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

Comments (50)

I have loved MUTTS from the moment it first appeared in our local newspaper. Thank you Patrick for all of your hard work keeping us entertained, plus all of the work that you do on behalf of animals.

Vicky Rhodes

I can not thank you enough for putting a smile on my face, even for a second or 2, or longer, every single day!

Jan Arrigo

Happy 25th to Mutts and Patrick. We look forward to reading your strip every single day, enjoyed for many years. Smiles, a laugh, sometimes a heart tug. Wonder at your insight and amazed by your humor. How do you keep coming up with funny and heartwarming stuff that reminds us of our relationship with our pet?" Yesh, have comic strips posted all over our kitchen and rotate them frequently. Have given many friends heads up on your strip and informed them of the good work you continue to do to save animals everywhere. We look at our Mutts calendars daily. Mutts goods are high quality, so fans check out the store!

Marta

One of my first routines every day is to look at Mutts in my inbox! I often forward to just-the-right friend and have pleasant thoughts through the day of the day’s cartoon. I recently enjoyed Geena Davis educating us about the gender of worker bees. Thank you!

haneh41

My favorite is guard dog his story is so sad. I pray that chaining dogs becomes illegal. In all states.

Rmc

After reading my Mutts fix everyday I always have a warm heart and, of course, a chuckle. Thanks for making that happen. Congrats on 25!!

Rosemarie Reinman

Thank you Patrick for all the great comics and smiles you have given us!

Rene Larricq

Congrats on 25 years of Mutts & hope for 25 more! Luv Mutts!!

Debbie G

Thank you for Mutts.It gets me through every day

Gina

I adore each and every character of Mutts. Thank you for sharing your creativity with the world Patrick.

Lisa Jonas