Dog Names Meaning Explorer

Igloo was a small Terrier mix. Far from a sleddog, the little pooch became famous for accompanying his owner  Richard Byrd on his expeditions to both the North and South Poles. He was not a working dog to Byrd but a buddy and a companion. The little dog shared his owner's drive for exploration, and the two were inseparable. 

In winter of 1926, a lady by the name of Maris Boggs found a tiny shivering stray Terrier puppy in the heart of Washington DC. She couldn't keep the puppy herself but instead asked her friend Richard Byrd to take the pooch. He hesitated at first because he was planning a big expedition to the Arctic, but he eventually relented and thought maybe the tiny dog could accompany him.  

Byrd set sail with his small dog and crew for Norway. From Norway, Byrd challenged Roald Amundsen to a flight. Bird became the first man to ever fly over the North Pole. It took Byrd only 15 hours to make the trip, and upon his return, tiny Igloo was there to congratulate him. 

In 1828, Byrd embarked on an Antartica expedition, and he had Igloo at his side. The team was huge. It included two large ships, three airplanes, 650 tons of supplies and 95 individual sled dogs.  The entire expedition centered around flying over the South Pole so that new scientific experts could better study the region. the base camp created was called, 'Little America.'  The location was near the Ross Ice Shelf on the Bay of Wales. The camp was home to 42 men. 

At Little America, Igloo, or as he was commonly called, Iggy, was a loving companion who boosted the morale of the men. Igloo was not like the Northern Arctic breeds used in the expedition. He was just a tiny Terrier with short fur. He had to wear a specially designed jacket and booties to keep him warm and safe. 

Byrd would successfully make his flight to the South Pole, and then he would return to the United States with Igloo by his side. Upon the duo's return, they received a hero's welcome. They rode in a parade down New York City's Broadway street. 

In 1931, when Byrd was away on a speaking engagement, tiny Igloo fell ill. Byrd immediately tried to rush back to the dog's side but, sadly, Igloo passed away before Byrd made it home. The tiny canine explorer was buried in Pine Ridge Cemetery for Small Animals located in Massachusetts. A tombstone in the shape of an iceberg was erected over the dog's grave. On the headstone is a bronze plate that reads, "He was more than a friend." Newspapers such as Time Magazine, all reported Igloo's death. Byrd even received thousands of condolence cards from around the world. Byrd's hometown of Winchester, Virginia proudly erected a life-size statue of Igloo with Byrd in front of the city's courthouse.