A Note From Patrick: Holidays 2023

Dear readers,

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 www.the-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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— Alison Datko

Comments (64)

I have read and loved Mutts for MANY years. I have never before been so anxious to read it every day. I love Guard Dog and am so excited that he is going to be freed from his chain! The next step will be for Ozzie, Doozy, or some other wonderful person to adopt him and give him the loving family and life he deserves. All animals need and deserve our compassion and love.

Thank you, Patrick, for touching our hearts and reminding us of the importance of animals!

Barb Juknialis

Patrick! Love your strip, your wonderful characters, and the work you do giving visibility to animals in need. Cheers from Metuchen, NJ!

Karen Longo

I, like many others, rush to the computer to follow the Guard Dog saga. I am 91 and love Mutts. I wish for a warm and loving home for Guard Dog. At my age, it is a reason to get up!! I want to live to see Guard Dog free and loved.

Janet Fithian

Thank you for the ongoing strips to save Guard Dog!! I’m on pins & needles here & will cry tears of joy when he’s happy & safe!

Deborah Golembiewski

Thank you for saving Guard Dog.
-Bonny

Bonny Fry

Like many others, I’ve cried floods of tears for Guard Dog over the years. Last month, I had a gut feeling this Guard Dog story was coming to an end (I know, I know, HIS story is truly just beginning!) as the strip focussed on being out of new ideas, and the pressure to produce… well, Patrick surely wouldn’t lay down his pen without releasing beloved GD.
It’s been an agonising few weeks, opening the email each day, praying that it wouldn’t get worse for GD. I’ve sobbed.
I hope millions of people will see Mutts saving Guard Dog, and will resolve to stand up for dogs with only enough voice to howl at the moon.

Shelley Novitski

Every day, I’ve been reading Guard Dog’s story and holding my breath. It has been excruciating. But I realize the mission behind it. Thank you for your truly brilliant storyline. I can’t wait for the day he is freed. I know we’re all going to rejoice!

Monica Skaggs

Every morning my wife and I wake up at 4:45, feed our two dogs and our adopted cat, drink coffee, and wait for 6 a.m. to arrive when we can read our daily MUTTS on the email before we workout and take long walks with the dogs! We are so involved with the Guard Dog story that we’re trying to figure out how Guard Dog can – and will – be saved! Patrick is phenomenal – he can turn on the emotions of adults in three short squares every morning by touching the animal lover in all of us!

Don Kaminski

I’m from Brasil and the first thing I do in the morning is reading my email with ansiety to watch Gard Dog free of the chains !!! Please hurry up Sir !!!! 🥰

Sueli Baglioli

I’m from Brasil and the first thing I do in the morning is reading my email with ansiety to watch Gard Dog free of the chains !!! Please hurry up Sir !!!! 🥰

Sueli Baglioli