Laika was a stray introduced from Moscow. It was the first animal to encircle the planet aboard the Soviet Sputnik 2 spacecraft in 1957

Laika the dog (1957)
Laika was a stray introduced from Moscow. It was the first animal to encircle the planet aboard the Soviet Sputnik 2 spacecraft in 1957. Laika was small, weighing approximately 6 kg; she was part of a batch of stray dogs that were welcomed into the Soviet space program when they were picked up off the streets. Females were utilized and only females, as they were believed to be anatomically superior to males. The satellite burned up upon entering into Earth’s atmosphere on April 14, 1958. Laika’s tragic destiny stirred global concern and sympathy.