The Amazing Adventures of Archibald Esq.

Trivia Time with Archibald (twelve): Sky High Hounds

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Q: Do Dogs Sky Dive?

Hint: We don’t mean the usual doggish jumping in the air and diving to ground with ears flapping - such is my normal routine in parks and woodlands.

A: Brutus is the world’s busiest sky diving dog. And wouldn’t you just know it?! He’s a dachshund! GggrrWoof!!

Brutus, a miniature dachshund, has has made more than 100 jumps accompanied by his two-legged, two-footed companion Ron Sirull.

The first ever sky dive by a dog was made by Katie, a British Jack Russell terrier, who made the first doggy sky dive in 1987 from a height of 3,658 m (12,000 feet). However, Brutus the miniature dachshund, broke Katie’s record with a jump of 4,572 m (15,000 feet).

Parachuting dates back to the 1780s,but it took 150 years for people to throw themselves out of airplanes for fun. (Fancy that, eh?) The sport of skydiving first became popular in the 1970s, when divers began to attempt mid-air acrobatics before landing on a specified target.

Skydivers typically freefall about 762 m (2,500 ft) before opening their parachute. Today’s steerable parachutes allow a high degree of control over speed and direction.

Brutus ‘jumps’ strapped to his owner in a special harness similar to the tandem harness used for students strapped to expert skydivers. Typically when they arrive back to earth Brutus kisses his owner until physically restrained.

Brutus has been featured in many magazines, including a prestigious two-page colour photograph in PEOPLE magazine. Despite his notoriety, Brutus has also aroused some rather negative press.

Animal lovers in America howled in protest against the skydiving dog, claiming that it was cruel and unusual mistreatment – and to show their displeasure protested against Brutus’ exhibition skydive at California’s Vandenberg Air Force Base in 2002. Shirley Cram, shelter director and spokesperson for the Volunteers for Inter-valley Animals noted that it is cruelty to animals as well as exploitative: “It’s exploiting the dog. It certainly isn’t fun for that dog to jump out of that plane.”

Of course Brutus’ skydiving partner and two-footed companion Ron Sirull of Delray Beach, Florida, vehemently disagrees: “He gets all excited when I’m getting my gear ready.” In that all-American way Sirull maintains that Brutus is “totally up for it.” He added that Brutus’ veterinarian and the Arizona Humane Society vouch for its safety for pooches.

And of course, if it’s not safe for Brutus it’s not safe for Sirull, as Brutus never jumps by himself, but is tucked into a special pouch affixed to Sirull’s sky-diving suit. Brutus also wears custom-made goggles.

As for myself, my interests are mainly earth-bound. I love sniffing things out, horticulture and digging. None of which involve hurtling at great speed through the sky. Whewhf! I think I’ll leave all the doggie sky-diving to Brutus, who obviously has a great need for getting attention. (I’m lucky in that I get all the attention, oohs and aaahhs, that I want, right here on terra firma, or under it, on the Tube!)

Awoof! Your Faithful Earth Bound Hound - Archie

Posted 31 May 06