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

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.

Check out our new PM2 Dog Agility Team Page

Proud Canine Ambassadors for the Active Care line of dog food by Breeder’s Choice

When Rampage enters the room he blocks the light. I flopped onto my back and showed him my belly when he lumbered up to me.

But I didn’t need to show submission. He greeted me with a nose tap and a bit of sniffing. This 2-year-old Bull Mastiff suggested a leisurely walk around the cul-de-sac and we talked about his hopes for a furever home.

As we strolled, I decided Rampage doesn’t live up to his name. This gentle giant would be a great pawl for that special human. He’s the 29^th dog featured in I Love Dog’s effort to find 31 pooches furever homes.

Here’s Rampage to tell you about himself.

(Rampage settles down and crosses his paws.) “Hullo. I’m Rampage and I’m ready to be your side kick. I will mind my manners in your home and car. When I’m on a leash, I’ll walk right next to you.

You’d think with a name like Rampage I’d prefer to bounce around in a mosh pit. Nopes. I like nudging humans and leaning against them if they don’t mind my bulk. I’m not very interested in toys – I prefer a human to kick it with. Right now my favorite person is my foster mom/trainer.

I’m hoping to find a mellow, mildly active person who will be a strong leader who will keep my training up. I’ll be OK with older children but not wee ones because of my heft.

Spread the word, i Love Dogs Rescue Network and help me find a furever home!

To adopt me, contact Karma Rescue or call 310-512-RUFF(7833). If you mention that you heard about me via the i Love Dogs website, we’ll send you a FREE puppy starter kit.”

Karma Rescue was a beneficiary of the i Love Dogs Summer of Giving program.

A very merry Woof Wednesday to all my pooch and people pals! Adopt-A-Dog Month is finally winding down, so I’d like you all to meet the last dog I get to introduce – the very well-behaved Katie Fay! (Or as I like to call her, Miss Manners.) She’s a 3-year-old pit bull mix who’s i Love Dogs’ 28th featured pooch in its campaign to find furever homes for 31 dogs during October.

Now, I’m not exactly a polite pooch. You might even say I’m a little rude sometimes. But sweet ‘n’ mellow Katie Fay here has shown me how to be a good dog.

Did you know there are lots of advantages to sitting and waiting for an invitation instead of just grabbing food out of your peoples’ hands? For one thing, they don’t yell at you, and for another thing, you might even get a bigger treat, just for being polite! Wow. KF has opened up a whole new world for me. I think she’d work wonders for you, too.

Anyhoo, I’m going to sit here and wait while Katie Fay tells you her story.

KATIE FAY

Thank you, Leroy. You’re becoming quite the gentledog!

Honestly, I don’t remember much about my life before Karma Rescue found me. Or perhaps I just don’t care to remember much about it. I was living in a house with 200 other dogs, and let’s just say it was a struggle to survive.

But that all changed when I was brought to my wonderful new foster home. My foster mom, brother and sister are amazing. I love them to pieces!

They have worked with me so much and taught me all kinds of skills. I’ve learned so many useful things – like how to use a doggie door, run alongside a bicycle, walk on a leash, ride quietly in a car, and sleep through the night in my crate.

I’m also learning basic commands like “sit” and “come” – plus I’m learning the American Sign Language signs for them! My foster family tells me that’s a very special skill for a pup to have. But I certainly don’t mean to brag or to bore you, so I’ll stop there.

I do hope you’ll consider adopting me. It doesn’t matter if you have a big family or it’s just you – I know we’ll be very happy together.

…And if you give me this sign (which means “I love you”), I’ll show you I love you right back by giving you lots and lots of kisses!

Aww, Katie Fay, if I had fingers I’d be making that sign right now!

So how about it, humans and hounds? Wouldn’t Katie Fay make a great addition to your family? To adopt her, please contact Karma Rescue or give them a call at 310-512-RUFF (7833). If you mention my pawl TJ or i Love Dogs, you’ll get a FREE puppy starter kit!

Perritos, perritos! Are you excited for hooooowloweeeen? Pues, I am too! I love seeing all my puppy friends dressed up in silly human-like costumes, it’s so funny! Bark bark, woof!

But, howloween also means the end of October and the end of Adopt-A-Dog month. Ay perritos, it makes me sad that so many of my friends are without homes, but the good thing is that our friends at i Love Dogs are doing so much for 31 dogs to get adopted!

Today’s adopt-a-dog is a sweet Pitador like my friend Shelby! She’s a Pitbull/Labrador mix and guess what? She’s eight months old just like me. That’s right my puppies, we had the best play date of our lives. You know what happens when you get two puppies together? More fun than any human’s ever had!

Julie’s sooo beautiful in her black coat. My coat is white, so we made the perfect match! I told her to talk to you guys and tell you all about why she’s perfect for your home!

Julie: Hola! Me llamo Julie. Haha, bark! Irie taught me some Spanish. Did you like it? I’m so excited to meet you. Do you have toys with you? Humans ALWAYS have toys. I love love love toys.

Do you like my black fur? So pretty huh? Some people think it’s not the prettiest or they don’t notice me, but you noticed me didn’t you? Look, I can shake <shakes hands with you>. OR, I can crawl. <she crawls across the floor to give you a big slobbery kiss>.

Oh! I can also sleep <She jumps onto the couch on her back, paws in the air, she pretends to sleep>.

Are you going to take me home? I’ve been waiting for my furever home for so long! I’m pooped, and I’m only eight months old. The humans here are so nice, but I really want to know I won’t have to go to a new place again. I want to settle in on your lap <grins>.

It’s okay, Julie! Most of the humans I’ve met have been super humans that always come to the rescue. Will you take Julie home?

If you want to adopt contact the rescue humans at Basic Needs Foundation!

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!

O’Mama is the kind of neighbor I wish lived beside me. She’s friendly , cheerful and such a people lover. When I interviewed her during a walk, she wagged her tail and smiled at the humans.

This 3-year-old Terrier mix nuzzled legs and tried to snuggle anybody who pet her. And she managed to do all this while clutching her beloved plushy bone in her muzzle. 

O’Mama would rock in a home full of humans who need the attention of such a cuddle bug. She’s the 26^th dog of i Love Dogs effort to find homes for 31 pawls. Let’s hear what O’Mama has to say.

O’Mama:  “HHHRRRROOOLLLRORORMMMM. OOHHMM?  RRRCCCUUUPTTTHH. (Drops plushy bone from mouth.)

“Howdy howl! I’m O’Mama and I can’t wait to play with my future two-legged furiends!

If you take me home I’ll cuddle and kiss you for hours. Or we can have endless games of fetch with tennis balls, my bone, you name it!

My fur is teddy bear soft which is ideal for hugs and pets. I’m also house broken so I won’t make a mess.

I made friends at the Linda Blair WorldHeart Foundation. One of them is Andy who says I’m his favorite dog to play with because I’m spunky and have character.

I don’t like thinking about my days when I was on the streets, constantly hungry and full of pups. I had my five beautiful babies at a Los Angeles animal shelter but they didn’t have room for all of us. Fortunately the foundation helped us.

Now that sad time is behind me and I’m ready for my furever home.

To adopt me contact the Linda Blair WorldHeart Foundation or spread the word, i Love Dogs Rescue Network and help me find my perfect family. If you mention you learned of me through the i Love Dogs website, we’ll give you a free puppy starter kit.

The Linda Blair WorldHeart Foundation was a beneficiary of the i Love Dogs Summer of Giving program.