What MUTTS Means to You: A Reason to Smile

To celebrate 25 years of MUTTS, we’re asking readers to tell us what the strip means to them, and to share some of their best memories of Mooch, Earl, and the rest of the crew.

We are appreciative of all the messages we’ve received, and we will continue responses throughout the coming months — so please comment below if you have memories to share. Thank you for the love!

“When I’m reading MUTTS it’s almost hard to forget that these little characters aren’t real beings. There’s been a lot of times that are rough and when I open up one of my MUTTS books I always find a reason to smile.” — Janet B.

“I have a special place in my heart for MUTTS because I’ve worked in rescue for 13 years. I am grateful and uplifted every day, for all that you do to promote rescue and adoption, to help shelters, and encourage a better world through peace and kindness. Thank you!” — Karen H. B.

Strip-111019 — *Published November 10, 2019*

“When I get caught up in the world’s anger and complexity, MUTTS reminds me to stop, take a cleansing breath, and be the person my folks brought me up to be. Sometimes as adults we need that reminder of what’s really important.” — Donna R.

“I first became aware of Mooch and Earl in the book Guardians of Being that was written with Eckhart Tolle. The classical references to Japanese block prints, and Andrew Wyeth, were touching. They also helped me to rethink my relationships with my own cats Marmalade and Muffy. I was able to see how my previous cats (now deceased) were teaching me lessons, and how much I still have to learn from Marmalade and Muffy now.” — Douglas H.

“Last August I was blessed to go to Alaska and see humpback whales. When I returned home, there was a MUTTS comic of Mooch and Earl rating a humpback whale breach. It took me right back to my wonder of watching a couple breach, and was beautiful!” — KC

Strip-083119 — *Published August 31, 2019*

“I’ve always adored the MUTTS strip, especially the way Patrick makes heavy hard things lighter. The Sunday strip from April 24, 2016 was my compass rose through the hard times of being the main caretaker during both of my parents’ final illnesses and deaths that year. I had cut it out from the newspaper and put it on the fridge. I looked at it as many times as I needed to, to remind myself what was most important right now. Again and again. When the sky is dark and grey, I need to help keep those small precious moments bright. Thank you so much for drawing such a beautiful and gentle reminder.” — Diane M.

Have your own MUTTS story to tell? Let us know in the comments or email us at [email protected].

Want to read more stories from MUTTS lovers? Stay tuned for more posts like this throughout the rest of 2020.

— Team MUTTS

Tagged: Books & Art, People

Comments (17)

Mutts has been my favorite comic for many years. I display the comics at work to raise awareness for the causes that Patrick espouses in his artwork: shelter animals, endangered wildlife, protecting the environment, and spay/neuter day. The Mutts characters have been great ambassadors for teaching people about these issues, and they bring a smile to my face every day. (My favorite comic features the shelter cat with one eye. I adopted a black cat who had lost an eye and named him Blackbeard. He’s the sweetest, most loving kitty. Thank you, Patrick, for doing a story about shelter pets that people often overlook because they aren’t “perfect”. They don’t know what they’re missing!) Michele, Chapel Hill, NC
Michele Clark

Imagine at 80 years old, my desk, computer, external drive, glove compartment are filled with Mutts strips. I can’t look away after I see the sensitivity and pure tenderness and lessons from them One recent favorite is the January 26, 2020 strip when Mooch is in his bed shivering from the cold night. He proceeds to call his friends from the snowy outside to join him indoors and all 4 characters sleeping in the “comfy” bed together. Another favorite is June 12, 2011 where The Little Kat King Is given a big fanfare entrance and proceeds to get Frank removed from his “comfy” chair, only to get on the chair himself and fall asleep. Another is August 19, where Ozzie throws a ball into the ocean for Earl to retrieve. Earl comes back with a crab holding the ball. The way the crab had its claw in the air (like a sign of victory) was GREAT to me. I get wrapped up in the strips as I always find softness and caring and comradery. Thank you, thank you.
Rita Shapiro

Always enjoyed Mutts comics, but when the Shelter Stories came about, they would touch me in the spot. As a Pet Friends and Rescue shelter volunteer since 2007, seeing the cats and dogs find their own homes and families made the work worthwhile. I like to think they all went on to their own Mutts stories in their new homes. Thank you Patrick, for something to look forward to each day!
Rick Lopez

