failed or that she had been euthanized. It wasn’t until 2002 that it was revealed by one of the scientists that Laika had died from overheating. Due to the rushed job that was Sputnik 2, it was practically impossible to create a reliable temperature control system. The ethical issues raised by this event went largely unaddressed for some time. Newspaper clippings from 1957 show that most of the press was focused on the political perspective due to the Soviet- U.S. Space Race, while Laika’s health and retrieval (or lack thereof) only became an issue later. Still, debate was sparked about the ethical treatment of animals for the furtherance of science. Future space missions carrying dogs would be designed to be recovered, unlike Sputnik 2, which was never designed to be recovered and disintegrated on re-entry five months after launch. Laika is memorialized in the form of a statue and plaque at the Russian Cosmonaut training facility as well as a place in the Monument to the Conquerors of Space in Moscow.
service dog tasks, most of which were signed. He could retrieve items from store shelves, operate buttons and switches, load and empty the washing machine, and operate an ATM (including returning the card to the wallet)! In an excerpt from Able Magazine, Parton described: “When I couldn’t talk, he learned sign language – if I touched my head I wanted my hat, if I touched my face it was for the razor. He learned hundreds of commands in signing. Eventually one day, in this very silent world we lived in, I grunted. That was like an electric shock going through him, he was so excited. They said I’d never speak again, but Endal just dragged the speech out of me.” Parton also stated that Endal’s ability to comprehend his wishes and needs showed when they first met, and this was responsible for helping him recover from the initial deep depression and trauma caused by his disability. Over the years, Endal would be the subject of national attention. He was featured in TV shows, documentaries, books, and even on National Geographic. He earned ten awards in five years, including “Dog of the Year” (Prodog), “Dog of the Millenium” (Dogs Today), PDSA Gold Medal, and the Gold Blue Peter Badge (one of only two ever awarded to a dog). Endal was also the first dog to ride the London Eye and the first known dog to be able to operate an ATM card. He also did extensive charity work as an ambassador for Canine Partners, Labrador Rescue, and Dog Theft Action, among others. On March 13, 2009, at the age of 13, Endal’s age finally caught up with him, and he had to be put down. He had suffered a stroke, and his arthritis had become quite severe towards the end. He is buried at Ilford PDSA Animal Cemetery in London. In his honor, the Endal Awards were created to celebrate loyalty and devotion to duty in the form of a medal, which is issued at an annual ceremony in the London Pet Show.
6. Rin Tin Tin - German Shepherd
French-born German Shepherd Rin Tin Tin lived as an international movie star in the 20s. He was rescued from a WWI battlefield by American soldier Lee Duncan, who nicknamed him “Rinty.” Duncan trained Rinty and obtained silent film work for the dog. Rin Tin Tin was an immediate box-office hit and would go on to appear in 27 Hollywood films, garnering worldwide fame. He was also partially responsible for advancing the popularity of the German Shepherd breed as a family pet. His profitability contributed to the success of Warner Bros Studios. Duncan found Rin Tin Tin shortly before the end of WWI, and they settled in Los Angeles. Duncan began to enter the dog in dog shows, even becoming a founding member of the Shepherd Dog Club of California. Rin Tin Tin showed remarkable agility but also some aggressive behavior. After a poor performance and a serious injury, he was taken off the circuit for nearly ten months. Upon his return, he was filmed making a winning leap by an acquaintance of Duncan’s. Seeing this, Duncan became convinced that Rin Tin Tin could make it as a successful film dog. Rin Tin Tin’s first break came in 1922 with the film The Man from Hell’s River. Under the guidance of Duncan’s voice commands, the production crew found Rin Tin Tin very easy to work with. He picked up several other small roles before landing his first starring role in Where the North Begins in 1923. The film was a huge success and is sometimes credited with saving Warner Bros. from bankruptcy. Twenty-four more screen appearances followed, every one of them being a major profit for the studio. Rin Tin Tin came to be known as the “mortgage lifter” by studio insiders. He became a much sought-after film dog and was signed on for quite a few endorsement deals. Meanwhile, Warner Bros. fielded fan letters by the thousands, which were responded to with a glossy portrait signed with a pawprint and a message written by Duncan: “Most faithfully, Rin Tin Tin.” At the time, silent films were easily adaptable to other countries, so his films were widely distributed. He became the most popular actor with the film audience in Berlin. He was even mentioned in Anne Frank’s diary. Today, Rin
5. Endal - Labrador Retriever
There are service dogs, and then there is Endal. Endal was a yellow Lab who was born with a debilitating joint condition called osteochondrosis in both front legs, which brought his initial service dog training into question. However, Endal proved smart enough to qualify as a fully operational and accredited service dog. He became attached to ex-Royal Navy Chief Petty Officer Allen Parton in the late 90s. Parton had sustained a serious head injury while in the service. This resulted in 50% memory loss, inability to reliably make new memories for more than two days, speech troubles, and confinement to a wheelchair, among other problems. Fortunately for Parton, he had Endal. Endal was able to understand hundreds of instructions and
Missouri Pet Breeders Association | Page 35
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