To learn more about Guard Dog and how you can help chained dogs, visit MUTTS.com/GuardDog.
Have you seen? Sparky (formerly known as Guard Dog) is the cover story for the March 2024 issue of Animal Culture magazine! For the article, writers Patricia Denys and Mary Holmes interviewed Patrick about his Guard Dog freedom story and the plight of real-life tethered dogs.
The article, titled "Guard Dog's Guardian: The Work of Patrick McDonnell" discusses Patrick's journey of becoming a cartoonist and the profound influence that Peanuts creator Charles Schulz had on his work. The piece also includes tips from PETA about how to help real dogs like Sparky.
Read the full interview now — and while you're at it, check out this month's other stories, including a review of Patrick's award-winning book Me...Jane, a feature about a "secret" pet memorial tree in the heart of NYC's Central Park, and much more.
Animal Culture is an online, bimonthly publication that features exclusive interviews with artists, writers, and other animal advocates, along with book reviews, humane education, legislative alerts, and more. Want to read it every month? Head to Patreon to become a paying subscriber and support their team's wonderful work.
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Get to know Shtinky with these strips featuring this sweet kitten!
Mooch and Earl gave Shtinky Puddin’ his name.
But his human family knows him as Jules.
He loves his "angels" with all his heart.
He loves tigers — and all the animals and the planet we share — even more.
He’s a philosopher of sorts, wise beyond his years.
He dreams of saving the world and teaching us all to purr.
But it gets a bit overwhelming sometimes.
He doesn’t have the best sense of direction, and often finds himself lost.
But no matter where he finds himself, he is always quick to share a hug.
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Meet Sparky, formerly known as Guard Dog. Though he runs free now, Sparky was a tethered dog who lived for years at the end of a chain. He found solace in singing to his friend, the moon, and visits from Doozy. Despite the challenges he faced while chained, this sweet, resilient pup remains a loving and optimistic soul.
Get to know Sparky with these strips featuring this beloved formerly chained pup!
Sparky, formerly known as Guard Dog, lives his life at the end of his chain but dreams of freedom and a life with the little neighborhood girl who treats him with such kindness.
He often expresses himself with his dear friend, the moon.
But the neighborhood girl, Doozy, is his dearest friend of all and shows him all the love that he so rightly deserves.
Despite the treatment he’s received, he remains sweet, trusting, and loving.
But he dreams of running free, straight into the arms of his Doozy.
And she dreams of him, too.
One day, his owner moves away, cruelly and carelessly leaving Guard Dog behind, still on his chain.
Doozy’s visits were once Guard Dog’s metaphorical lifeline, but on this visit, she was his literal lifeline.
She jumps into action, sending Earl to fetch Ozzie so she can stay at Guard Dog’s side.
Doozy, Ozzie, Mooch, and Earl rally together to rescue Guard Dog and finally free him of his chains.
After being unchained, he wakes up in the animal shelter … but someone special is waiting for him.
After a 7-day stray hold, Guard Dog is adopted and gets to go home with his Doozy, finally and officially hers.
With a new lease on life and a new home, Guard Dog finally receives his new name — Sparky.
He once again greets his friend the moon, this time from inside his new home with his Doozy.
Learn more about Sparky’s plight and learn how you can help tethered dogs like him.
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The time was now.
On November 1st, the Guard Dog story began running in newspapers and on MUTTS.com. And, today, this part of Guard Dog’s journey comes to a happy ending and new beginning.
I've been promising you (and myself) for too many years that someday he would be free, and while a few animal advocates have continued to lobby that Guard Dog still has a job to do, many more agreed it was time. Freeing Guard Dog became the longest MUTTS story ever.
Telling a tale like this in a daily comic strip is a different reading experience. Media today trains us for immediate satisfaction for our dwindling attention spans. Telling a longer story with only three panels every 24 hours for seven weeks adds a lot of tension and, I’ve learned, anxiousness. I appreciated your patience and faith.
It was emotional for me, too, in writing and drawing the story — but when I think of all the horrors poor chained dogs have to endure in real life, I knew his story must be told. Guard Dog is made of pen and ink. There are far too many real dogs living chained with far worse stories to tell.
Gretchen Wyler, actress, animal activist and founder of The Ark Trust, famously said: “We must not refuse to see with our eyes what they must endure with their bodies.”
I've been touched by all the comments on the MUTTS social media posts. I've always hoped readers would care about and relate to the MUTTS characters as they do their own furry loved ones. It is heartening that so many of you have written to say that Guard Dog (now Sparky) and Doozy inspired you to help a chained dog, or that one of your own dogs lived their life at the end of a chain until you gave them a loving, forever home. May this comic strip story open more hearts to help chained dogs.
For those who have wondered about Guard Dog’s new name — I wasn't sure what Doozy would call him. Initially I thought to just keep "Guard Dog" as now he would be Doozy’s guardian. But then I thought of “Sparky." Sparky was the nickname for Charles M. Schulz, the creator of Peanuts. There would never have been a MUTTS comic strip nor Guard Dog if not for his inspiration. So Guard Dog’s new name is my tribute to a great man, cartoonist, and friend.