I am a dyed-in-the-wool Mutts fan. I read my daily Mutts with even more interest and dedication than I read the digital NY TImes. Only I really need Mutts to start my day. I don’t know another place that offers such a deep understanding of the bond between me and my cats. I often forward the strip to my sister and niece. I have cut out and saved old newspaper strips from years ago and my house is filled with Mutts paraphernalia – books, stationary, calendar, passport cover, books, pajamas, t shirts, mugs and sofa pillow! I have two brother cats my late husband and I adopted in January 2005 at seven months of age from the Feral Cat Foundation. We had been looking to adopt a cat and our landlord very begrudgingly said he would allow one. I found a picture on line of a black and white cat named Scout who reminded me very much of my former Tuxedo cat Pandora. Scout was up for adoption along with his mother and brother Andrew. So off we went to see them. It was a large house filled with rescue dogs and cats who magically all got along and ran up and down the stairs past each other as though it were their private hotel. At first glance I was shocked to see that Scout was not a Tuxedo, he was a Sylvester! The foster mom saw my shock and said “don’t you want to meet the other one?” Then she brought me Andrew who was a little tiger striped tabby. I felt him shaking in my arms and at first I thought “oh no, this one is so afraid of me.” But to my amazement, he very quickly completely and thoroughly relaxed and melted in my arms, and there went I. My husband was very reluctant to take two and the foster mom was pushing us to take all three. I knew that was impossible but I held firm at two and they’ve been with me ever since, turning 16 years old this June. Scout has since been given additional names, including Pocono or Poke for short, Sylvester, El Diablo, President Adams, etc. Andrew is never called Andrew – instead it’s Baby Mine, Precious and Few or Pwesh for short, Sweet Little Guy, etc. They are my guiding lights through all the joys and tragedies of life. I prepare myself daily for the reality that they won’t always be with me and my main goal is to outlive them. They get the very best of everything and they are worth it. It’s because of them I purchased a food processor so I could grind my own organic boneless chicken as part of their food recipe. It’s because of them I am reminded of the importance of gratitude and love as the foundation of our lives.It’s because of them, and of Mutts, that the world is a better place to live.
Jeanette Sarmiento

I have many favorites though the one that makes my heart especially sing is the Sunday strip of the lovely cat tea party, “Who Says Cats Aren’t Social?” I don’t have a copy of it, so I don’t know the date because I clipped it and made a card for neighbors. My amiable former feral cat Ringo when he was young established an amazing bond with our neighbor across the street. If Ringo didn’t visit every morning, I would hear from Solomon asking,“Where’s my buddy? Is he all right?” Solomon and his partner Barbara and I have shared many stories and laughs about Ringo’s visits with them and their cat. Other neighbors remarked on Ringo’s devotion to the friendship as they and I enjoyed seeing man and cat communing on the front porch.

Shortly before Ringo turned 10 some months ago we had to move, and it has taken a long time for Ringo to get over the loss of that very special bond. Ringo is a social cat, a handsome grey/tan tabby who misses his special buddy, and his special buddy misses him. We check in periodically to be sure we are all well.

Ringo does have his own little pink socks, and I know they provide pleasure and diversion but not the joy he shared with Solomon. Right now we look forward to the time when we can be out and about again and Ringo’s special pal and our friends will come visit.

We are total Mutts fans; the first email I open every day is Mutts and somehow each is kind of a prayer, just right to set the day. They almost all are favorites; I keep many in front of me. Four favorites are:

“Mooch’s New Year’s Resolutions – Don’t Question Authority – Sez Who!?!”;
“Mooch’s New Year’s Resolutions – Finish what you star – Finish what you star”;
Mooch and Millie’s Valentine with a Dorothy L.Sayers poem “I love you-I am at rest with you-I have come home.”;
and the fourth: Mooch and Earl at the deli, “Order anything you want”-“Peace on Earth.”

Thank you so much.
Jane Huntington

I enjoy living with dogs and “live” through owning a cat through Mooch. I love to cheer my day by singing the “little pink sock” song in my head to my own music. Thank you for sharing your pets with me every day.
Beth

Reading the daily Mutts cartoon is how I start each day, every day. There are days when it hits home to what is happening in my life or with my dogs. I have followed Mutts from the very start and have a scrap book of my favourite strips.
Every day at work (although not during this time of shutdown) I pin up a different strip of Mutts. My co-workers will deliberately stop by my cubicle to see what the comic is for that particular day and say they miss it when I’m be on holidays.
My favourite? The Footsteps, of course.
Thank you Patrick and the Mutts family for providing me with a warmth and smile (and sometimes a tear) that words cannot describe. May we all be blessed with you sharing the strip for many years to come.
Kathy White

1 2