It's A Dog's Life

Friday, November 02, 2007

Saint Laika Pray For Us

Laika, in 1957, became the first animal to be launched into orbit, paving the way for human spaceflight. She is shown here in her flight harness.
Laika is shown here in her flight harness.

Today the Most Holy and Blessed Order of OCICBW observed the feast day of Saint Laika of Blessed Memory, our patron.

Like many of us Saint Laika was of dubious parentage and clearly not a dog destined for greatness according to the ways of the human world. She never won a dog contest or pulled anyone from a burning building. There were no made-for-TV movies. But Laika's broad, furry shoulders turned out to be high enough to allow a generation of humans to to reach the stars.

Laika teaches us that greatness lurks in unlikely hearts, that you don't have to come from a good family to be a good dog, and that there is no greater love than to give your life for your guardian.

Even though I am not a real saint, I am a dog, I still hope that I can be brave and selfless like Laika.

Hail blessed Laika, bless all us dogs and make us brave like you. WOOF!

Laika was a Russian space dog which became the first recorded living creature from Earth to enter orbit. At one time a stray wandering the streets of Moscow, she was selected from an animal shelter.

posted by Lindy at 10:47 PM

16 Comments:

  • Blessed Laika inspires us all to be better dogs. I bet she never gave up hope that they would come for her.

    It breaks my heart.

    By Blogger Grendel, at 8:49 AM  

  • Laika of blessed memory, pray for us all.

    By Blogger The Lady Mistabel, at 9:57 AM  

  • Dear Rowan, you and Laika and your friends all inspire me to want to be a better and braver human. Thank you.

    By Blogger Paul, at 2:26 PM  

  • Rowan-
    Thanks for the info. I didn't know about Laika! I would not like to go to space. She was a brave, brave dog.

    Glad I got to see you through the window this morning! Can't wait to play with you in a couple of weeks!

    Licks & Sniffs,
    Romeo

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 5:43 PM  

  • This is so lovely- I did know the story, but who could not use a reminder?! Thank you Rowan and Lindy.

    I have been meaning to do this
    for awhile. However, being a human and therefore running the gamut from over committed to downright lazy, it just happened now.

    I hope some of my other friends come by and wish you well!!

    And you know that Mr. BooBoo the Cat and I are sending you our good get well dog thoughts every day!

    By Blogger Fran, at 6:04 AM  

  • we are teaching Scout about Saint Laika and will spread the word to all her doggy friends, too.

    what a great message Rowan has learned from Laika's life.

    By Blogger Diane M. Roth, at 12:23 PM  

  • Very cool about Saint Laika! Maggie is working hard on your interview questions and will post them here soon. She is honored by your request.

    By Blogger RevDrKate, at 5:26 PM  

  • Hi Rowan! My mom has a friend in MN that has a labradoodle named after Laika! Let the legacy continue! All raise your waterbowls to Laika!

    Love & Licks,
    Randi

    By Blogger Randi, at 6:18 PM  

  • Hi, Rowan! Would you tell your human that I appreciate her stopping by Child of Illusion? Yes, the weather is very, very disturbing.

    As for Laika, I looked her up and she didn't die when her oxygen ran out. She died of "stress and overheating". That's a euphemistic way of saying the poor dog was terrified as she cooked to death. The Russians did not own up to her actual cause of death for years after her mission. It breaks my heart to think of how her trust was betrayed.

    We DO need to ask her to pray for us humans. God knows, we need it.

    By Blogger Ellie Finlay, at 1:00 PM  

  • She is cute.sad though to hear about how she died(ellie finlays comment)
    us doggies are not appreciated enough
    frasier

    By Blogger Frasier, at 2:57 PM  

  • Hi Rowan, Maggie here with your interview. Sorry it took so long but first Kate had to do all her priesty stuff yesterday and then there was all my napping... er...contemplating, but here we are at last:
    1. I see that one of your main things is making Lindy laugh. What have you found are the best ways to do that? (I see it is not your recent efforts on the counters, tough luck, that sounded fun!)
    2. So how do you like being named after that bishop anyway? Do you share any theological or other important thoughts with him?
    3. I read about how you were a hero with the bat. Other than the Big Lock Up, has this changed your life in any way? Like do you think you are a Finer and More Wonderful Dog Than Ever? (I confess that I think I might if I saved revdrkate from a bat!)
    4. What is the first thing you aer going to do when the quarantine is over?
    5. This was a good question that Tipper asked me, how do you like to start and end your day?

    So there are your questions. Now here are the rules for this interview thing. I must pass them on because I am a very Rule Following Sort of Dog.
    1. If you are interested in being interviewed, leave a comment here on my mom's blog saying, 'interview me.'
    2. I will respond by posting five questions for you. I get to pick the questions.
    3. You will update your blog with a post with your answers to the questions.
    4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post.
    5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.

    By Blogger RevDrKate, at 4:08 PM  

  • Rowan my love, hi to you and Lindi

    Nich is back home and altho (more) feeble than is usual for a man, is recvoering with a change in insuline dose and meds.

    St Laika the Holy Explorer watched over him...a colleague came by to see why he had not checked in at work, and called an ambulance.

    Here in Canada we have univ healthcare so all is covered by his tax dollars.

    More later. It's hard to type with paws.

    By Blogger The Lady Mistabel, at 11:32 AM  

  • oh, the lady Mistabel, I am so happy NIch is doing better.

    and am looking forward to Rowan's interview.

    By Blogger Diane M. Roth, at 2:08 PM  

  • Hi Rowan. Thanks for all the information about Laika. I am a Reformed dog, but I will still think about her as an example of love and faithfulness, and maybe she is a sort of patron saint for all of us who once lived on the street and/or in shelters, and our brothers and sisters who are still there.

    I like reading your blog. My mama hasn't given me my own, but she lets me blog in hers sometimes.

    I hope you'll be able to go outside again soon! I can't imagine not being able to go out and find new things to sniff (and eat, but don't tell my mama that)!

    Your friend,
    Amie

    By Blogger zorra, at 8:36 PM  

  • Laika shall be never be forgoten and I shal make sure of it, hope you would keep her memory alive aswell, she is our hope, more and more people should know about her this would stop animal abuse for sure, and laika is now known as a saint poor girl

    I hope she died in peace if not I hope the ones that did this to her has the same fait, but I know Laika wouldn't want that so live on and know what you did

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 8:15 AM  

  • This is the first time I've heard of St. Laika. Maybe she was looking over me in the puppy mill before I found my furever home. I have to read more about her. Thank you.

    By Blogger Watson, at 7:28 PM  

Post a Comment

<< Home