Thank you for all your support, kind words, and love. And thank you to all the rescuers and shelter workers — the real unsung heroes.
Patrick
P.S. I’ve been getting a lot of requests to turn the Guard Dog story into a book. More on that, soon.
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If you know of a real-life Guard Dog or want to help with legislation, visit MUTTS.com/GuardDog for more information.
]]>In honor of Sparky, the beloved MUTTS character formerly known as Guard Dog, we're sharing happy stories about real-life "guard dogs." This story about a pup named Felix comes from our friend Shan Phillips, a Field Outreach Worker for PETA’s Community Animal Project.
By Shan Phillips
The long-suffering “backyard dogs” that PETA’s fieldworkers help are often deprived of many things — companionship, veterinary care, exercise, and respect, to name a few. It’s often difficult to persuade their owners that these individuals have complex needs. But the one thing everyone should know is an absolute necessity — non-negotiable, no questions — is at least one square meal every day. But for countless dogs like Felix, dinner doesn’t always arrive.
This small and spunky Shiba Inu mix was tethered outdoors 24/7 on a property in North Carolina, and his PETA friends frequently found him shivering in the cold rain or hopping around frantically, desperate for the slightest bit of attention and often something — anything — to eat. On a recent visit to the property, PETA fieldworkers saw that he was ravenous and extremely thin. They had a heart-to-heart with his owners, who agreed to give him up for a chance at adoption by a guardian who would care for him properly.
Field outreach worker Shan Phillips with Felix on the day of his rescue
This five-year-old pup was finally freed, after years of living on a chain, in October 2023. Felix blossomed while in foster care, gaining both weight and confidence, and quickly found a loving home.
Felix at his foster home
We recently received the following update from his forever family:
“Felix now has two big sisters named Mavis and Dottie. He wrestles and plays with them all day. Even though they’re more than twice his size, he has no trouble keeping up with them. He makes up for his size with his explosive energy by constantly running circles around them and bounding over their heads. It’s quite a sight to behold.
“He loves his big new yard. It seems like he picks a new section to sniff and explore every time we take him outside. He loves car rides. He’s still learning what is and isn’t a toy. For example, we used to set our hamper of clean laundry on our bed to put away later, but now we do it immediately because Felix thinks all of the socks are his toys to take as he pleases. We’re still finding socks stuffed in the nooks and crannies of his dog bed.”
Felix with his new adoptive parents and siblings
Felix’s friends at PETA are incredibly happy to know that he will bring in the new year indoors, and will never see a chain again.
Every “Guard Dog” needs a “Doozy” — if you know of an outdoor dog who needs help, please check these tips and your local laws for ways you can make a difference!
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To learn more about MUTTS' own Guard Dog and the plight of chained dogs, visit MUTTS.com/GuardDog.
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By Marisol Thomas
This is the story of Houma, a formerly chained and abused dog who was rehabilitated by Pets Alive Animals Sanctuary in Middletown, NY — the same rescue our own dog, Tyler, came from.
Houma was found during Hurricane Gustav in 2008. He was chained to a truck, where he’d been attacked by other dogs. He also had battery acid burns on his back.
Houma was rescued by Kat5 Animal Rescue and then transported to Pets Alive, along with other animals saved after the hurricane.
He had a myriad of medical issues and was heartworm positive. Once he arrived at Pets Alive, they immediately started treatment for his burns and kennel cough and a variety of parasites. He was underweight and very ill, but their medical liaison Janet Pirog fell in love with him. She took care of him day and night. While at work, she cared for him at the shelter. And because of her medical background, she was able to take him home with her at night once he was stable.
With love and care, Houma reached a healthy weight — and more importantly, he formed a loving bond with Janet.
After fostering him for over a year, Janet knew that she could never let “Houmi” (as he was called by all who knew and loved him) go. He was finally adopted and lived with his mom and doggie and kitty brothers and sisters.
Houma and his adoptive mom, Janet
He enjoyed a beautiful life of adventures with his mom, filled with trips to the mountains and days at the beach. He was a constant companion to Janet, who adored him and literally saved his life.
Houma was a beautiful soul who was loved by everyone at Pets Alive and Sidewalk Angels, and he still holds a special place in the hearts of my own family as well. He passed away last year, but he lived a happy and free life that we hope erased all memories of his horrible beginnings.
Houma with Becky Tegze, the executive director of Pets Alive, three years after his rescue
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To learn more about MUTTS’ own Guard Dog and how to help other chained dogs, visit MUTTS.com/GuardDog.
