Alvins General Studies teacher Mr Greg loves telling his pupils stories in his lessons. Alvin and John his best friend enjoys Mr Gregs stories. One day, he teaches about pets. Alvins and his friends desires to have a dog pet is planted. Alvins father who is a banker is not as rich as Johns father who is a business man. Johns father buys him a dog. Alvins father says no. He does not believe in pets. He thinks his son should focus more in his studies than have an object of distraction. Alvin thinks his father does not love him but his mother has a contrary opinion. She impacts values into her son and her baby girl Gold, Alvins younger sister. In Mr Gregs class, John and Alvin find a name they think befits Johns Alsatian dog, Strelka. Strelka is the name of the historic dog that was the first living creature to move round the earths orbit 18 times and was recovered alive. Alvin leaves his house without his parents consent to go play with Strelka. One day, Strelka escapes from her kennel. She gets missing for days. She gets found among stray dogs. She becomes violent and bites Alvin. Alvin runs home and his parents wash his wound with soap and water and drive him to the hospital. He gets anti-rabies vaccination. Strelka is infected with rabies, gets quarantined and dies on the 9th day. John and Alvin cries but John gets another female dog from his father, calls her Strelka still. Not long after, John gets a male dog and calls him Argus after the name of the legendary Odysseuss dog. Strelka and Argus have 5 puppies Alvin call pupniks after President J F Kennedys pupniks. Alvin is glad to be given one of the puppies and his father does not object.

During the First World War, President Woodrow Wilson bought a flock of sheep to trim the White House grounds to save money on groundskeeping. One of the sheep, called Old Ike, even became a public phenomenon for his ornery disposition and his penchant for chewing tobacco. Included here are hundreds of well-researched accounts of the fascinating animals that have played vital roles throughout history. Featured animals include Able, who flew on a space mission; Bayou, Salvador Dali's ocelot companion; and G.I. Joe, a pigeon who saved more than 100 people during World War II. These and many other stories detail the unexpected contributions of our animal companions in settings of war, space travel, stage and screen. The book is organized alphabetically by the given name of each animal, and entries feature compelling factual descriptions in a storytelling format.

What is it that draws us to admire dogs? Is it their loyalty, their devotion? Is it their familiar grace as they lope across a filed or the look of utter patience in their eyes as they are climbed upon by our children? Whatever the reason, Treasury of Great Dog Stories captures the beloved spirit of man's best friend with tale after moving tale by some of the most revered authors of our times. Over 30 dog-gone good tales await your reading pleasure!

Tells the true stories of Laika, Belka, Strelka, and the other space dogs who were sent on experimental space flight explorations by the Soviet Union between 1951 and 1956.