Porthos is the first Beagle to appear on any Star Trek series. To our knowlege, he may be the first dog to appear in any major capacity - but Quentin and I aren't the keepers of Trek lore that some fans are, and we could be mistaken.
The pet of Captain Archer, Porthos has the distinction of being the first pet to serve aboard the USS Enterprise - if we're going by series chronology, that is... after all, Data had Spot the cat and Captain Picard had a rather decorative fish on Star Trek: The Next Generation.
We will post a picture of Porthos on this tribute site as soon as one is available.
Porthos Facts
First Appearance: "Broken Bow" 9/26/01
What He Did: Aside from looking cute and serving as Captain Archer's sounding board, Porthos is noted for making First Contact with the leg of Vulcan science officer T'Pol.
Duty Assignment: Unofficial ship's counselor and morale officer.
About the Name: Porthos was the name of one of the three musketeers in Alexandre Dumas' novel of the same name.
About Beagles
AKC Breed Group: Hound
Size: Two recognized sizes - <13 inches and 13-15 inches.
Color: Usually tri-colored (white, black, and tan, lemon, or red) but may be bi-colored.
Personality: Cheerful almost to a fault, friendly with all, ready for adventure. Happy little hounds, it's no wonder Captain Archer wanted to bring his Beagle along.
Where can I get a Beagle?
Contact The National Beagle Club of America to find a responsible breeder in your area, contact Beagle rescue, or ask at your local animal shelter (many beagles are surrendered every year - it's a good place to start).
Due to the numbers of pet stors which support and finance the cruelty of commercial "puppy mills," it is strongly recommended that pet owners never buy Beagles - or any other dog or cat - from a pet store!
1. With those floppy ears and soft brown eyes, they make fabulous ambassadors... they love adults, kids, other pets, Vulcan science officers... anybody (preferably anybody with food)!
2. They have no difficulty following their noses to go boldly where no dog has gone before!
3. They don't scare Klingons, unlike some soft, purring furballs we know.
4. Their baying works better than a phaser set on "stun" for immobilizing bad guys.
5. They have never been known to turn into large iguanas, unlike some other Trek pets we know.
Top 5 Reasons Why Beagles Would Make Lousy Starfleet Pets
1. Beagles do NOT like to be left alone for long periods of time, and have a tendency to voice their sorrow by howling. Unless Captain Archer lets Porthos have free run of the ship, it's going to be rather noisy.
2. Beagles need vigorous exercise at least once a day. Granted, tossing a ball down the corridor and jogging about the decks could work... but it gets monotonous with nothing new to sniff!
3. Beagles need to do what all dogs do about two or three times a day. They're not te easiest breed to housebreak or litter train, and to our knowlege, the holodeck hasn't been invented yet... so where does Porthos "go?"
4. Don't be fooled by that short coat. Beagles SHED. They shed thin, straight hairs, sometimes known as "beagle needles," which can work their way into almost any fabric or upholstery. In a small cabin aboard a starship, this is going to mean plenty of cleaning!
5. Beagles are noted for being escape artists - they want to get out to go sniffing, and once the nose goes down, the ears turn off! Getting back a wandering Beagle could be a five-year mission in itself!