Remembering
Barbaro (born April 29, 2007, euthanized January 29, 2007)
Barbara, a 3-year-old colt, after his win at the 2006 Kentucky Derby. Son of La Ville Rouge and Dynaformer. He is a third-generation descendant of Mr. Prospector, and as such Barbaro is related to many recent Triple Crown hopefuls including Big Brown, Eight Belles, Afleet Alex, Smarty Jones, Funny Cide and Fusaichi Pegasus. He shattered his leg two weeks later in the 2006 Preakness Stakes ending his racing career and eventually leading to his death.
Eight Belles (born February 23, 2005, euthanized May 3, 2008)
Eight Belles before her tragic 2008 Derby bid. The 3-year-old filly collapsed during her cool-down immediately after passing the winning post, second to Big Brown. She suffered compound fractures of both front ankles and was euthanized on the spot because of the nature of her injuries. Eight Belles' dam was Away, a descendant of Northern Dancer, and her sire was Unbridled's Song. Unbridled's Song's dam is a daughter of Caro. Caro is the sire of Winning Colors, one of only three fillies to win the Kentucky Derby. Mr. Prospector and Exclusive Native were both grandsons of Native Dancer who was also the sire of Raise a Native.
Laika
(LifeWire) -- Fifty years ago this Saturday, Laika -- a sweet-tempered stray plucked off the streets of Moscow -- was thrust into the global spotlight when she became the first living creature sent into space.
A Newfoundland, like this champion named Josh, saved the life of Napoleon Bonaparte.
Sadly, Laika's history-making voyage ended prematurely: In their rush to be first, Soviet scientists had made no provisions for her safe return.
"She died before reaching orbit, and before any real data was gleaned about sustaining life in that environment," says Dr. Stanley Coren, professor of psychology at the University of British Columbia and author of "The Pawprints of History: Dogs and the Course of Human Events."
But if little scientific knowledge was gleaned from Laika's journey, her mark on world events is undeniable. "We were behind the Russians," says Coren. "The U.S. quickly switched focus to putting a living being on the moon."
Laika is just one of the many canines to have left a furry legacy behind. Coren names 10 other dogs and the roles they played in history.
Sirius (1998-2002)
NEW YORK CITY (USA) Tuesday, January 29, 2002 -- Four months ago [September 2001], Port Authority Police Officer David Lim was in the basement below the World Trade Center when the first explosion hit Tower One. Officer Lim put his 4-year-old Yellow Lab partner "Sirius" into his crate and raced upstairs to investigate.
His last words to Sirius were: "You stay there. I'll be back for you."
Neither David nor anyone in the world could have expected both towers to collapse on September 11, 2001, claiming thousands of human lives and one dog's Sirius became the one canine casualty of the WTC terrorist attack.
That morning, Officer Lim raced up 43 flights of stairs to assist and direct the fleeing individuals when the evacuation began He was helping to carry a woman down near the fourth or fifth floor when the tower collapsed and buried them "It was like an avalanche," he describes. "We were just waiting there to die."
Officer Lim was himself rescued that afternoon just after 3pm. Nobody kept count on how many people he had been able to help escape, but unfortunately one individual very dear to him didn't make it out. David made several attempts to get back to the basement were Sirius was crated, but firefighters and officers at that point were trying to secure the scene and would not allow re-entry.
In addition, doctors would not allow Officer Lim to search at "the pile" because of the emotional toll it could have taken on him But he kept tabs on the rescue effort, checking in periodically to ask whether they had made it to the kennel area. Finally last week, the call came: they had found Sirius. Investigators said that the dog had died instantly when the kennel collapsed.
On Thursday, under full honors, complete with a prayer and a salute, the body of Sirius was removed from the wreckage.
"There was a flag over his bag and I carried him out with another officer, John Martin," says Officer Lim. "Everyone saluted. All the machinery was stopped—the same thing that is done for human police officers and firefighters I thought it was very nice."
Photo, quotes and information are courtesy of David Lim, the F.A.S.T. Co. website and Lulu. For the full account, visit an excellent tribute to Sirius and Dave: "One Got By Us".
Servus, Ground Zero SAR Canine (1992-April 5, 2003)
On April 5, 2003 18 months after his tour of duty at Ground Zero, Servus passed away peacefully in the arms of his Sergeant, friend and companion, Chris Christensen, at his home in Illinois. Servus was eleven years old. (see “Search & Rescue, Search & Recovery”)
