Andy Warhol once said: “In the future, everyone will be famous for 15 minutes,” which may have been the case for his dog, who accompanied Warhol on all his trips and was often pictured alongside him.
From movie stars to real-life heroes, there are a multitude of dogs who have inspired and amazed us. It’s challenging to narrow that list to just a few; still, here are some of the bravest and most inspiring world-famous dogs.
Laika the Space Dog
Laika is one of the world’s most famous dogs, who sacrificed her life for science and changed the course of history.
Found on the streets of Moscow in 1957, Laika soon became the first living creature to orbit the Earth aboard Sputnik 2. All dogs selected to partake in the Soviet space program were sourced from the streets as they had resilience and were undemanding. Laika was a special dog who loved to play and adapted well to training.
Unfortunately, she was rushed into orbit with no way to get back to Earth. Initial reports suggested that this brave dog lasted four days into her space adventure. Still, a more recent analysis revealed she died after around five hours due to severe stress and overheating.
Laika is a significant historical figure, not only for flying into space and confirming that living beings could survive weightlessness but also for putting the spotlight on animal ethics. When it was revealed that Laika was being sentenced to certain death, there was public outrage, which ultimately led us to think differently about the rights of animals.
This heroic dog lost her life so that man could one day venture into space. You can pay tribute to her bravery at one of the numerous statues built in her honor and hope that this brave dog found the peace she deserved among the stars.
Hachikō: An Akita with Unwavering Loyalty
If there was ever a dog that lived up to the title of “man’s best friend,” it’s Hachikō, a major reason why Akitas are considered cultural monuments in Japan.
Hachikō was born in 1923 in Northern Japan. At the age of one, he was gifted to a professor’s daughter in Tokyo. The professor noticed a slight curve to the dog’s legs, which bore a resemblance to the characters for the number eight – hence why he named the dog Hachikō or Hachi.
Over the years, the bond between Hachikō and the professor grew so strong that when the daughter grew up and moved out, she left Hachikō with her father. Every day, this faithful dog would accompany the professor on his travels to work – dropping him off at the local train station and being there to greet him when he returned.
Sadly, while at work, the professor suffered a cardiac arrest and died. Still, Hachikō sat and waited patiently for his owner at the train station. How long did this companion wait for his owner? Nine years. Hachi returned to the station every day at the same time for nine years in the hope of being reunited with his owner.
This dog’s faithfulness inspired the people around him, who erected a statue in his honor. In 1935, Hachi died in the very spot where he had waited for his owner. This inspiring story has since been made into movies and shared worldwide. You can still visit Hachiko’s statue at the Shibuya train station.
People love Hachiko because he so beautifully demonstrates the true love that our animal companions can have for us.
Terry, the Dog Who Played “Toto”
Terry began life as an ordinary Cairn Terrier in 1933 when she (yes, Terry was a girl) was born in Pasadena and adopted by a German family. This shy pup was introduced to Carl Spitz for dog training before the German couple abandoned her. Fortunately for Terry, Spritz decided to keep this lovable dog and soon introduced her to the movies.
In 1939, her life changed forever when she was cast in the role of Toto in the beloved movie “The Wizard of Oz”. While many dogs are cast as “extras” in Hollywood, few get to be true stars. But Terry (or Toto) was a central part of this classic movie.
If she hadn’t run away from Miss Gulch (the horrible woman who wanted to euthanize her for biting), then Dorothy’s adventures would never have happened. In addition, it’s Toto who figures out that the Wizard is a fraud and pulls back the curtain to reveal the truth.
Reports claim that Terry was paid $125 a week to make this movie, about $2,800 a day with inflation. This dog star has a permanent memorial in the Hollywood Forever Cemetery.
Rin Tin Tin: A Classic Movie Star
German Shepherd Rin Tin Tin was found in war-torn France and adopted by an American soldier during WW1. After moving to Los Angeles with Corporal Lee Duncan, Rin Tin Tin entered dog shows, showing off the impressive ability to jump up to 12 feet in the air. It was here that a filmmaker scouted him.
Rin Tin Tin went on to star in over 20 Hollywood movies; it’s even been said that he helped save the Warner Bros studios from bankruptcy in their early days with the film, “Where the North Begins”.
This resilient dog survived the deadly landscapes of war and found fame and happiness alongside his owner and trainer. Thanks to the popularity of this famous pooch, German Shepherds soon increased their popularity as pets across the U.S.
Balto: A Sled-Pulling Hero
Balto is a true hero of the dog world. In 1925, a small Alaskan town called Nome suffered from a diphtheria outbreak. This deadly disease placed all the residents in danger, with the only antidote located 500 miles away.
Due to the vast amount of snow covering the area at that time, the only way to travel was via dog and sled. Numerous heroic dogs stepped up to help alongside their volunteers to form a chain across the state.
Balto, a Siberian Husky, led the final leg of this journey, guiding his team across 54 miles of land battered by treacherous weather conditions and temperatures as low as -40 degrees.
Since his brave feat, the residents of Nome hailed Balto a hero and celebrated his brave achievements in an array of ways, from erecting a statue to creating movies about his epic journey.
Other Famous Dogs Who Deserve Honorable Mentions
So many loving, wonderful, and inspiring dogs could have been included on this list. Just some include:
- In 1940, Robot, a terrier, accidentally fell into a French cave that had lain undisturbed for more than 17,000 years. Thanks to his stumble, we can enjoy the treasures of Palaeolithic art in the Lascaux Caves.
- Uggie, a Jack Russell Terrier, first gained fame alongside Robert Pattinson and Reese Witherspoon in the movie “Water for Elephants”. Still, his true talent shone through later that year when he was cast in the Academy Award-winning silent movie, “The Artist”, for which he won the Palm Dog award.
- Pal and Spike were two famous Hollywood stars trained by Frank Weatherwax and cast into unforgettable roles. Pal was the original Lassie, while Spike played the iconic role of Old Yeller in the 1957 Hollywood classic.
