“Cruelty cannot stand the spotlight.” That was the tagline for The Ark Trust, an organization which awarded the media for reporting on animal issues. I have been thinking about those words a lot lately. I am buoyed by recent events bringing so much injustice to light — while deeply saddened that these injustices exist. I feel optimistic that a powerful awakening is coming.

MUTTS readers have an abundance of empathy and a deep sense of justice. We are all in this together to make a stronger, more peaceful world for all.

***

MUTTS NEWS SPOILER ALERT: If you’d rather be surprised with a new twist in the world of MUTTS, please don’t read the following two paragraphs until after June 16.

Friends, I’ve made two longstanding promises with my MUTTS strip. The first: someday Guard Dog will be freed. (Yes, this will happen before too long.) The second: Butchie and his Fatty Snax Deli would go veggie. With a two-week storyline starting Sunday, Butchie will finally see the light.

As a vegetarian for over 30 years and a vegan since 2012, I’ve always felt a little strange drawing the cheeses and salamis that hang over Butchie’s head. I’m feeling better because they will now be plant-based and cruelty-free.

With the pandemic, and understanding the cruelties of raising and processing “meat,” it’s more important than ever to rethink how we treat the animals — and people — on this planet. Going plant-based is a win-win. It’s good for your own health, the health of the planet, and obviously the billions of suffering, factory farmed animals.

Going veggie gets easier and easier. (Millions have already discovered new, delicious meat substitutes.) I ask everyone to do what you can. Even observing Meatless Mondays can save a billion animals each year in the United States alone. If Butchie can do it, so can you.

***

Last month we posted two comic strips that I drew for the MUTTS blog, which were pandemic-themed and written by my friend, author Glen David Gold. Glen suggested that we auction off one of the strips for charity, and I am happy that we can, and will, make this happen. I’ve watercolored the original artwork for this purpose and Heritage Auctions has agreed to host the auction. We’ll keep you updated as this process unfolds.

Stay safe. Stay well. Stay kind.

— Patrick

Comments (208)

Fatty Snax Deli is a place for humans to get their food and Earl and Mooch just hang out their to get free food. Butchie isn’t their owner to feed them. Patrick isn’t saying feed your dogs and cats a vegan or vegetarian diet, he’s suggesting you contemplate it for yourself since you have the mind to decide what you can and will eat. Humans don’t need meat to get a healthy and balanced diet.

Edgar

I know that cats are obligate carnivores, and must have animal protein.. No problem there…but people are omnivores, and can eat a plant based diet with planning and care, and be very healthy…

allie.cat42

There has been a chain of Vegetarian Butcher shops in the Netherlands for many years now. https://www.thevegetarianbutcher.com/

Lagatta de Montréal

The reason that meats are still showcased in the deli is that when customers start horking up hairballs after eating plant based roast beef, they will have an edible backup plan.

Seriously….love the strip, but stick to animal rescues. It’s called “Mutts”, not “Folks”.

David Michael

Not even close. There are many of us who make our decisions based on the needs of our bodies and not on the ideals of others.

I really wish vegans would stop trying to interfere in the food choices of others by trying to guilt them into their religion. And it is a religion for most vegans. The vegans who eat that way because it feels right for them don’t try to coerce everyone else into eating the same way.

The only reasons I would ever need to know someone else’s dietary regime is if I’m cooking for them or in my work capacity as a nurse. Otherwise what other people eat is none of my business and what I eat is none of theirs.

GrannyK

Since a quarter of the meat consumed in the U.S. is eaten by our pets (source: “The Clean Pet Food Revolution: How Better Pet Food Will Change the World”), it’s worth looking at what we feed them. While it’s commonly believed that dogs are carnivores like their wolf ancestors (meaning that they must eat meat to survive), canine digestive systems are quite capable of digesting and deriving nutrients from fruits and vegetables (source: Hills Pet Nutrition). Dogs need protein, but it doesn’t have to come from meat. Plant foods like peas, lentils, and chickpeas are high in protein and easily digestible for dogs. Making sure that cats get the nutrients they need is trickier. There is a company called Because Animals working on cultured meat pet food. Their product line includes cultured mouse cat treats. Sounds weird, but mice are part of the cat’s ancestral diet. Left to fend for herself, Fluffy is far more likely to eat a mouse than to swim out into the ocean and catch a 100-pound tuna.

Joan O'Brien

Preach it, brother!

David Michael

May as well call it “Krappy Snax”. Go ahead and drop “deli”, cuz it just ain’t anymore.

Patrick, half the fun of “Mutts” were the deli strips, monitored by a large grumpy proprietor. Guess he won’t be watching for Mooch And Earl, ‘cuz there won’t be much of anything worth drooling over!

David Michael

It’s not a matter of being “mortally offended by … views counter to [our] own” but rather a concern for our meat-needing pets, cats in particular. No, I’m not forced to read the strip, but others who may not understand pets’ needs might be. And just because we defend a pet’s need for meat doesn’t necessarily mean we eat it.

Shorry you missed the point.

Cat D

Please don’t do that. I realize that these issues have to be addressed, but not in the Comics. P.S. I love Mooch and Earl

S. Dolan