On this day in 1957 Laika, a cross bred stray dog was launched into orbit by the Russians to test the effect of space flight on living organisms. She died a few hours later from stress and overheating caused by malfunction of equipment.

As someone who cares for all my animals and believes it is our duty to show compassion to all living things my heart goes out to that little dog. Dogs are the most gregarious of creatures and to send one off on its own like that is an unbearable thought.

I hope the Russians are right and she did indeed die a few hours later. The alternatives are too horrible to contemplate.