About Patrick McDonnell

Patrick McDonnell is the creator of the award-winning, beloved comic strip MUTTS, celebrated internationally for its artistic excellence and advocacy for animal welfare. Charles Schulz called it "one of the best comic strips of all time."

MUTTS recently celebrated its 30th anniversary.

Patrick’s love for storytelling also extends to children’s literature. His books include the Caldecott Honor-winning Me...Jane (a biography of Jane Goodall) and The Gift of Nothing, both New York Times bestsellers. These books have both been adapted for the stage at the Kennedy Center.

In 2024, Patrick released Breaking the Chain: The Guard Dog Story, inspired by one of the most newsworthy and poignant storylines in MUTTS. Guard Dog, introduced in 1995, spent years as a tethered dog longing for freedom and companionship. After years of reader advocacy and the character's popularity, Patrick created a special seven-week MUTTS arc, culminating in Guard Dog’s unchaining and adoption by a loving family. This storyline deeply resonated with readers, garnering widespread praise from animal welfare advocates, celebrities, and fans around the globe. The book, published by Abrams ComicArts, includes the illustrated story arc, real-life rescue stories, and insights from leaders in animal welfare.

Patrick has also collaborated with His Holiness the Dalai Lama on Heart to Heart, a book about the environment, animals, and compassion; with Eckhart Tolle on Guardians of Being; and with poet Daniel Ladinsky on Darling I Love You, a book of haikus centered on the MUTTS characters. The Super Hero's Journey, inspired by Patrick’s childhood and his love for the Marvel super heroes, was released in 2023 and was honored to be on 11 lists for best graphic novels of the year.

His large-scale paintings have been exhibited in solo painting shows such as Side Effects: Paintings by Patrick McDonnell and The Super Hero’s Journey, which have been showcased at Ohio State University’s Urban Arts Space and the Arts Council of Princeton, respectively.

A passionate advocate for animals, Patrick served on the board of directors of the Humane Society of the United States for 18 years and continues to serve on boards for organizations including the Charles M. Schulz Museum and the D&R Greenway Land Trust. He resides in New Jersey with his wife Karen, their rescue dog, and a formerly feral cat.

Featured Interviews & Press

Super Heroes and Puppies! Patrick McDonnell Graces the Arts Council of Princeton's Walls
JerseyArts (2024)

Rob Thomas and His Wife Team Up With MUTTS for New Guard Dog Book
People (2024)

The creator of the comic strip ‘Mutts’ frees his Guard Dog character after decades
Associated Press (2023)

Cartoonists honor 'Peanuts' creator in Saturday funny pages
Associated Press (2022)

Heart to Heart
Princeton Magazine (2022)

Comics creator Patrick McDonnell making his mark in other works
The Columbus Dispatch (2021)

Art Review: Side Effects — Paintings by Patrick McDonnell 2016-2021
Columbus Underground (2021)

Mutts Creator Patrick McDonnell: A voice for animals (Video)
HSUS (2019)

How the ‘Mutts’ comic strip helped pet adoption go mainstream
TODAY.com (2019)

Patrick McDonnell Books Illustration (Video)
New York Times (2017)

‘Mutts’ Comic Strip creator is all About Animal Adoption!
Modern Dog Magazine (2015) 

MUTTS Ado About ‘Nothing’
The Washington Post (2014)

A behind-the-scenes view of The Gift of Nothing musical
The Kennedy Center (2014)

Super Soul Short: Inside the Mind Behind MUTTS
Oprah Winfrey Network (2014)

Jane Goodall, Illustrated (Video)
New York Times (2011)

Patrick McDonnell’s Speech to the 2007 Graduating Class at Center For Cartoon Studies
The Comics Reporter (2007) 

Where the Mild Things Are
The New York Times (2005) 

Explore Patrick's Books 

Learn more about dozens of titles written and illustrated by Patrick — including beloved MUTTS collections, award-winning picture books and collaborations, and more.