New Jersey Artist Patrick McDonnell Chooses Liberated Reindeer and the Message 'Joy to All Beings'
For Immediate Release: November 29, 2005
Contact: David Perle 757-622-7382
Edison, N.J.- Edison native Patrick McDonnell, the cartoonist behind the syndicated comic strip 'Mutts', whose lovable characters Earl and Mooch have won the hearts of newspaper readers all over the world, has created a holiday greeting card exclusively for PETA, which is for sale in its "Catalog for Cruelty-Free Living". The card features McDonnell's whimsical artwork depicting Santa's reindeer kicking off their harnesses and flying off to freedom. Its message: "Joy to All Beings".
This isn't the first time that McDonnell has used his talents to help animals. He designed the exterior artwork for PETA's low- to no-cost mobile spay/neuter clinic and donated a comic strip highlighting the plight of a lonely chained dog to PETA's campaign to get people too keep their dogs indoors. Recurring animal-friendly themes in 'Mutts', such as strips promoting spaying and neutering and shelter adoptions and encouraging compassion for all species, earned McDonnell a PETA Humanitarian Award in 2001.
"Patrick McDonnell is blessed with a talent for using humor to touch hearts," says PETA Customer Service Director Jennie Taylor Martin. "Sales of his greeting cards are high because his drawings are bringing lots of smiles this holiday season."
A longtime vegetarian, McDonnell and his wife, Karen, share their home with Earl (the inspiration for 'Mutts') and MeeMow, a stray cat whom they found living in a garage. The 'Mutts' comic strip appears in 20 countries and 'Mutts' cartoons have been published in many books throughout the world, including "Mutts: The Comic Art of Patrick McDonnell". The 'Mutts' characters also appear on animal-friendly license plates in New Jersey.
For more information, please visit PETACatalog.
back to top