On November 3, 1957, pioneering canine Laika became the first living creature to orbit the planet. To honor and celebrate the contributions of the space dogs with a holiday of kindness, November 3, is heretofore known as Muttniks Day. — From 1951 to 1961, dozens of pioneering dogs called Muttniks led the way to space for all humankind. Imagine being a street dog–a regular mutt–living on the streets of Moscow in the early-1950’s, and by happenstance at the very beginning of the Space Age. Next imagine being one of hundreds of dogs who found themself suddenly being rounded up, caught, and brought to live in a most unusual…