Dushanbe Dog Names

Victory Park is a popular park in the city of Dushanbe. The park commemorates the Great Patriotic War. Victory parades honoring the soldiers are held occasionally held here. Victory was also the name of a puppy that was given to Ronald Reagan, an actor who became governor and then ultimately President. A nurse named Carol Schaidler who had worked for Nancy Reagan’s father gave Ronald Reagan a 5-week-old Golden Retriever whose name was Victory during a campaign tour stop. Schaidler apparently promised to care for the pup until Reagan entered the White House. Of course, he had to win the election first. Reagan won the election in 1980, though Victory the dog did not wind up moving the Washington, D.C. 

The Reagans decided to leave Victory and a few other dogs at their ranch, called Rancho del Cielo, in California. At the ranch, the dogs enjoyed the run of the property and plenty of sun. President Reagan and Victory, who was said to be gentle, friendly and loyal, were able to spend quality time together doing ranch work. The pup was said to have always been excited to see the president when he returned to the ranch during time off. It is said that a pup from the same litter as Victory was given by Reagan to his running mate, George H.W. Bush, not long after Reagan selected him. The Golden Retriever puppy was said to be named Veep. Only in 1985 did the Reagans bring a dog to the White House; a pup named Lucky, who was a Bouvier des Flandres; though apparently Lucky ultimately left for the ranch also.

Another dog named Victory was first brought home by Navy Captain John L. McCrea, upon which his wife demanded, “get that thing out of here”. A mutt, Victory went on to have quite a life, spending some time sleeping at the foot of President Roosevelt’s bed and sharing the Captain’s Wardroom with the great military leaders of World War II. He travelled over 205,000 miles on the Battleship Iowa, and was even given full military honors when he left the ship. The dog ended up on the USS Iowa after Captain McCrea took command of the vessel and brought him at the request of his wife. The idea was that Victory would help keep the morale of the crew up. The dog became an Apprentice Mascot and even got a special sailor’s suit. Victory was even able to qualify in the recruit 50-yard swimming test, the entry about which noted that he was “also able to retrieve a stick”.