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)

What an incredible privilege and blessing to read Mutts. Such a thoughtful creation in my inbox every morning.
And a quick comment on Guard Dog, please free him. Please. With so much unconscionable misery in our world, Patrick you can provide a teaching moment with an ending that shows a blueprint to end the chain of abuse.
Thank you again for your creations. You are such a blessing.

Jim Schreiber

I’m floored by how many people get up early to read about and cry over Guard Dog. It warms my heart that I’m not the only one. I do wish that the evil people who do this to their dogs would read this – but I’m guessing they wouldn’t get as much out of it as we do, nor understand it’s about them. I’ve worked at a vet and volunteered at a shelter for years and well, some people will just smoke a turd in hell for how they treat animals. Pets are members of the family. They love us unconditionally (even Guard Dog was upset when his family left) and we are their protectors, not their ‘owners’. My little rescue may own me but that’s another story.
I love Janice Boger’s idea of seeing Guard Dog in front of the fireplace with Doozy and a new collar…. ahhhh. I just wanna hug Guard Dog every time I see him. Every. Single. Time.

Melissa Armstrong

my day starts with mutts
and I thank u for all u do.i know guard dog will b fine and each day i chk on him.i have all your books. i grew up in Morris plains and remember giralda farms. Patrick u bring joy to my life.so glad u did guard dog as I see how many people are following him.

Anne Smith

I have always had dogs as companions, all but one were from shelters. The one who wasn’t was abandoned on the street where I live with a 2-liter bottle from soda filled with assorted pebbles, bolts and screws tied tightly around his neck. I wondered why he wasn’t moving from that spot until I came close and saw the reason. My father had just come home and barely managed to get a penknife in between the dog’s neck and the rope tied to the bottle to free him. Although I had a dog, I decided to keep him. Max was a great dog and I was deeply saddened when I lost him 10 years later to cancer. He died peacefully at home. The person who heartlessly abandoned him with that weight around his neck will surely be paid in kind in the next world.

Veronica Kwiecinski

I am following Guard Dog’s story closely, hoping like everyone else for a happy ever after story. I, too, get up early every morning to read the strip when it arrives in my inbox. My neighbors had a large, previously chained, long-haired black lab who they had rescued with the help of the mailman who used to stop and share his lunch with him. They started going over and feeding him, too, and ultimately approached the owner and asked to have him. The owner declined, so they paid him for the dog. Nuby needed time to get used to being a loved, inside dog, but he adjusted and became very loving and trusting. Like Earl with Guard Dog, my little dog, PT, adored Nuby and we would all walk around the neighborhood together. Nuby and PT went to the Rainbow Bridge within a few weeks of each other.

Robin A Lewis

Patrick and Mutts Family, Thank you for the storyline of Guard Dog. I have followed Mutts for about 15 years now. I have read daily emails, bought many of your books and several comic yearbooks, and I always love finding great Mutts merch for myself and friends. I don’t have a “Guard Dog”, but I do have a ten-year-old English Bulldog. We support our local rescue, Bullies 2 The Rescue and see many sad photos and read lots of real “Guard Dog” stories. Thank you for always giving us different perspectives and thank you for sharing Guard Dog and his story. I wish every dog had a Doozy or an Ollie. My Guard Dog Happy Ending………. We see a fireplace with a nice fire warming the den with a beautifully decorated Christmas tree in the corner. Doozy and Bushy playing Bobby Dolls and trying on new clothes for the doll while Guard Dog is supervising and smiling between the two girls. Guard Dog also has on a new collar with a fancy bowtie and we can see a name plate. The name plate reads: “Buddy”. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Janice Boger

Janice Boger

Patrick and Karen—
Keep up your important work. Thank You,
Happy Holidays!
John and Cheryl Grandy

John Grandy

I’m not on any social media, so I don’t really have a way to post a love note about and to Guard Dog. Anyway, several years ago when the Earl, Mooch, and Guard Dog pillows came out, I bought Guard Dog so that he could come inside to be safe and loved. He’s spent many years inside on my couch. I can’t wait for him to be set free and saved like all of my rescues. All my (and Olive’s, my GD) love to Guard Dog. We can’t wait to see what your new name will be!
Catherine

Catherine

I met you once at a book signing several years ago at a TLA conference. I cried when I met you. I don’t know why. I guess I was just overcome with emotion to finally meet the man who had created such a beautiful comic strip and books. I love all the characters dearly but Guard Dog and Woofie have a special place in my heart. I pray that Guard Dog will have a happy ending and look forward to an unchained storyline for him. Happy Holidays! Bless you and your gift!

Valerie De La Rosa

There is a corner in Hell for people who abandon their pets. I work at a no kill, non-profit cat and kitten shelter. I have lost count of the times employees have come to work to find a carrier or other baggage left at the door with kittens and cats inside.

Scarlett Tomlinson