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!
“My father worked for the Philadelphia Inquirer for 42 years before he passed away in 2000. He introduced me to MUTTS when it first showed up in the paper and we would share that moment of reading ‘the most important small squared section’ every day possible. Besides adoring the strip and collecting hats, mugs, prints (Little Pink Sock hangs by my bed), and books, I read MUTTS for the connection it gives me to my dad who I still miss very much. Thanks for all the memories.” — Lettie M.
“About four years ago, my husband and I had become very active with Solano County Friends of Animals here in northern California. Our group has an annual ‘Pasta for Paws and Purrs’ benefit every April (obviously canceled for this year) which helps us raise much-needed funds for our animal rescue group. In 2016 or 2017, one of the items donated for our silent auction was an incredible Sunday panel Patrick had generously provided our group. In the last panel, Shtinky is heading to the animal shelter to visit his angels. Patrick had signed the panel, and when we first saw it, I cried. I asked if there was any rule against members bidding on the panel, and once we were told that it would be fine, we continued to up the bid until the panel was ours. It has been prominently displayed in our home ever since.” — Georgia B.
“I love my daily MUTTS! It greets me in my work email when I log in each day and I start the day with a smile. Working from home now due to the pandemic, with my own Tiger (cat) and Amelia (dog) and Sunshine (budgie). Lovely to be with them watching the birds at the feeders outside, and rabbits and squirrels visit too!” — Lisa M.
“As a teacher who frequently has ESL students, I love the illustrated idioms and figurative language. ‘Blanket of Snow’ is one of my favorites, and always gets the students talking about why we use images to describe our thoughts. I also use your quotes and cartoons as writing prompts!” — Beth B.
“As a lifelong animal lover, and cat rescuer/volunteer, Shelter Stories has a special place in my heart …especially the one where a cat is talking about the traits of a human rescuer, and ends with ‘… but sometimes I see her cry.” So spot on! Rescuing and caring for animals is something we are compelled to do and, although fulfilling, it can also be very painful. You just worry a lot, and the ones you can’t save haunt you forever.” — Kathy P.
“My favorite is the January 01, 2013 strip. We had just moved into our new home on December 12, bought our cats new ID tags, and then our beloved Bud who is a dead ringer for Mooch disappeared. We searched, made posters, went back to our old home 11 miles away, and could not find him. He woke us up on January 1, 2013 mewing at the front door!!! Best morning ever! The strip from that day was magic.” — Nancy S.
“Fourteen years ago, when I was undergoing cancer treatment, my best friend sent me the book I Want to Be the Kitty. It was my first taste of MUTTS and I fell in love with the adorable cast of characters and with the essential kindness of the strip. My self-care routine soon became lying in a hot bath reading MUTTS — the book still shows evidence of having been dropped in the bath once or twice. Now I’m well, but still a huge MUTTS fan, and still grateful for having been given permission to lie in bed and just ‘be the kitty’ when I needed it most.” — Catherine
Have your own MUTTS story to tell? Let us know in the comments! Want to read more stories from MUTTS lovers? Stay tuned for more posts like this throughout the rest of 2020.
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