Cartoon about a Boy with a space ship and robotic dogs

Hello,

I have been looking for information on this cartoon for years. This is the only one I have not been able ot track down.

Some historical info: I saw this at a movie theater in Mexico, back in 1973 or 1974, I was 3 or 4, so memories are blurry. Typically, at the time, you would get these cartoons shown as animated films even if they were tv shows.

What I remember is that there was a boy who had a space ship and some dogs. The dogs where robots and I am not sure if the dogs transformed into the spaceship or they flew together with the space ship.

From the animation characteristics, it could be a japanese cartoon.

Oh, I do remember the title (in Spanish) was Astro Boy but has NOTHING to do with the real Astro Boy, but again this was 70's Mexico.

Thanks for your help.

YES, YES, YES !!!!

Thanks SOOO much!!!

It's exactly how I remember it, the dogs flying along with him, and then transforming, and the scene with his dad. WOW, at times I thought it was a product of my imagination.

Thanks, can't tell you how excited I am to get an answer.

According to this link

El escuadrón rayo contra los invasores del espacio - Doblaje Wiki

it was also known as

"Astroboy contra los invasores del planeta del diablo".

and the main character's name was Astro. So, in fact I had the title sort of right.