Laelaps and the Teumessian Vixen

Laelaps (Λαίλαπς) was the magical hound that Zeus gave to Europa. Laelaps was the swiftest hound that was fated to always catch his prey. The hound came into the possession of her son Minos, who in turn gave the hound to his mistress Procris before she in turn gave the hound to her husband Cephalus.

Amphitryon, stepfather of Heracles, borrowed Laelaps from Cephalus so he could hunt the Teumessian Vixen, the fox that Hera had decreed would never be captured.

Since the Fates had made Laelaps to be able to catch all creatures and the Teumessian Vixen could not be captured, Zeus decided to turn both hound and fox into stone. It was said that Zeus might have placed them both among the stars, so Laelaps would continue its endless pursuit of the Teumessian Vixen. Laelaps was possibly the constellation known as Canis Major.