]]>In honor of Guard Dog, the formerly (!) chained dog in MUTTS, we're sharing rescue stories about real-life “guard dogs.” This story about a resilient dog named Herman comes from a volunteer named Hannah at Michigan Pit Bull Education Project. MPEP is a Flint-based nonprofit dedicated to educating the community about responsible pet ownership and ending the practice of 24/7 chaining. Editor’s note: Although Herman found a happy ending with his rescuers, two of his canine friends were not so fortunate. Please note that this story may be difficult to read.
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By Hannah Hosking
At Michigan Pit Bull Education Project (MPEP), we have many beautiful freedom stories. We accomplish freedom for chained dogs through consistency and building trust with owners. We first try to educate them about why dogs deserve to be loved and cared for inside a home. If that doesn’t work, we just keep showing up and caring for the dogs until we can get them surrendered.
One of our recent rescues happened on November 5, 2023. Someone reached out to us about this property — they told us there was a house with a skinny dog in the backyard, and it looked like there was an eviction notice on the door. We knew we had to check right away, and hoped that someone didn’t just leave their dog behind after being evicted.
When we pulled up at the house, we knocked on the door. There was no answer, so we walked into the backyard and that is when our hearts sank. There, we found two deceased puppies … and then we saw Herman.
He stood up and very weakly walked out of his dog house. He had no straw, no water, and no food. But he was wagging his tail. He was immediately ready for some love and pets. We took photos and videos for evidence, and a volunteer named Jonna called the police and asked for immediate assistance. As she was on the phone, another volunteer (named Kota) and I sat with Herman, giving him love while we waited for a fourth volunteer, Julia, to bring a little bit of food for him. As we waited with him, we saw him try to eat some sticks and rocks. Our hearts were hurting for him.
Finally as we gave Herman some food, an owner approached us, trying to make excuses for this awful situation. Police showed up and then it was a battle to get the dogs from his yard. We were not ready to give up and walk away. After three hours, we finally left with Herman.
This was around 7 p.m. on a Sunday and our amazing veterinarian, Dr. Barb at Childs Veterinary Clinic, rushed into the office just to see Herman and make sure he’d make it through the night. Knowing Herman was safe, we continued with our route as we still had about 45 more dogs to go and visit that evening.
Recovery for Herman will be long, but he is with Julia, one of our most dedicated volunteers and one of the people who was there the day of his rescue.
During his vetting, we learned that he was heartworm negative, which was shocking but so very amazing. (Most of the dogs we rescue come with heartworms.) But we were extremely saddened that they found sticks and rocks in his poop. He was truly trying to eat anything he could to stay alive. They also found worms in his sample, but he has been given treatment for that as well. He is anemic and his bones are weak, but we have him on medication and a custom diet to help him regain his strength.
Now, a month into his new life of freedom, his foster mom says he’s feeling a thousand times better and is “a perfect boy.” He gets to enjoy a room to himself at his foster house, and he seems eager to play with the other dogs in the home (once he heals more). Right now, we’re taking it slow and giving him all the time he needs to feel better, put on weight, and get stronger.
We will soon be looking for a foster-to-adopt home for Herman so his foster mom can move on to helping the next dog in need.
He will never starve, or be neglected, ever again. Herman is safe now.
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In honor of Guard Dog, the formerly (!) chained dog in MUTTS, we're sharing happy stories about real-life rescue dogs. This story about a special heart dog named Coco comes from author (and friend of MUTTS) Glen David Gold.
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By Glen David Gold
My Shiloh shepherd, Coco, was a dog that some breeders had, when she was too old for them, turned loose in a field in the desert somewhere. She had just arrived at Westside German Shepherd Rescue and they were still bathing her when I visited her for the first time. They guessed she was about four years old. But they didn't know much about her. I kept discovering things peculiar to a dog that had never been out of the house and what I'm guessing was a small back yard or run. Not quite Guard Dog's life, but close.
When I took her to the car for the first time, I opened the hatchback. She just stared. She'd never been in a car before. After I encouraged her to jump, she jumped over the gate and onto the roof of the car. When I got her home, I tried to get her onto the bed, but she wouldn't hear of it. She'd never had dog bed before, and I had to give her treats while she stood in one until she finally relaxed and realized she had something that was hers.
She'd never seen another dog before that wasn't a Shiloh shepherd. So she was VERY CONFUSED to see there were dogs that didn't look like her. And any dog that was smaller was clearly a puppy. Cat? Absolutely puppies. She fell in love with my spikey kitten Charlie and they were inseparable. She'd never seen a toy, and never really understood what they were for. The seven years I had her, she only barked twice.
But the biggest change for her was walks. No one had ever taken her on a walk before. The first couple, she didn't know she could leave the yard without coming back immediately. But then when she realized it was allowed, she could take in the whole world and it was a joy for her. There was a stream by our house and our walks always began and ended with her standing in it and having a very satisfying drink.
A few days after I got her, I tried to take her to a training class. I say "try" because when we arrived, and she saw all the other dogs, and heard the commands, she lay on her back on the floor, all four paws in the air. She refused to move. The trainer took the leash from me and worked with her for a few minutes. Then she refunded my money. "This dog was trained harshly — I don't think you can teach her anything new."
