Alvins General Studies teacher Mr Greg loves telling his pupils stories in his lessons. Alvin and John his best friend enjoys Mr Gregs stories. One day, he teaches about pets. Alvins and his friends desires to have a dog pet is planted. Alvins father who is a banker is not as rich as Johns father who is a business man. Johns father buys him a dog. Alvins father says no. He does not believe in pets. He thinks his son should focus more in his studies than have an object of distraction. Alvin thinks his father does not love him but his mother has a contrary opinion. She impacts values into her son and her baby girl Gold, Alvins younger sister. In Mr Gregs class, John and Alvin find a name they think befits Johns Alsatian dog, Strelka. Strelka is the name of the historic dog that was the first living creature to move round the earths orbit 18 times and was recovered alive. Alvin leaves his house without his parents consent to go play with Strelka. One day, Strelka escapes from her kennel. She gets missing for days. She gets found among stray dogs. She becomes violent and bites Alvin. Alvin runs home and his parents wash his wound with soap and water and drive him to the hospital. He gets anti-rabies vaccination. Strelka is infected with rabies, gets quarantined and dies on the 9th day. John and Alvin cries but John gets another female dog from his father, calls her Strelka still. Not long after, John gets a male dog and calls him Argus after the name of the legendary Odysseuss dog. Strelka and Argus have 5 puppies Alvin call pupniks after President J F Kennedys pupniks. Alvin is glad to be given one of the puppies and his father does not object.