We were out in the back garden, it's dog safe so the little rascal can't escape to harry livestock or indeed his doggy neighbours. I looked up at the sky, it was clear and dark, myriads of stars were shining, that's one big advantage of living at the end of a country lane where there are no street lights.
Sandy cantered about with a big smile on his face, now here, now there, investigating, sniffing to see what had intruded on his patch tonight.
I watched until, eventually, he sat back on his haunches and looked up at the night sky.
What's that Dad?
Sky Sandy.
What is it?
It's the universe, its everything there is that isn't here.
He didn't look too convinced by my attempt at explanation.
So, we're here and it's over there, what's between us?
Space, emptiness, almost nothing.
Can we walk to it, is it far?
No my friend we can't, it's unimaginably far, no human, let alone a dog, has been there.
No dog ever?
That's not strictly true Sandy, a dog did make the first orbit of the earth in space, she was a Russian dog and went up successfully. A dog reached space before men, but she couldn't have done it without man's technology.
You mean men knew how to do it but only a dog was brave enough.
Not exactly, the dog didn't have a choice, men put her in the spacecraft and sent her into space.
So because she had no choice she wasn't brave? Were the men brave?
Both dog and men were brave, it was a shared moment in human and canine history, we did it together.
Did she get a big treat when she came back?
Oh hell, I didn't want to be asked this.
Err, no.
Why not.
She died in space.
In place of men no doubt?
It hurts me to say that yes, you're right. We sent her as we weren't sure that man could survive a flight into space and back.
So you sent the poor bitch instead?
I'm afraid so.
What was her name?
Laika.
Oh, this conversation was going to be a difficult one, the most awkward yet.
I'm afraid so.
Like what Dad?
Pharmaceuticals, chemicals, pesticides and household products - anything new has to have it's effects on living beings explored.
Why dogs Dad?
It's not only dogs that are used, all sorts of animals are used in testing.
And how is it justified?
It's too dangerous to test on humans.
So us poor animals have to take the risks for you.
Yes, That's it.
What do you think of that.
I'm against it Sandy, I think it's cruel and unnecessary.
Well Dad, we're agreed on that. But, if it still happens, does that mean the majority of humans are in favour of it?
I suspect most people try not to think about it.
But that's chickening out, why not do something to stop it?
A lot of people are trying.
But they can't get it changed?
Not so far I'm sorry to say.
I'm disgusted Dad, disgusted by the whole human race, except those few who try to have it stopped.
Ears down he headed back into the house and lay down in his bed, he seemed to fall asleep, I hope he didn't dream about animal testing. I'm so glad he didn't ask me if I had done anything about it, but he probably knows and is being gentle with me. I went to my room and sat thinking about man's inhumanity to man, animals, vegetation and everything in,on and around the earth. I also thought about what a clever dog Sandy is.
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