Well. Sort of. She was still able to amaze me. When I'd had her for about six years, one day we were walking down a country lane. The local utility had put up a series of road cones along the side of the road. When we walked past, Coco threaded through them.
I was so startled I stopped dead, and then I turned around and walked back the way we came. She threaded through the cones again.
So consider this a vote for getting a dog with a past. They know stories, even if they can only tell them when you're paying close attention.
To learn more about Guard Dog and how you can help chained dogs, visit MUTTS.com/GuardDog.
Is it the Holiday newsletter already? Wow. What a fast and interesting year it’s been. Way back in January, Heart To Heart, my collaboration with the Dalai Lama, was published. And in April I had the opportunity to travel to Dharamshala, India, and present the book to His Holiness in person.
In September I became part of the Marvel Universe with the publication of The Super Hero’s Journey, my "collaboration” with comic book legends Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, and Steve Ditko.
And, on November 1, the Guard Dog story began in the MUTTS comic strip running in newspapers and on MUTTS.com. I’m so appreciative and moved by your responses to Guard Dog and Doozy’s journey. Thanks for all your support. I have a lot more to say about that, so will be writing a separate letter about Guard Dog and will be sending it out soon.
While I was completing the art for the Guard Dog and holiday strips, the 2023 leg of my tour for The Super Hero’s Journey was also wrapping up. It was fun to again travel to speak about a new book and meet so many MUTTS readers who could relate to the book’s themes: growing up reading Marvel super hero comics and the inspiration and impact of art. This tour took me to NYC, Baltimore, San Francisco, Santa Rosa, and Miami.
This weekend, on Saturday, December 2, I’ll be in conversation with Robt Martin Seda-Schreiber at the Bayard Rustin Center for Social Justice in Princeton, NJ. He’s an insightful interviewer and I’m looking forward to it.
And on the following Saturday (December 9), there will be a reception for a print exhibit of my environmentally themed MUTTS comic strips in Princeton at D&R Greenway’s Johnson Education Center.
Then I’ll be home catching up and decorating the tree.
Wishing you and your loved ones the merriest of holidays. Let’s look forward to an even better 2024.
Patrick
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]]>“Guard Dog has inspired me to start a kids animal advocacy club for me and my friends to help make things better for animals when we are running the country in a few years. We learn about animal welfare, civics, how to contact our representatives, and a lot of other stuff. … I promise, we will work hard to make the world better for animals when we are grown!”
We were so inspired by Ethan that we reached out to learn more. His mom Miche told us that when he was younger, around eight years old, he made his own comic strips to help local shelter animals get adopted — just like MUTTS!
We spoke with Ethan and Miche through email, and we’re honored to share the following interview with the rest of our MUTTS community. We hope Ethan’s story will encourage more animal lovers (of all ages) to pursue their passions and make a positive difference in the world.
Hi, Ethan! We’d love to hear more about your Youth Animal Advocacy Project. How did it begin?
The Junior Animal Advocacy Project is a group I started after trying to get state legislation passed for a few years. The purpose of the project is to help teach kids how to be citizen advocates.
I started it because I have been trying to get rescue pets named the state pet of Kentucky and I realized that if we want to help animals we need to educate the future change makers so we can create a better world for animals. I’m still trying to make rescue pets the state pet, and I’m working on getting a national pet symbol, too. (If any legislators want to help with that I would love to talk to them!)
How does the Advocacy Project work, and what kind of activities do you do?
We meet online two or three times per week. We have kids from all over the country and a couple of other countries. One or two meetings are with special guests and in the other meeting I teach a lesson about civics and advocacy. Our speakers are amazing. We have had speakers from the Cousteau Society, the Rainforest Trust, a shark researcher from South Africa, people from HSUS and the Wildcat Sanctuary, and so many others.
We just finished up a project where we built our own mock animal shelter. We learned how to write a mission statement, we applied for jobs in the shelter, and picked employees. We developed an operating budget and designed the floor plan for our shelter. It was interesting and fun but hard figuring out how to budget everything. It was eye-opening to see how hard shelters have to work.
We're getting ready to start on our issue advocacy. Some of the issues kids are addressing are poaching, ending pet overpopulation, and ending animal abuse. We will contact legislators, and present our issues to our classes at school or clubs. We are also planning a rally at the Kentucky State Capitol in January where we will talk about our issues.
How can other kids get involved in the group?
Kids can get involved by emailing info@EYAAP.org. We're still working on our website, but next year we are hoping to have it up and running with educational activities and lessons for other kids or teachers who want to help animals.
Any other personal animal projects or experiences you’d like to tell us about?
I used to make a newscast called the Rescue Report and I interviewed some interesting people like Charlotte Maxwell-Jones from Kabul Small Animal Rescue and even the governor of Kentucky Andy Beshear! That's on YouTube.
