Animal monuments are being erected everywhere. By erecting these monuments, people strive to immortalize the animal's image and preserve the memory of its devotion and selflessness.
Monument to Laika in Moscow
A bronze monument to Laika, the first living creature to reach space, was unveiled in Moscow on Petrovsky-Razumovskaya Alley on April 11, 2008. On November 3, 1957, the USSR launched the Sputnik 2 spacecraft into orbit with a living creature on board—a dog named Laika. She did not return home, dying of overheating a few hours after takeoff. The monument is a two-meter-tall rocket, smoothly transitioning into a hand, on which Laika proudly perches. The monument is located on the grounds of the Institute of Military Medicine, where the spacecraft's flight was prepared.
Hachiko Monument in Tokyo
The most striking example of devotion is the dog Hachikō, who, even after the death of his owner, came to Shibuya Station every day for 10 years to greet him. A bronze monument to him was erected in Tokyo in 1935, while the famous dog was still alive. To this day, this local landmark remains a hugely popular tourist attraction and a source of admiration for those unfamiliar with its history.
Memorial to dead animals in London
This bronze monument commemorates the lives of our furry friends who have died in armed conflicts throughout England's history. It embodies the courage and resilience of all animals: mules, dogs, cats, pigeons, and others. The monument, located on Park Lane in London, was erected in 2004. It depicts a horse, a dog, and two mules loaded with ammunition.
The main part of the monument is a semicircular fence with silhouettes of horses, camels, and donkeys, symbolizing the arena of military operations. Figures of elephants, camels, monkeys, and bears are carved into the fence around the monument. A donkey and a mule reluctantly approach. An opening in the fence reveals a garden, and within it, a horse and a dog are walking side by side. The dog looks around, searching for its owner. The inscription on the monument reads: "They had no choice."
Balto's monument in New York
In 1925, Balto saved the lives of the residents of the tiny town of Nome. He became a true hero even in his lifetime. In 1926, sculptor Frederick Roth created a bronze statue of the dog, which was installed in New York City's Central Park. The inscription on the pedestal reads: "Endurance, Loyalty, Intelligence."
Towser the Cat Statue in Crieff
Last century, a cat named Towser lived at the Glentarret distillery in Scotland near Crieff and was a skilled mouser. During her 24-year life, she caught 29,000 mice. Her achievements are listed in the Guinness Book of World Records. Naturally, a monument with a plaque commemorating her record was erected in her honor for such achievements.
Barry's monument in Paris
Paris is home to a monument to one of the most legendary dogs. It's located at the entrance to a dog cemetery and was erected in 1899 in honor of a St. Bernard. The monument features a statue of the dog and a child clinging trustingly to it. The inscription on the monument reads: "To Barry, who saved forty people and was the forty-first to be killed."
Legend has it that Barry lived in the monastery of Saint Bernard on the Italian-Swiss border, worked with alpine rescue teams, and saved forty people over the course of ten years. Due to the terrain, travelers often had difficult times, and the rescue team, led by Barry, always came to the rescue. One day, a rescue dog came to the aid of a traveler, dug him out from under the snow, but the traveler, mistaking the dog for a wolf, stabbed him to death. So goes one legend.
Bobby's statue in Edinburgh
Hachiko's feat was almost replicated by Bobby, a Scottish Skye Terrier. This small dog, standing 26 centimeters tall, faithfully served his owner, a police officer. After his master's death, the dog spent days at his master's grave. He spent the remaining 14 years of his life there. A monument to the famous dog was erected in 1873. A life-size statue of Barry was placed outside the Greyfriars Bobby bar, next to the cemetery where his owner is buried.
Monument to a front-line dog in Moscow
On Poklonnaya Hill in Moscow, there is a monument erected in honor of a frontline dog who, during the Great Patriotic War, helped carry the wounded from the battlefield, carried mail, and helped transport ammunition. The monument was unveiled in 2003. The design for the monument was based on a German shepherd named Alf.
Monument to Semyon the Cat in Murmansk
The monument depicts a chubby cat named Semyon, sitting on a bench and holding a stick with a knot in his paws. The monument stands 1.2 meters tall. It was unveiled on October 2, 2013. Legend has it that the famous cat was immortalized in honor of the fact that, having once gotten lost on the road, he spent 6.5 years searching for his way home and finally found his owners.
Monument to Bim in Voronezh
A monument to the legendary dog named White Bim Black Ear was erected in 1998 in Voronezh on the square in front of the Shut Puppet Theater. The monument is a life-size figure of the dog, gazing devotedly into the distance and waiting for its owner. The monument is made of stainless steel, with only one ear made of bronze.
Any feat should certainly be immortalized in the memory of generations, and a wonderful way to tell descendants about a feat is to erect a monument in honor of the hero who accomplished it, even if that hero walked on all fours.
