Reach for the funny papers on Sunday morning and it's likely you're craving entertainment, not education. But fans of Mutts, the eclectic comic strip featuring the adventures of Earl the dog and Mooch the cat, not only get their recommended daily dose of laughter—they also get a lesson in animal welfare. Since creating the strip more than ten years ago, Patrick McDonnell has informed readers about a host of issues affecting animals, including the Canadian seal hunt and chained dogs.
Even though educating readers about animals may be a relatively new idea, critters have had a starring role in comic strips for more than 100 years. In particular, man's best friend has been gracing the funny pages since Buster Brown debuted in 1902. The fascinating history of dogs in comics is celebrated in an upcoming exhibit titled “Top Dogs: Comic Canines Before and After Snoopy” at the Charles M. Schulz Museum in Santa Rosa, California. Mutts is just one of the more than 50 comic strips showcased in the exhibit. Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The HSUS, and McDonnell will speak at 6 p.m. Saturday, April 23, to celebrate the opening of the exhibit, which runs through the end of September. One dollar from each admission sold during the first five weeks of the exhibition will be graciously donated to The HSUS.
As companion animals have become more integrated into our hearts and lives, comic strips have reflected the increasing bond between humans and their pets. Early comic strips featuring simple illustrations of pooches have evolved into modern-day cartoons in which dogs are depicted in a very human-like way. "Charles Schulz was the first to show what dogs were thinking, feeling, and doing," says McDonnell. "After Snoopy it became the norm to draw dogs with emotions and thoughts."
As comic dogs have evolved, so have the cartoonists. Several recent comic strips, like The Far Side and Mutts, have used their broad success as an opportunity to educate readers through brief yet poignant messages. "I try to address the issues that animals face—from endangered tigers to animals in the shelter," says McDonnell.
McDonnell's inspiration for drawing—and helping—animals originated with his own pets: his dog Earl and cat Meemow. But he credits Schulz, who created Snoopy, with getting him interested in both dogs and cartooning. "Charles Schultz was a pivotal part of my life," says McDonnell.
Schulz was an admirer of McDonnell's early feature in the late 1980s and encouraged the fledgling cartoonist. The two became friends and in 1994, Mutts debuted in 75 newspapers. Today the strip appears in more than 500 newspapers in more than 20 countries. The strip's estimated daily readership is 50 million people.
McDonnell attributes Mutts' success to his love of cartooning and animals. "I love what I do. And I get great letters—like from people who were inspired by Mutts to go to their local shelter and adopt a homeless animal. Those letters really make my day.”
Want to learn more about some of the issues that have recently appeared in Mutts? Find out how easy it is to get involved:
Seals
Shtinky, a little cat with a big heart, has lamented the Canadian seal hunt in recent Mutts strips. During this year's hunt more than 300,000 seals will be needlessly killed. Learn what you can do to protest this senseless slaughter.
Animal Shelters
The Mutts "Shelter Stories" series reminds readers of the essential role that animal shelters play in communities. Your local shelter gives the thousands of homeless animals in your community a second chance. Find out how you can get involved.
Tigers
Another of Shtinky's foremost concerns is the campaign to save the endangered tigers. Tigers are disappearing from our planet at an alarming rate. Learn what's threatening them and how you can help.
Chained DogsA fan favorite, "Guard Dog" is a sweet pooch charged with educating readers about the lonely lives that chained dogs lead. Dogs are social creatures who crave love and attention from their family and should not be chained.
Find out how you can help spread the word.
