#heropups

Meet #Smoky, a golden tortoiseshell female and the second of the #HeroPups to be introduced! Hoping to get through a few more tonight. Smoky was a Yorkshire Terrier and famous war dog. All 4lbs of her served in World War II. She was found by an American soldier in a foxhole in the jungle of New Guinea in February 1944. Corporal William A. Wynne, from Clevelnd Ohio, bought her for two Australian pounds. Smoky spent the next two years backpacking through the war with Wynne. She lived in many adverse climates and slept on his bed and shared his rations. Other war dogs would have access to special diets and veterinary care but Smoky did it. Despite that she thrived. She was credited with twelve combat missions and awarded eight battle stars. She survived 150 air raide on New Guinea and a typhoon at Okinawa. Using a parachute made especially for her, she parachuted 30ft. Smoky would warn Wynne about incoming attacks so much so he called her an "angel from a fox hole". She also learned many tricks which she used to help build the airbase at Lingayrn Gulf. After the war, many memorials were erected in her honour and awards given to her posthumously. Smoky is also seen as the first recorded therapy dog. She would accompany the nurses to incoming battlefield casualties. She continued to work as a therapy dog during and after the war. Thank you Smoky for being such a brave dog. Your human Wynne, and all his companions, were so lucky to have such a special dog. Smoky reminds me that though you may be small, you can do great things. Thank you for joining us and #LearningWithHamsters. 🐶 https://www.instagram.com/p/ClPMsdMPlF0/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Ngussa the HeroRAT using her whiskers and amazing sense of smell to explore the world around her!

Curious HeroRATS!

The last of the #HeroPups is sweet #Togo, and one of my favourite dogs of the bunch. Togo is a golden tortoiseshell female. Some asked for Balto, but instead I give you Togo. Togo was from the same kennel as Balto, bred by Leonhard Seppala. He proved his worth as a sled dog when he was 8 months old when Togo caught up to him during an overnight trip. Seppala harnessed Togo to control him. As they continued, Seppala kept moving him up the line until he was sharing the lead. He logged 75 miles on his first day which was unheard of. In 1925, the diptheria epidemic was ravaging Nome, Alaska. The only safe method to transport the serum from Anchorage to Nome was by sled dog. Thus began the relay called the "Great Race of Mercy", in which more than 100 dogs relayed the serum 1,085km to Nome. With temperatures at -34 degrees, Togo and Seppala covered over 273kms in just three days. Once they collected the serum, it fell to Seppala and Togo to bring the serum back to Nome. Across Norton Sound, the team became stranded on an ice floe. Seppala had to think quickly, and he tied a rope to Togo, and tossed him five feet across the water. Togo was his only hope. He attempted to pull the floe supporting the sled, but as he did the line snapped. Togo, the wonder he was, snatched the line from the water, rolled it around his shoulders like a harness, and pulled his team to safety. After covering 148kms more, Seppala and Togo made the serum handoff in Golovin, which was 125kms from Nome. It was there Gunnar Kaasen and Balto took the serum and rode into Nome, becoming the hero and saving the town. While Balto and Kaasen were given a lot of the glory, Seppala and Togo were the real saviors. In total, the team travelled 420kms from Nome in three days, a truly incredible feat. Togo, your quick thinking, bravery, and endurance ensured your musher, Seppala, was able to get the serum to Nome, Alaska and save many lives. Your problem solving on the ice saved your musher and your fellow dogs. You are such a very good pupperdoggo. Thank you for joining us and #LearningWithHamsters. 🐶 https://www.instagram.com/p/Clb8hChv9xg/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