I also testified in the state house committee in Kentucky for my rescue pet legislation, and was on the floor of the house when the bill passed the first year. (It never passed the Senate though, and my bill hasn't made it out of committee since 2020.)
We understand that you’ve been a fan of MUTTS for a long time. How has MUTTS inspired you to help animals?
MUTTS has inspired me to try to give a voice to animals that don't have one.
Do you have a favorite MUTTS character?
My favorite character is Doozy because she is a kid and she loves animals. She is kind and wants to help. I would love to have a friend just like her. I want her to join the Junior Advocates! She is already doing it!
What does Guard Dog mean to you, and what are your hopes for him?
To me, Guard Dog symbolizes all the animals that are chained or constantly in cages and can't enjoy their life. I hope Guard Dog gets help and ends up in a new, kind, loving home with Doozy. I want Doozy to adopt Guard Dog. That would be really nice for him. And it would show that kids can help if people just listen to us.
Do you have any pets? If so, we’d love to hear about them.
I have two, Hank and Dixie. Hank is a rescued bull terrier we adopted from Rescue Revolution of Mississippi. Hank is lazy but playful. He likes to sleep under blankets a lot because he gets cold with his short fur. We don't know what Dixie is but she looks like an Italian greyhound. She is a rescue and we adopted her in August from L.I.F.E. House for Animals. Like Hank, she is chaotic and energetic and cute and cuddly.
What advice or tips do you have for other kids who want to help animals?
I know to a lot of kids it may feel like you don't have a voice because you're young, but it doesn't mean you can't make a difference. Even just visiting animals in a shelter or making toys helps. A big thing you can do is get involved. Learn about things. Learn how the legislative process works. Right now it's kind of boring, but one day we will be in charge. We owe it to animals (and everyone else!) to learn about it and make sure that we know how to help when it's our turn. One day soon it will be.
Want to hear more about Ethan’s animal advocacy work? You can follow along on Facebook or on Instagram at @ethans_rescue_pet_project.
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In honor of Guard Dog, the faithful chained dog in MUTTS with a heart of gold, we're sharing happy stories about real-life "guard dogs." This story describes how three deserving dogs got their freedom. It was submitted by our friend Shan Phillips, a Field Outreach Worker for PETA’s Community Animal Project.
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By Shan Phillips
PETA’s Community Animal Project works 365 days a year on improving quality of life and passing legislation to afford protection to chained and/or penned dogs. In the winter, we bring them straw. In the summer, we provide dog houses, toys, water buckets, free food, and other services. Last year, we delivered 190 doghouses and more than 1,300 bales of straw bedding to “backyard” dogs.
One of our recent victories was the liberation of Henry, Sandy, and Duke (and several other dogs) from a rural North Carolina property. PETA fieldworkers visited these dogs many times over a span of almost two years and first secured custody of Henry, a malnourished Chihuahua who was kept chained 24/7 in all weather extremes, among several large dogs who were also kept chained around the clock. It didn’t take long for us to place Henry with a loving adoptive family.
Months later, at the same property, fieldworkers found the remains of a Pit Bull named Minnie, still chained to a nearby tree, inside her doghouse. We pushed local law enforcement to seize the remaining dogs from the property before they met the same tragic fate, and eventually the owner was charged with multiple counts of cruelty to animals.
Since the dogs were facing months, if not years, living at the tiny, under-resourced local shelter in legal limbo, PETA filed a civil lawsuit and gained permanent custody of them. We made sure all the dogs got the vet care they so desperately needed, and placed Sandy, a senior Lab mix, and Duke, a young Pit Bull, in wonderful homes where they will never see another day on a chain.
Duke was adopted by one of our fieldworkers who frequently visited him! Below are a few photos of Duke enjoying his new adventures.
In addition to providing much-needed care for individual dogs like Henry, Sandy, and Duke, we also work diligently on chaining restrictions and bans, via legislation in our service area and across the country. For example, in 2020 our work at the Virginia General Assembly resulted in legislation that makes it illegal to keep dogs chained during extreme weather.
While we celebrate these victories, there is still much work to be done. We will continue our boots-on-the-ground work for chained dogs, as well as our fight for legislative changes to better protect dogs just like Guard Dog.
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To learn more about Guard Dog and how you can help chained dogs, visit MUTTS.com/GuardDog. Interested in sharing your own Guard Dog rescue story? We'd love to hear from you. Reach out at blog@MUTTS.com or post on Instagram using the hashtag #FreeGuardDog.
]]>In honor of Guard Dog, the faithful chained dog in MUTTS with a heart of gold, we're sharing happy stories about real-life "guard dogs." This freedom story about a very special dog named Tyler comes from our friend Marisol Thomas, who co-founded the nonprofit organization Sidewalk Angels Foundation with her husband, musician Rob Thomas.
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By Marisol Thomas
One afternoon, many years ago, Rob and I took a drive to visit Pets Alive Animal Sanctuary. Our intent was to learn more about them and see how we might be able to help. Meeting one of the greatest loves of my life was never a part of the plan.
