rescue packs looking for furever homes for their puppies. Here’s Etta, she’s the cutest. If you want to take her home contact Best Friends Animal Society’s Robin Hammond at robinh@bestfriends.org!

Arrrrr-ROOOOOOOOOOOO! Happy Howloween to all my two- and four-legged guy and ghoul friends out there. May your day be boo-tifully spooktacular! (Okay, I’ll stop now.)

As happy as I am that it’s All Hallows’ Eve, it saddens me that today also marks the end of Adopt-A-Dog Month. My pawl TJ has introduced me to so many wonderful new furiends over the past few weeks who all deserve happy furever homes. I’m crossing my paws that each and every one of these dear pooches is as fortunate as I was to find a loving new family.

Our last – but certainly not least – adoptable pup is a sweetie named Little Jake. Now, Little Jake is about as tall as me, and I’m no Jackahuahua, so I think his name might be a ”little” joke, BOL. He’s a 3-year-old terrier mix who loves to bop around chasing his Kong Wubba.

Why, there’s the pup now. Little Jake? Here, boy! Excuse me…Little Jake? Can you please put the Wubba down for a moment and introduce yourself to these nice people?

LITTLE JAKE

Oh! Sorry about that, Sophie! Sure, I can take a short break.

Hey, everybody. My name’s Little Jake although, like Sophie said, I’m really not so little. BOL! My original family had a couple of small dogs – I mean, they really were little guys – and I think I was kinda sorta a joke to them. I spent most of my puppyhood in doggy day care, which was fun, but I really missed having my family around. But they decided they didn’t want me anymore, and that’s how I ended up with the nice people at the Linda Blair WorldHeart Foundation (LBWF).

I gotta say I really like it here. I have my very own Kong Wubba! Do you know what that is? If you don’t, well, let me tell you – it’s the greatest invention ever. This crazy toy bounces all over the place, and I love bouncing after it! Before I know it, a few hours have flown by, and I’m still chasing that wacky Wubba!

My people pals here are the awesomest, too. I like to give big ol’ doggie hugs to show how much I love ‘em. I can’t wait to give you a big ol’ hug, too! I’m a real low-maintenance kind of dog, and you won’t have any problem with me. So how about it? Here…let me show you how fun this Wubba is. Come back, Wubba!

Little Jake? Yoo hoo, Little Jake? Are you finished? Oh well. Now that you’ve had the opportunity to meet Little Jake, do you think you’re a good match? He’ll do fine in any loving and fun home, and as you can see, he can entertain his silly self for hours! To adopt this dearheart, please contact the Linda Blair WorldHeart Foundation. If you mention TJ or i Love Dogs, you’ll get a FREE puppy starter kit!

Sophie was almost 84 dog years old when she passed to the Rainbow Bridge last November. She was adopted by i Love Dogs writer Laura Goldman in 1998 from a Hawthorne, Calif. shelter. She loved long naps, looking out the front windows and, most of all, her best buddy Leroy. Check out her other articles!

Ay, pues que creen? Puppies, I’ve made a brand new friend for Adopt-A-Dog month and she’s so sweet and cute, and only 14-weeks-old. She’s right here, but sssh, she’s a little shy. She’s a puppy you know, very small, you have to take care of her carefully because she’s a baby. I’m not a baby anymore, I’m almost 9 whole months old! That’s right, I’m a big pup almost and my mami and papi got me when I was just a little 12-weeks-old sort of like Vida.

Vida’s so cool and special like me. We were both rescued! But Vida had a big ouchy on her leg when her foster daddy found her. I had a little ouchy on my eye, but it got all better right away. Vida had to go to the anipal doctor to look at her leg. Vida told me that the big vrooom monsters that race around on the streets outside hit her and hurt her leg. Her ouchy leg had to go away and now she only has three paws, but she’s still so much fun to play with!

Vida, come here, her name’s in Latin and it means “life”. That means life in Spanish, too! It’s such a pretty name. Come here Vida, talk to the humans, I swear they’re super nice just like your foster daddy!

Vida: Um, hi, Irie said you’d be nice. My foster daddy said that you might help me find a home that’ll last furever? I only have three paws, is that okay? ‘Cause it’s okay with me ’cause really I run around like crazy anyhow. Who cares if I only have three paws, I can still play with my toys, cuddle, and lick your face!

I love my foster daddy ’cause he saved my life! I was tripping and stumbling all over the place with all these big humans walking around. Finally I found a good good hiding spot behind this big bin that had bunches of trashies. Humans don’t get too close to trashies, so I was hiding really good.

My leg was hurting bad. I’d lick and lick to make it all better, but it just wouldn’t get better like it used to be. So I cried a little until finally my foster daddy found me. I didn’t want him to get me because my ouchy hurt so bad! But, I’m so glad he came because he took me to the doggie doctor and I felt sooo much better.