We are almost at the last of the #HeroPups! This is my probable keepers, Donnchadh, aka #Duncan, and she is a golden tortoiseshell female. She is named after the dog owned by Robert the Bruce (legend has it my family is related to him and his sword is somewhere in our family). In 1306, Edward I of England used Donnchadh, Robert the Bruce's Dog, to track Robert. While he did lead them to Robert, Donnchadh then turned on Edward and defended his master. Robert the Bruce then became the King of Scotland. Donnchadh was thought to be a bloodhound, and his name is Gaelic and consists of the words "brown" and "noble". The modern rendition is Duncan. Donnchadh, you were a very brave dog to defend your master, and help him lead Scotland to independence. In some ways, I may owe my life and family to Donnchadh, since we are related to Robert the Bruce! Thank you for joining us and #LearningWithHamsters. 🐶 https://www.instagram.com/p/ClZOEaOAoLD/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Next up is #Hachiko, a sweet golden male pup of the #HeroPups! Many of you likely know his namesake. Hachikō was a white Japanese Akita born on a farm in Japan’s Akita Prefecture - one of the country’s 47 jurisdictions which were each governed by an appointed prefect. He is famous for loyally waiting for his guardian, Tokyo Imperial University professor Hidesaburō Ueno, for nearly 10 following the man’s death. When Ueno would return to Shibuya, Tokyo on the train each day, he would find Hachikō waiting for him at Shibuya Station. This routine continued for more than 9 years and 9 months, until one day Ueno wasn’t on the train. He had passed from a cerebral hemorrhage whilst giving a lecture in one of his classes. After one of Japan’s largest newspapers, The Asahi Shimbun, published an article about Hachikō, commuters started bringing food and snacks with them to the railway station as a treat for the dog whilst he waited for his owner. Hachikō died in March 1935 at 11 years old. It was determined that he passed from heart worm and terminal cancer. Hachikō continues to be remembered in as chūken Hachikō (忠犬ハチ公, "faithful dog Hachikō") in Japanese, honoured with statues, movies and books. May we all have someone who loves us as fiercely as Hachikō loved his human 🥰. What a very good boy. Thank you for joining us and #LearningWithHamsters. 🐶 https://www.instagram.com/p/ClXBnrCARTp/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#Laika, our next of the #HeroPups is a bittersweet one. She is the only black tortoiseshell in the litter and was a bit shy during this photoshoot. Laika was the first living creature to orbit the earth - but this feat came at great cost to Laika herself as it was a one way mission. Laika was a stray dog from the streets of Moscow. She was given many names including Kudryavka, but Laika "Little Barker" was the one that stuck. Before the launch, they had done surgery on the Laika and her back up's, Albina and Mushka, to route cables from the transmitters to sensors that would measure her breathing, pulse and blood pressure. She was placed in the capsule of the satellite on October 31, 1957, three days before her mission. Just before the launch on November 3, they sponged her down in a weak ethanol solution and painted iodine onto the areas where the sensors would be placed. One of the technicians said, "After placing Laika in the container and closing the hatch, we kissed her nose and wished her bon voyage, knowing she would not survive the flight." While she survived getting to orbit, approximately 5-7 hours into the flight, no further life signs were detected. The flight up was terrifying, her heartbeat rocketed to triple its normal rate and her breathing quadrupled. She likely died of overheating after the fourth orbit, as the temperature inside reached over 90 degrees. Laika died terrified, hungry and alone. While her death has been said by some as "an enduring symbol of sacrifice and human achievement" I ask... To what end? Laika was innocent. She had not asked to sacrifice her life for our gains. I had mentioned when I introduced the theme that some of these dogs deserved better. Laika deserved better. She deserved to be loved. She deserves huge apologies. She went through agonizing suffering that didn't need to happen. My heart hurts thinking about it. I can only hope our little Laika will honour her memory, and that this history snippet will help others learn about her needless death. Thank you for joining us and #LearningWithHamsters. 🐶 https://www.instagram.com/p/ClWbHzIgn0p/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#Dozer is the next of the #HeroPups to introduce! He is a golden male and oh so very adorable. He is named after a very athletic pup! Dozer, a 3-year-old goldendoodle from Maryland, became famous after he escaped from his yard and joined the 13-mile Half Marathon that was taking place in Howard County, before finding his way home again. He had escaped his invisible fence and participants reported seeing him join them five miles in. He was seen by runners at several points in the marathon, and this YouTube video (https://youtu.be/uhnMAZV9H9g) shows him crossing the finish line at 02hrs14min. He was even honoured with a medal for his participation! A fundraising page was set up by Dozer’s humans to benefit the University of Maryland's Greenbaum Cancer Center, and he has over 15,000 followers on his very own Facebook page. He brought so much attention and awareness to the Cancer Center that the following year an eight-mile race, known as “Dozer’s Dash”, began where he joined in the Half Marathon the year before. His fans were also able to meet him in “Dozer’s Doghouse”, a tent set up by event organizers. Thank you Dozer for sharing your joy with us and for using your skills to raise money for a very worthwhile charity! Like many, I have lost family and friends to cancer. Thank you for joining us and #LearningWithHamsters. 🐶 https://www.instagram.com/p/ClWPX5sgNwy/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=