I, as a teenager, felt sorry for the Russian dog Laika that died in space back in the 50s. She was only 4-years-old. I went to our local pound looking to adopt and found a 4-month-old plain brown puppy that no one wanted. Her previous owners had dumped her there because she scratched their child. She was a puppy who had spent a month in the pound and was scheduled for euthanasia the next day. I adopted her and named her Laika in memory of the Russian dog I cried over.
Laika was a funny dog, loved to play keep away with her toys and was my sweet companion. She would whimper if either my husband or I went somewhere and greet us with a happy wagging tail and wet kisses with her tongue when we returned. When she was 4, she developed kidney problems and I had to make the hard decision to have her humanly put to sleep. The vet couldn't save her, so she died at 4-years-old, like the Russian dog Laika did in space.
I was glad I was able to give her four years of being loved and wanted, and I still miss her every day.
BOYS RANCH, TX
