"1957"

In 1957 while hordes of unthinking American capitalist stooges were wasting their time watching the reactionary antics of the plutocratic puppet Lucy Ricardo.
That and having backyard cookouts or piling into their Desoto land cruiser station wagons, and driving to Disneyland on new interstates. Stopping only for Luckies cheeseburgers, and Fresca.

As these "Running Dogs of the Cabal of Wall Street Atomic Plunderers" were on their way to the dust bin of history. The Heroic Dogs of the "Great Red Banner Motherland" were fearlessly making "The Triumph of Socialist Science an uncontested reality!

"Laika", (Order of Lenin, Terrier first class), was volunteered to be the first mammal to travel beyond the atmosphere, and gravity of the Earth. The Glory did not stop there!
Our beloved Laika was not the last quadruped into space.

Shortly after the non-return, and un-survival of the world's first space dog,...the former Laika. Two more Heroic Hounds from the kennels of the Motherland were volunteered.

"Strelka, and Belka" were sent by the Central Committee to further explore the cold, and pointless monotony of oblivion.
Unlike their glorious predecessor these two furry heroes came back to the warm welcoming arms of the Workers Paradise.

In gratitude for their valor the "Ministry of Interesting Surprises" had our hero's Strelka, and Belka poisoned dissected poked about then sewn back up, and stuffed.
This so future generations could admire the Peoples K-9's

There was some discussion of bestowing a similar honor on the soon to be chosen Cosmonauts. This was tabled as it was felt such might have a negative effect on their morale.