But there he was … my Tyler, who would not only change our lives forever, but would also be the catalyst for Sidewalk Angels Foundation. His eyes met mine the moment I walked into the room. Our connection was instant, as I got on my knees and touched his little neck. He raised his paw and pressed his face against mine. And we knew at that moment that we belonged to each other.
Tyler’s story is one of the hardest I’ve ever encountered. Before being rescued and coming to New York from West Virginia, he spent the first four years of his life tethered and severely abused daily, in ways that are unfathomable to most people.
Even after being rescued, the shelter was unsure if he would ever be adoptable due to the traumas he’d experienced. But that day we just knew. Rob and I put him into our SUV and told him we were going home. He sat like a gentleman in the back seat, smiling, letting us know he understood, and he agreed.
We saved each other that day. We helped him heal from years of abuse, and he helped me find the strength to not only fight my own chronic illness but also continue the work that meant so much to me. I had worked with animal rescue since I was a young girl, but it was adopting Tyler, and our love for him and our desire to help others like him that was the driving force behind Sidewalk Angels.
Tyler was our first “angel." This one little precious soul resulted in the salvation and the changing and saving of the lives of thousands of other animals.
He was taken from us way too soon, but for the rest of his short life, he was so loved. He traveled the world with us. He was a little rock star. He was in magazines and even onstage at Madison Square Garden. He had fans all over the country. Many wanted to meet him because it was his story that allowed them to open their hearts to an animal in need that everyone had given up on. An animal that went on to change their lives.
All because of our Tyler — our Teetsie (short for Tyler Thomas), which was the nickname he loved most. He was a special old soul that drew everyone in the moment they met him. I’ll never understand why he was taken from us so soon. Perhaps he was an angel sent here for a greater purpose, larger and farther reaching than we’ll ever know.
I will never understand. I will never not feel that loss. But his spirit lives on. It’s because of him that we went on to rescue his brothers Samy and Ollie, who continued to change our lives and make us better humans. Tyler was so otherworldly that I almost feel he might be somewhere reading this. If he is, I know he’s smiling. If he is, I want him to know how loved he still is.
To learn more about Guard Dog and how to help chained dogs, visit MUTTS.com/GuardDog. Interested in sharing your Guard Dog rescue story? We'd love to hear from you. Reach out at blog@MUTTS.com or post on Instagram using the hashtag #FreeGuardDog.
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In honor of Guard Dog, the faithful chained dog in MUTTS with a heart of gold, we're sharing happy stories about real-life "guard dogs." This special story about a dog named Bigfoot is told in two parts and was submitted by two animal angels: MUTTS reader and Adopt a Pit foster volunteer Melanie Wagner, and Amberlynne Craine, Bigfoot's adoptive fur mom. Thank you, Melanie and Amberlynne!
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In honor of Guard Dog, the faithful chained dog in MUTTS with a heart of gold, we're sharing happy stories about real-life "guard dogs." This story was submitted by MUTTS reader Bethany Dalton. Thank you, Bethany!
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From what we have to go on, we think my rescue dog, Freddy Furcury, was likely a chained Guard Dog who escaped while he was still growing. He was found as a stray with a metal choke chain embedded in his neck. It was embedded so badly that the shelter workers immediately put him in the car and rushed him to the vet for surgery. He was also underweight so he had been on his own and in pain for quite awhile. If he had not been found then he would have died a slow and painful death from choking or infection without ever knowing love.
I knew all this before I adopted him, but a few days after adoption, the shelter asked if I wanted the photos they had taken of him (in case his abuser was caught) to show our vet as part of his medical records. He has scars and some fur loss that requires us to leave his collar loose but it doesn't look that bad now.
I was not prepared and was shocked to see just how bad it was! I sat there and just cried; I still cry when I see those pictures! I didn't realize how close he had come to literally being choked to death by his choke chain. He is a 60 lb. pitbull who loves with ALL his heart and is happiest sitting on your lap. How could anyone tie such a sweet baby outside and neglect him and cause all this pain? It really made me more sensitive to anyone leaving their dogs tied out, even for short periods of time. Dogs belong with you and as a part of your family, not tied outside, underfed, and forgotten about.
Freddy Furcury came into my life six weeks after I lost my Queeny girl (my 12-year-old boxer mix rescue). I was still crying daily over her loss but I needed a fur baby to help me through the loss. From the start, Freddy, who had been let down by humans to the point it almost killed him, was licking my tears away! He has gotten me through the worst of my grief and I have helped him learn how to be spoiled and protected.
Yes, he is still a "guard dog" from inside the house and will let me know if anyone steps foot in our driveway, but he will never be left outside alone except in our fenced backyard while I cook and watch him through the window. He is the best dog, and I can't believe someone else put so little value on his life. He is so happy hanging out with me or going for rides, anything that involves living life with his family and he is ready to go. I am forever grateful for the gift of Freddy in my life!
