Does Russia have a particular history of honoring animals? Did the Soviets see some kind of connection between working animals and the proletariat?
I know they have a monument for Laika but I was not aware of the lab rat memorial. Do you have a source for that?
http://www.universetoday.com/13606/russian-memorial-for-space-dog-laika/
Too bad they don't have plaque or something for all the anti-tank dogs they killed.