The Economic Times

In 1951, Soviet space dog Bobik escaped before launch; scientists found a stray near the canteen, named her ZIB, and sent her 100 km up before a safe return

A stray dog known as ZIB unexpectedly filled in for a canine that went missing just before a Soviet rocket launch. With no training at all, ZIB ventured into the unknown space, reaching a height of about 100 kilometers. Miraculously, both dogs successfully parachuted back to Earth, illustrating the adventurous spirit of stray animals in the pioneering era of space travel.