Interested in sharing your Guard Dog rescue story? We'd love to hear from you. Reach out at blog@MUTTS.com or post on Instagram using the hashtag #FreeGuardDog.
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I'm so happy to be interviewing my nephew, Dan Misdea, The New Yorker cartoonist. (How great is that?) Let's start with you telling us about your journey of becoming a cartoonist, from drawing a MUTTS title panel at age seven, to drawing gags for The New Yorker and now having your first children's book published.
Well, I knew I wanted to be a cartoonist after drawing for MUTTS. I guess I already was one, but I also wanted to explore other interests as I got older. Sports and music were huge parts of my life and still are. Eventually, I got my degree in Economics and took an accounting job out of college.
Several years into navigating the corporate world, I got the itch to pursue cartooning again. So, I left my job and started submitting to The New Yorker while working on The Light Inside.
I sold my first cartoon after about 18 months and now my picture book project is published and out in the world. It wasn’t a straight or easy path by any means, but I’m glad it led me back to cartooning. I feel really lucky.
Tell us about your wonderful new wordless graphic novel for kids, The Light Inside. What inspired it? I know your mom always loved Halloween and made it a very special holiday for the family.
Yes, I think it starts with my mom. Halloween was a big deal in our household growing up and the themes and characters surrounding the holiday often end up in my sketchbooks. When I doodled the jack-o-lantern character one day, I felt like there was a story to be told through him.
OK, since this interview is for mutts.com, I'm going to put you on the spot. Besides the one with your own title panel, what's your favorite MUTTS comic strip and why?
Just one?
For me, it has to be the one where Earl asks a contractor to put an addition on his dog house. The contractor is based on my dad, but I’ll never forget how thrilled he was to see it. The best comics or cartoons are ones that trigger a memory.
Everyone in our family is pretty artistic and very funny. Do you think being creative is in our DNA?
Of course it is!
Thanks Dan. I'll end by quoting Charles Schulz: “Keep drawing those funny pictures.”
— Patrick McDonnell
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Speaking of fall: September 26 is the official pub date of my new Marvel Comics graphic novel, The Super Hero’s Journey. I'm happy to announce you can pre-order it here starting today! I will be signing the bookplates for any books ordered from MUTTS.com, and everyone who pre-orders will be able to get a free 8”x10” print.
This book is something completely new from me and the Marvel Universe. It’s part autobiographical, a memoir of my childhood fascination with comics — and it’s a tale of discovering the super being inside us all.
It’s a mashup of my art and paintings with the classic ’60s comic pages of the great Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, and Steve Ditko, telling a new story for a new audience. It features The Avengers, The Fantastic Four, The Hulk, Doctor Doom, The Black Panther, The Watcher, and your friendly neighborhood Spiderman. It was a boyhood dream to play with these time-honored characters. I hope you love reading it as much as I loved creating it.
And speaking of super hero comics: San Francisco's Cartoon Art Museum is having an auction of original tribute art in honor of the late Dave Stevens and his creation The Rocketeer. The proceeds will help the Museum and the Hairy Cell Leukemia Foundation. My contribution goes to auction on ebay on August 21. I'm really happy with the piece and it was a lot of fun to draw.
And speaking of auctions: The National Cartoonists Society is having an original comic strip art auction on September 7 to benefit the NCS Foundation. The NCSF supports cartoonists in need, funds education initiatives for cartooning, and does community outreach including children’s hospital visits. I've donated a classic MUTTS daily from 2013 starring Earl, Mooch, Millie, and Ozzie and added watercolor to shweeten it up a bit. As you know, I don't let go of many MUTTS originals, so this is a unique opportunity to have a MUTTS of your own. When the auction goes live at 4pm(ish) on September, you can bid here. Good luck!
And speaking of good luck: Last month I had the honor of visiting New Mexico and meeting up with poet / Rumi translator (and dear friend) Daniel Ladinsky. What a joy — just being in his presence was inspiring. You may recall that, a few years back, we collaborated on Darling, I Love You (Poems From the Hearts of Our Glorious Mutts). Daniel’s poems go straight to your heart. I recommend that you spend quality time with any of his books. Love Poems From God is a personal favorite.
And speaking of love: August is Clear the Shelters Month. Our shelters are full, so please, please consider adoption. And I have a personal request. Perhaps you saw two bonded real-life cats on the MUTTS Instagram page a while back. My wife and I helped a neighbor trap a fluffy black cat, and the shelter staff named him Little Earl. He soon found a shelter buddy named Saxon (aka Mooch). They are still at SAVE Animal Shelter in Skillman, NJ … waiting, waiting, waiting. If you're thinking of getting a pair of kitties, please think of them. And if you adopt them, I'll thank you with a drawing of the pair with Earl and Mooch to hang in their new home.
That's it for August, but September's going to be a very busy month for me, starting with the first stop of The Super Hero’s Journey book tour at Baltimore Comic Con on September 9-10. It will be the first of many appearances. We'll keep you informed wherever my super hero journey takes me next.
