Mutts Inspires Humor, Awareness
By Sandy Robins
March, 2002
On a warm, sunny Friday morning in New jersey, award-winning cartoonist and creator of the internationally acclaimed 'Mutts' comic strip Patrick McDonnell sits at his drawing table with pen in hand and his inspiration nearby: MeeMow, his calico, stretches out in a sunny spot on the board; Earl, his Jack Russell Terrier, snoozes at his feet. With the team in place, the creative process begins: McDonnell develops yet another strip, in hopes of bringing smiles to readers of more than 460 newspapers in the United States alone.
"The strip is about the secret world of your pets," McDonnell explains. "I try to imagine how they're thinking. I'm sure they give me ideas telepathically, telling me where I go wrong."
In the cartoons, Mooch the cat, MeeMow's alter ego, and Earl the dog remained pet-like.
"I want people to feel about them the way they feel about their animals," says McDonnell, a former illustrator for 'Time' magazine and the 'New York Times'. The comic strip launched in the 'Philadelphia Enquirer' in 1994.
"Cats and dogs are pretty remarkable and entertaining enough without making them do normal human things," he says.
McDonnell was in his 30s when he got Earl, now 12 1/2 years old. Then, four years ago, McDonnell's wife, Karen, rescued a female feral kitten from a parking garage "and surprised Earl and me," McDonnell says. "I can't believe I was catless for all those years., because she brings so much joy into our house."
Around the same time MeeMow wntered his life, McDonnell started doing strips about abandoned and lost pets in animal shelters.
Consequently, the Humane Society of the United States, which organizes National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week each November, contacted him. He helps promote the event annually by developing a week-long series on shelter animals that appears in all newspapers carrying 'Mutts'.
Two years ago, McDonnell recieved and invitation to join the HSUS board. "Most people's perception of the HSUS is dealing with domestic animals and helping shelters, which they do wonderfully," McDonnell says. "But they are also involved with saving elephants in Africa and whales in Australia. They are a huge organization and do a lot of good for this planet."
On a global scale, the kitten in the 'Mutts' strip, "Shtinky Puddin", is a self-appointed tiger-rescue advocate. "That's his mission," says McDonnell of his other cartoon character cat. "There's truth in the saying, 'Having a cat in your house is like getting to pat a lion or tiger.' Last year my wife and I traveled to several countries in Africa and I [got] really close to a pack of lions. Their habits and movements are similar to domestic cats."
He was also impressed to find 'Mutts' in a South African Sunday newspaper, spreading his humor and subtle, though-provoking messages. Further, Japan produces a line of 'Mutts' clothing, Italy produces a humorous range of stationery, and Hollywood talks about Mooch and Earl striking a movie deal.
In McDonnell's New Jersey studio, there's only one "no pet zone" -- a shelf that displays myriad international awards, including two Ark Trust Genesis Awards recognizing McDonnell's cartoon contributions to animal rights. Taking center stage is the Reuben Award, the cartoonist's equivalent of the Oscar, which he won in 2000.
His other great honor was meeting the Charles Schulz. "From a hero and idol, he became a friend." McDonnell says. In the forward of the first 'Mutts' book, Schulz complimented McDonnell on ideas he wished he'd thought of himself. Earl and MeeMow are very proud.
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