My ouchy leg had to go bye bye, but I don’t even notice it’s gone most days. I just curl up on daddy’s lap, snuggle my stuffed lion, and give him kisses because he saved my life and when you save a life you deserve a big wet kiss! If  you take me home, you’d get a great big one, the biggest of all time. Kisses for life. Oh, and I have a blue eye. Isn’t that so cool?

That’s super cool, Vida. I love your eyes, they’re so unique! I have a little pink birthmark on my nose that makes me super unique. I love us mutts, we get all mixed and come out so cute and special!

Humans, this girl’s going to make the best little puppy sister ever. You have to-have to-have to take her home. Please? Come on, do it for me, your old pawl little Irie.

Just bark at the super rescue humans at Karma Rescue to take Vida home with you.

Abrazos y besos perritos! 

Irie La Mona (The Little Doll) is a 7-month-old mixed breed, bilingual Jack Russell Terrier/Chihuahua adopted from the South Los Angeles Animal Shelter. Still a puppy, she aspires to one day host her very own show, and be the Oprah of mixed breed pups around the world! Check out her other articles!

Gigi: We had lots of agility classes. I did extra good at Norikos class and ran with Carla (our teammates Mojo, Magi and Kokomos mommy) I was super duper fast and mommy says it made her so happy to see my tail wagging while I ran.

PJpupp: And we gave out samples of TJ’s Health Bites and of Active Care Dog Food by Breeder’s Choice at all of our agility classes this week. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday at the classes mommy teaches in Wilmington, CA , Wednesday and Thursday at the classes we take from Noriko in Gardena, CA, on Sunday at all the the classes with Robert and Kelly in Torrance, CA. Next weekend we are taking them to the AKC agility trial in Walnut, CA.

Rickie Roo: I caught a mouse! I brought it to mommy who wasn’t quite as excited about it as I had hoped.

Hobo: We all groomed the kittens all by ourselves. Don’t forget that.

PJpupp: Oh, yes, Hobo, you are right. I bet people would be surprised to know that each of the dogs in our immediate family has their own kitten. Gigi has Kit, Rickie Roo has Kat and you have Kaboodle. All of the kittens are black and just showed up at our business one day so now they all live there with you, Hobo.

Hobo: But that leaves you out.

PJpupp: Oh, I have Mau Mau. He lives at the house. He’s 23 years old and so technically I’m his dog. 

Hobo: Mom watched us as we each gently groomed our kittens. Mine is a bit wiggly, but Kit and Kat like it when Gigi and Rickie Roo clean them up.

Gigi: Kit is very snuggly

Rickie Roo: Kat, too.

Hobo: Mine tries to run.

PJpupp: That’s because they were all feral and the two girls are now cuddly, but you have the boy and he’s still pretty wild.

Hobo: Don’t forget that I started to learn agility this week.

Rickie Roo: You did pretty good, too, Hobolicious.  You are a big shepherd and older than me and boy can you run fast. I bet when you figure out how to do the jumps in order you will be a really good agility dog.

Gigi: Right now you get to come to the shows and to classes with us to learn dog show behavior. It’s not as easy to know how to act at a busy dog show as one would think. Mommy says you are head of security for the team.

Hobo: Wow. I didn’t know that a street dog like me could have such an important job.

Rickie Roo: Oh, yes. Everyone in our family has  job. Mommy says a tired dog is a happy dog. 

Hobo: So I’m kinda like your bodyguard? 

Rickie Roo: Oh YEAH – ’cause we are SUPA STARS!!

Gigi: Not me, I’m a PRINCESS.

Hobo: Am I in charge of Mojo, Magi, Kokomo, Perry, Gidget, Mason, Aimee, Chili Dog, Mushu and the other dogs on the team too?

PJpupp: If they are where you are, yes, you are in charge, Hobo.

Hobo: I’m LOVING this having a job thing!

Rickie Roo: Don’t forget that just yesterday Chili dog earned his American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen Award.

PJpupp: Oh, no, Roo, we can’t forget that. Chili dog is our half-brother. He lives with Mei and is co-owned by Mommy. He did so well on his big test and passed it with flying colors

Rickie Roo: I GOT MY CGC TOO!!

PJpupp: You got yours back in February, Rickie Roo. Gigi and I have it, too. Mommy says all dogs in our family are required to have one. She says she had to graduate high school, so the least we can do is pass our CGC Test.

Hobo: I don’t have one.

PJpupp: One day you will. For now, Mommy thinks you could pass 9 of the 10 tests. It’s the leaving you alone for 3 minutes with a stranger she’s not so sure about. You are very loyal to mommy and she thinks you would try to look for her.

Hobo: Oh yes, I would. If she’s not around I am very nervous.

Gigi: Once you have practiced your dog show behavior enough you will figure out that she ALWAYS comes back. Sometimes it take a bit longer than other times, but she ALWAYS comes back.

Hobo: Really? Even for me?

PJpupp: Yes, Hobo. We are family and she will always be there for us.

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