Stay safe and leave out some water for our wildlife friends.
Patrick
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Mooch has always been curious, but especially about his new neighbor, Earl.
The pair quickly became two peas in a pod.
He LOVES his Little Pink Sock.
Like, really loves it.
His other love is Shnelly, a demure housecat known only for her ears.
He always has a little mischief up his sleeves.
He is the founding member of the MUTTS book club.
He has a secret identity: the all-knowing Shphinx.
He abides.
He and Earl will be best friends, forever.
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Get to know Earl with these strips featuring this beloved pup!
The moment we first met Earl (and Ozzie)!
Published September 5, 1994 | Fetch This Strip
When Earl and Mooch first met, they weren’t quite sure about each other, but they quickly became best friends.
Published September 18, 1994 | Fetch This Strip
He loves his Ozzie more than anything or anyone.
Published June 2, 2022 | Fetch This Strip
Their love is one in a billion.
Published August 22, 2021 | Fetch This Strip
He acts as a voice of reason for his best bud, Mooch.
Published October 14, 2021 | Fetch This Strip
He LOVES belly rubs.
Published March 16, 2021 | Fetch This Strip
Like really, really loves belly rubs.
Published September 7, 2017 | Fetch This Strip
He also loves his kiddie pool in the summer,
Published June 18, 2017 | Fetch This Strip
Long walks,
Published December 8, 2004 | Fetch This Strip
And a good squeaky toy.
Published April 2, 2015 | Fetch This Strip
]]>This summer, we’re continuing our support for this earth-friendly organization by directing donations toward its “Plant Trees for the Orca” program via Digital Humani. This effort helps the Southern Resident Orca, a species on the brink of extinction, by planting trees along rivers and streams in the United States’ Pacific Northwest. To learn more, visit our blog post with more details about how we’re giving back and protecting what we love.
This summer, we’re looking for photos and stories showcasing your beautiful surroundings — from sandy beaches and rugged mountainscapes to local parks and backyard habitats. We want to hear about your part of our precious planet, and why (or how) you hope to protect it.
The MUTTS community stretches around the globe. We hope that by sharing images of our “backyards” (literally or figuratively), we can feel more connected — not only to each other, but also to the natural world that we all love and share.
Over the next few months, we’ll pick some of our favorite submissions to share on our website and across social media. We’ll also randomly select one person each month to receive a free copy of Patrick’s newest book Heart to Heart. This touching graphic novel, created in collaboration with His Holiness the Dalai Lama, inspires us all to remember that “we are indeed all members of a single family sharing one little house.”
Looking for inspiration? Here are a few notes and photos from our team.
Invited by Petco Love CEO, Suzanne Kogut, Patrick walked the carpet with two adoptable dogs and met with several good friends including Katy Hansen, ACC of NYC’s Director of Communication. She told him about a real-life shelter story! A family had just come to the event, looking for a dog to adopt after their own dog, Mocha, had been stolen back in January. To everyone's amazement and delight, ACC had Mocha, and the family was reunited with their lost friend! She had been found tied to a tree and a good Samaritan brought her in.
During this event, Patrick got to know several of the animals up for adoption, including a dog named Panda. Panda is still looking for his fur-ever home with the help of Muddy Paws Rescue. You can read more about sweet Panda below:
Video courtesy of @ShelterMeTV (Visit ShelterMe on Facebook)
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This article delves into a study by researchers who wanted to understand the inner workings of our furry friends' minds. They used brain-scanning technology to observe dogs' brain activity when exposed to different scents. When dogs caught a whiff of their guardian’s scent, their brains showed increased activity in the reward centers. This indicates that dogs find pleasure, and perhaps even comfort, in our scent. But here's the kicker: the dogs' brains didn't respond as strongly to the smell of unfamiliar humans or dogs, meaning that the bond between dogs and their humans is unique. You and your dog are something special!
The study found that the dogs' response to their guardians' scent was similar to how humans react when they're with their loved ones. It's a genuine display of love and affection. Plus, the strength of the bond between dog and guardian is influenced by their time together. Dogs living with their guardians for a longer duration exhibited stronger brain activity when exposed to the scent of “their person,” indicating a deeper emotional connection.
This showcases the importance of understanding and nurturing the emotional needs of our beloved pets. Dogs rely on their emotional connection with their human family members for their overall well-being, so it's important to shower them with love, attention, and care. Taking them on walks, doing training sessions with them, or playing games of fetch all work to strengthen their bond with you.
Also, this may have implications for success in your training with your dog. Recognizing that dogs have a strong positive association with their guardians' scent can help trainers develop effective techniques that build your bond.
It's official! Dogs truly adore us and experience love. So let's cherish those wagging tails and the unbreakable bond with our furry besties. Science has proven that your furry companion is head over paws in love with you!
This guest post was written by Cassie Palmer.
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