MUTTS Information

Patrick McDonnell created the comic strip MUTTS in September 1994. It now appears in more than 700 newspapers in 20 countries. The MUTTS strip revolves around two central characters: Earl the dog and Mooch the cat. It showcases their friendship in funny and poignant ways, and also chronicles their interactions with other neighborhood pals — both human and nonhuman. Since 1994, MUTTS has served as a celebration of love, kindness, and interspecies friendships — particularly those between animals and humans. Over the years, it has also expanded to include messages of animal advocacy and environmental conservation. Regularly, Patrick incorporates homages or quotes from inspirational leaders and other artists to punctuate these themes. McDonnell has received numerous awards for this strip, including the National Cartoonists Society’s highest honor, The Reuben; five Harvey Awards for Best Comic Strip; Germany’s Max and Moritz Award for Best International Comic Strip; and the Swedish Academy of Comic Art’s Adamson Statuette. Praise for MUTTS "One of best comic strips of all time." — Charles Schulz, creator of Peanuts "Patrick McDonnell’s MUTTS is up there with Peanuts, Pogo, Krazy Kat, and Calvin and Hobbes — cartoons that are smart and funny, brilliantly drawn, and full of heart." — Matt Groening, creator of The Simpsons "I used to think the classic newspaper comic strip was dead, but MUTTS proves there really is some kind of life after death: It’s a playful visual pleasure that knows its comic strip heritage without wearing it on its sleeve, it’s smart without being pretentious, and it’s sweet without being cloying. It’s a miracle!" — Art Spiegelman, cartoonist