Laika was a stray mutt living on the streets of Moscow, but she was chosen by the Soviet space program to go on a historic adventure that laid the foundations for manned missions (the first of which was completed by Russian astronaut Yuri Gagarin in 1961).

Unfortunately for Laika, the Soviet scientists hadn’t planned for her return voyage, and she was ultimately sacrificed in the name of science.

Following the success of Sputnik 1, the first man-made satellite, the Soviets wanted to carry out an even more monumental launch to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Bolshevik Revolution.

Soviet scientists chose Laika to be sent up into Earth’s orbit.

They believed that she might be better prepared for the journey than most dogs because as a stray, she was already accustomed to extreme weather conditions and hunger.

As part of her training, Laika was kept in a very small cage that was the same size as the ship, Sputnik 2. She was frequently placed in a centrifuge, which simulated the rocket’s movements.

Sputnik 2 consisted of an oxygen generator, a fan, and not much else. She was provided with enough nutrition gel to last a full week.

Before her launch, one of the scientists took Laika home to play with his children. He knew she didn’t have much left time to live.

Sputnik 2 launched on November 3, 1957. When it reached orbit, the rocket jettisoned its nose cone correctly, but the thermal control would not operate. It is believed that Laika died between five and seven hours into the flight due to overheating.

Initially, the Soviets claimed that they humanely euthanized Laika after she began running out of oxygen. It wasn’t until 2002 that her true cause of death was revealed. In 2008, a monument was erected in Laika’s honor outside of the facility in which she trained for flight.

Because of the intensity of the Cold War, the media at large wasn’t very interested in the ethical issues of sending a dog into space without attempting to bring her back safely. It wasn’t until 1998 — nearly 30 years after Laika’s launch — that one of the scientists behind the Sputnik 2 mission showed remorse. Here’s what he had to say:

Working with animals is a source of suffering to all of us. We treat them like babies who cannot speak. The more time passes, the more I’m sorry about it. We shouldn’t have done it. We did not learn enough from this mission to justify the death of the dog.

Laika’s death is proof positive that not everything can be justified in the name of progress.

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He’s made great progress in a short amount of time. Once suffering from hypothermia, worms, and a skin infection, this little guy has regained his appetite, health, and his warmth, thanks to caring shelter staff.

But how do you dress such a tiny doggy to keep out the chill? Keep him cozy in children’s socks, of course! Arthur now has a wardrobe of colorful, silly, wooly, and toasty jumpers, some made from socks with tiny arm and leg holes, some hand-knit, just for him!

The petite puppy is too teeny to keep in a crate, so shelter staff have been giving him 24/7 foster care. In just a couple of weeks, he’ll be healthy enough to go home with his forever family!

See more adorable pictures of this runway-worthy pooch at SWNS, and check out this little nugget in action:

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God decided that people needed to make someone who would lift spirits, and find bombs, be loyal, and do various other things. Dogs may slobber and make a mess, but they are also able to make a family come together.

Throughout the video, there are a lot of photos of dogs. Some of them are up close and others are action shots, drooling out the side of a car window or passed out next to his owner, asleep on the couch. The entire video has the narration going in the background as to why God made a dog. If you are a dog owner, you may already know some of the facts that are included within this video. You know just how much they can do to uplift your spirit. If you are not a dog owner, you may be surprised by all of the added benefits to inviting a dog into your life. If you have been on the fence as to whether you want to buy a dog or get one from a shelter, this can be the deciding factor. The video shares a lot of information, and will help you to look at owning a dog in a new light.

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Matt tried his best to make a swift and graceful exit as soon as his mom asked him if he made the mess but of course, the guilty look on his face only confirmed the obvious. Oh dear, I do hope he won’t be in the doghouse, tonight!

Dogs are so cute and sweet that they can never really tell a lie. Their faces give them away because they can’t help but look guilty as soon as they are confronted with their deed. Share this hilarious video with other dog lovers, this is sure to crack them up big time!!

The post When Mom Asks Who Made The Mess, This Dog Is Totally Busted appeared first on ILoveDogsAndPuppies.

The video below is a narration of why God made dogs. It tells us that God made dogs to be our companions, and as our companions, he made the dog useful in a lot of ways. Watch the heartwarming video of why God made dogs. This video will make you appreciate your dogs even more!

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