A Note From Patrick: June 2020

“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

— Patrick McDonnell
Tagged: News & Events, People

Comments (208)

Again, could you please introduce people of color to the strip? Schultz did this in the last century! Thanks!

Susan

I was happily surprised to see the change of heart with the Fatty Snax Deli owner. This will be a learning experience for those that love your cartoon, yet haven’t tried to go animal free with their diet. I, too, look forward to seeing Guard Dog freed! Thanks for loving all animals, and being there for them. I’m sure you have done more good for animals than you will ever know! :)

Vic Ventura

My husband had a triple bypass 17 years ago, then decided to follow a plant based diet. He is 81 now and doing very well. Thank God. I am 72, and still eat some meat still-chicken or fish—a couple of times a week, but mostly eat what he is eating. We love our animals. I just couldn’t quite make the leap. Don’t do well with soy at all. Was raised on a traditional farm. Hate the whole idea of factory farming. Of course, buy free range organic etc. However, CATS are obligate CARNIVORES. So toss the kitty a mouse now and then. Thanks for the laughs and the profound kindness and compassionate philosophy over the years.

Susan J Mueller

I don’t want to be unsuscribed! I love the Daily Mutts!

Marian

I don’t usually read the comics (sorry), but today I happened to look down on the page and spotted yours—quoting MLK “The time is always right to do the right thing.” I saw that “Fatty Snax Deli” is now vegan, and I was so impressed that I took a picture of the .comic strip and put it on my vegan blog (which no one reads). Then I looked you up and see that you are, in fact, a vegan.

I’m really grateful because it was in the San Francisco Chronicle that I saw your comic, and I was starting to feel that they had product placement—beef—and nothing for people who care about the welfare of animals and the environment. I was about to write to Soleil Ho, which I’ve done on more than one occasion—this time because she chose “House of Prime Beef” as one of SF’s 25 Top Restaurants. . Last week I’d been dismayed by a columnist, Vanessa Ho, who seemed clueless about animal suffering as she celebrated beef, thinking that the only objection a reader would have would be to her son’s adding cheese to his prime beef.

So thank you for contrasting to all that!

Tina

I can’t stand to see Guard Dog on the chain. You can teach people about animal cruelty and neglect without him being the picture of misery! :’(

Carol R.

Until there’s a law passed across the United States, that fines and or punishes people for tethering an animal, how can you let the guard dog go? Isn’t it the reason he is chained to begin with? We are 50 states of the union, and we can’t let it be paradise for some and not for others. That’s the problem we have for people here in the United States. Our voices must be heard to represent animals in all of these United States. Run this by Champ and Major and see what they think! We now have some representation, right here in Washington D.C. Now that’s a start!

joan silaco

Until there’s a law passed across the United States, that fines and or punishes people for tethering an animal, how can you let the guard dog go? Isn’t it the reason he’s chained to begin with? We are 50 states of the union, and we can’t let it be paradise for some and not for others. That’s the problem we have here in the U.S. Our voices must be heard to represent animals in all of these united states. Run this by Champ and Major and see what they think! We now have representation right here in Washington D.C. Now that’s a start!

joan silaco