A Note From Patrick: September 2019

In looking back on 25 years of MUTTS, I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed with gratitude. Gratitude for the newspapers who run MUTTS; my syndicate King Features (and Jay Kennedy, my friend and the editor who gave me my first MUTTS contract); my longtime MUTTS.com website partner Chintan Parikh; Andrews McMeel, who publishes the MUTTS collections; and Little, Brown, publisher for my MUTTS children’s books. And, of course, Abrams, who published my first monograph MUTTS: The Comic Art of Patrick McDonnell and will release The Art of Nothing: 25 Years of MUTTS and the Art of Patrick McDonnell on October 15.

A special note: Through the end of 2019, I will be signing and doing a small sketch in each copy of The Art of Nothing book ordered or pre-ordered through MUTTS.com. 

Directly through MUTTS, I’ve had the opportunity to collaborate with Eckhart Tolle (Guardians of Being), Daniel Ladinsky (Darling, I Love You), Jane Goodall (Me…Jane)  and the Kennedy Center which, through playwright Aaron Posner, produced on a play based on my MUTTS children’s book The Gift of Nothing.

I would be remiss not to mention the dogs and cats I’ve lived with who’ve inspired MUTTS: Earl, MeeMow, Not Ootie, Amelie, and Lebowski. And all the many great people at the animal welfare organizations that I’ve worked with over the years.

None of this would be possible if not for you. I’m glad we’ve shared this journey. It’s due to your support that MUTTS has lasted all these years. 

MUTTS has been good to me in so many ways.

It was on September 5, 1994 that Ozzie, with Earl in the passenger seat, parked his car on the newspaper page and exclaimed, “We’re home!” And we were home. And still are.

There are a lot of other exciting projects on the horizon and this year will be one of many celebrations. 

I always wanted to be a cartoonist. See you in the funny pages!

Patrick

— Patrick McDonnell
Tagged: News & Events, People

Comments (50)

I hope Guard Dog gets unchained!

Betty Jo

Yesh to 25 years! Thanks for bringing us those nutty critters and their people—so often your comic makes my day. (PS—a request to make the Harriet the Spy panel available for purchase.)

Diane

i loved Peanuts but I love MUTTS even more. It is so clever & Mutts books are a great gift for children and - YESH!- grown-ups.

Ellen Kennedy

I LOVE Mutts! Thank you!

Ann Ogle

Congrats, Patrick! Here’s to many more.

cbrubaker

I am so glad that Patrick always wanted to be a cartoonist. We are the richer for his funny, sweet, compassionate work. I am grateful for each of the 25 years to date and look forward to sharing the future lives of our Mutts friends.

Jeanette Anderson

Thank you for using your gifts to bring joy and to educate about the need to adopt. As a lifelong senior and special needs dog adopter, it always brings joy with the tears when you do Shelter Stories. Please continue for another 25 years plus!!

Roxane Fritz

I, too, am grateful for you and your menagerie! Every once in a while you publish a strip that is so subtle yet so powerful – - without being political.. I look forward to each daily strip and the wonderful Sunday strip. I hope you remain neutral in this world today without making a very one-sided statement. Too many of those that we may admire for one reason or another, have shot themselves in the foot by making the mistake of speaking out one way or the other. Thank you for your 25 dedicated years — here’s to the next 25!!!

Harriet C Matuszczak

I have lived with animals all my life except the few years after my cats died. I found myself becoming cold and distant from everyone around me. One day, I found a pair of cats on the outer rail of my second story apartment. They were so afraid; I had to do something and brought them in until I got home that afternoon. I caught all my neighbors as they came home, but no one claimed them – a brother and sister. I found them a great home…with me. They lit up my life and helped me open my heart again. I had them with me for 20 years, and to this day, I am grateful for the opportunity of sharing their unconditional love.

After Hurricane Katrina, so many pets had been left behind and their owners did not return. Several found their way to my door. Thinking I could find homes for them, my sister and I took them in. Needless to say, there were few homes for people, much less for people to take in animals. They all found a wonderful home, again, with me in a Katrina trailer. Even though we are now in our cleaned but not completed Katrina damaged home, they and we are happier because of the love we share with them and our dog (who was once used as a bait dog for dog fights).

My point is that Patrick captures every aspect of pets so very well, I can see the characteristics of my various pets in every one of his strips. The expressions and attitudes are right on target. Mooch is our cat Junior Stockings (named after his mother, Princess Stockings). So much so that we now call him Junior “Mooch” Stockings. Earl reminds us of different phases of the various dogs we have had through our 60+ years. Sourpuss and the other cast of characters in the Mutts collection remind us of other furbabies we have known.

We thank you for your gift of the Mutts world. Here’s to another 25 years … Keep ’em coming!

Mary and Elizabeth Green

The gentle nudge of Mutts led me to my first rescue dog, and I’ve never looked back. Thank you, Patrick!

Ruth Zeiner