Pushinka

Pushinka (Пушинка)
Other name(s)“Fluff”[1]
SpeciesDog
BreedMixed
SexFemale
Born(1960-11-30)November 30, 1960
Nation fromSoviet Union Soviet Union
Owners
Parent(s)
Mate(s)United States Charlie
Offspring
  • The pupniks
    • Butterfly
    • Streaker
    • White Tips
    • Blackie

Pushinka (Russian: Пушинка, lit. 'Fluffy'), a dog, was given by the Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev to the President of the United States, John F. Kennedy, in 1961. Pushinka was the daughter of Strelka, who had travelled into space aboard Korabl-Sputnik 2.[3]

Pushinka arrived at the Kennedy White House after Jacqueline Kennedy had spoken to Khrushchev about Strelka at a state dinner in Vienna. Mrs. Kennedy asked about Strelka's puppies, and one was subsequently sent by Khrushchev to the White House.[4] Pushinka was examined by the Central Intelligence Agency at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center over fears that she might be concealing an implanted listening device. Pushinka was x-rayed, screened with a magnetometer, and inspected by sonogram. She was found to be free of subversive devices.[5]

The White House electrician and kennel manager, Traphes Bryant, trained Pushinka with peanuts to climb up a ladder to Caroline Kennedy's playhouse and slide down the other side.[4][6]

Descendants

Pushinka became pregnant by one of the Kennedys' dogs, Charlie, and gave birth to four puppies, whom the president jokingly called pupniks.[7] The White House received 5,000 requests from members of the public asking for Pushinka's puppies. Two of the puppies, Butterfly and Streaker, were given away to children in the Midwest. The other two puppies, White Tips and Blackie, stayed at the Kennedy home on Squaw Island and later were given away to family friends, one puppy to Patricia Kennedy and her husband, Peter Lawford.[8] Pushinka subsequently became irascible, and "a little nippy" according to Caroline Kennedy, which she attributed to her upbringing in a scientific laboratory.[4]

Descendants of Pushinka are living in 2024.[9]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Subject Files: Dog records: Pushinka". John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum. 1961–1963. Archived from the original on 2022-11-18. Retrieved 2022-11-18.
  2. ^ "Pets - John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum". 2006-08-22. Archived from the original on 2006-08-22. Retrieved 2023-10-13.
  3. ^ Colin Burgess; Chris Dubbs (5 July 2007). Animals in Space: From Research Rockets to the Space Shuttle. Springer Science & Business Media. p. 207. ISBN 978-0-387-49678-8.
  4. ^ a b c Alison Gee (6 January 2014). "Pushinka: A Cold War puppy the Kennedys loved". BBC News. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  5. ^ Stanley Coren (11 December 2012). Why We Love The Dogs We Do: How To Find The Dog That Matches Your Personality. Simon & Schuster. p. 71. ISBN 978-1-4711-0940-9.
  6. ^ "John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum: Pushinka (White House Dog) and Her Puppies". JFK Library. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  7. ^ Bark At the Moon: A Short History of Soviet Canine Cosmonauts Archived 2008-04-28 at the Wayback Machine From About.com Space / Astronomy. Accessed 8 July 2007
  8. ^ "John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum Reference Desk: Pets". JFK Library. Archived from the original on 2006-08-22. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  9. ^ Mosher, Dave. "I traveled to Russia and met the first dogs to ever survive space in this rare museum". Business Insider. Retrieved 2019-10-29.