Mutts — The Official Site for Mutts Comics — Earl, Mooch and pals

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Please read the Frequently Asked Questions below before contacting us!

How can I unsubscribe from the Daily MUTTS?
How can I update my email address for the Daily MUTTS?
Where did the MUTTS official online store go?
Why can't I see the strip in my email?
I’m not receiving the strip anymore, can you help?
I signed up for the daily strip email and either a) I was getting it and now it stopped, or b) I never received it at all.
How do I get MUTTS in my newspaper?
Can I use the MUTTS comic strip, characters or artwork for my shelter/school/library/charity newsletter, post on my website, or reprint for another purpose?
Why is the MUTTS strip on the website and in the emails 2 weeks late?
How do I become a cartoonist, and will you look at my work?
Does my state have Animal Friendly License Plates?
Will Guard Dog ever be released from his chains?
How do I submit an idea for a strip or a cause I’d like to see featured in MUTTS?
How do I get Patrick to appear at an event or book signing?
Can I get something signed by Patrick?
How can I send an a letter or e-mail to Patrick McDonnell?
Does MUTTS donate to charities?

Q: How can I unsubscribe from the Daily MUTTS?

A: In order to be removed from the Daily MUTTS mailing list, please go to the unsubscribe page, enter your email address, and click the unsubscribe button.
Q: How can I update my email address for the Daily MUTTS?

A: In order to be update your email address for the Daily MUTTS mailing list, please unsusbcribe your old email address at the unsubscribe page, and signup your new email address where you would like to receive the Daily MUTTS at the registration page.
Q: Where did the MUTTS official online store go?

A: Unfortunately, the MUTTS official online store closed in early 2008. Many of the products in the store were exclusive and are no longer available. Information about upcoming MUTTS books and other products that may be available can be found at the MUTTS Shtuff blog.
Q: Why can't I see the strip in my email?

A: This question has three possible answers:
1. Make sure that you are not offline. You need to have a live connection for the strip to show.Your ISP or company may be preventing you from receiving the images with either a SPAM filter or a firewall.
2. In order to see the comics in our emails, you need to be using an email system that works with HTML mail. Some of the email clients that display our daily strip emails correctly are:
  - Outlook 98 and greater on Windows
  - Outlook Express on Windows
  - AOL on Mac OSX
  - Mail in OSX
  - Eudora 5.2 in Windows
3. If you're receiving emails with missing graphics and/or incorrect formatting, it's because your email client doesn't work with HTML mail. Some of the email clients that are incompatible with HTML mail are:
  - AOL for Mac other than OSX (won't display HTML mail)
  - AOL on NT (won't display HTML mail)
  - AOL 7 on Windows (graphics won't load)
  - Eudora on Mac (formatting is incorrect)
  - Lotus Mail (formatting is incorrect)

Q: I’m not receiving the strip anymore, can you help?

A: Many times, however, it’s a spam or filter issue with your email provider. Subscribers that are unable to receive the strip usually find it to be sporadic and they will often start receiving them again. You need to talk to your email provider about why you’re not receiving the daily strip they may be filtering it out before it even gets to you. We keep updating the emails to keep them filter/spam-friendly, but in the end, each carrier has their own filtering system that's updated weekly if not daily. We'll keep sending them!

You can check your junk email folder to see it’s going there, and you can also try adding muttscomics.com to your address list, that sometimes helps. You can also see the strips here or on the home page each day.

Once they’re sent from our offices and received at the recipient’s end, we no longer have control over how to get that email into your inbox. None of the information here is meant to imply that not receiving your daily strip is YOUR fault, or your email provider’s fault. Only a handful of our thousands of subscribers run into this problem. Many programs (and spam filters, and any other programs running on your or your provider’s equipment) require that emails be set up a certain way to gain entry into your inbox, and we work to optimize our emails for the dozens of email programs that exist today. We work within standardized guidelines and continue to update as necessary, and as time allows.
Q: I signed up for the daily strip email and either a) I was getting it and now it stopped, or b) I never received it at all.

A: First, add dailystrip@emails.muttscomics.com to your list of addresses. If you have a junk/spam folder, check in there for the email. If not, we suggest checking with your Internet Service Provider and/or technical support. Many sites block our mail because they misidentify us as spam. They should be able to provide you with assistance. In the meantime, we'll keep sending your strip to you every day!

For AOL subscribers, we have received the following tips:
1. Add muttscomics.com (or more specifically, dailystrip@emails.muttscomics.com) to your address book so AOL recognizes the email as "allowed."
2. Or, click on Stop Unwanted Emails; in the next screen click on Custom Word List; from there click on Mail and Spam Controls; then check the box Allow Mail from All Senders.
  
  If the issue is still not resolved after communicating with your service provider, please contact us.
Q: How do I get MUTTS in my newspaper?

A: If your newspaper doesn't carry MUTTS, or has dropped it from the comics page, the features editor needs to hear from you! Sometimes 15 to 20 calls or letters are enough for the newspaper to reconsider and put MUTTS where it belongs — on the comics page! And if you haven’t signed up to receive the MUTTS strip via email, you can do so right here. (Please note that the daily strips are on a two-week delay.)
Q: Can I use the MUTTS comic strip, characters or artwork for my shelter/school/library/charity newsletter, post on my website, or reprint for another purpose?

A: All requests for reprint or web usage of a MUTTS comic strip, artwork, or characters including uses for school, library and charity purposes must be sent to King Features Syndicate. Please click here.
Q: Why is the MUTTS strip on the website and in the emails 2 weeks late?

A: Due to syndication agreements, the strip featured on the site cannot be featured until 2 weeks after the published date. If you are interested in viewing the strip the day it is published, please check out your daily newspaper or purchase a subscription to receive it via Daily Ink.
Q: How do I become a cartoonist, and will you look at my work?

A: If you are interested in becoming a cartoonist, please see these tips provided by King Features Syndicate. MUTTS does not currently review artwork or cartoon strips.
Q: Does my state have Animal Friendly License Plates?

A: Many states already have animal friendly license plates and many are acquiring them. To see your state’s information and contact info regarding animal friendly plates, visit this site (or contact your local Department of Motor Vehicles). You may want to ask your state to consider using the MUTTS characters.
Q: Will Guard Dog ever be released from his chains?

A: Have no fear, Guard Dog is free in Patrick’s sketchbooks and Patrick promises to free him someday in the newspaper. However, in the strip Guard Dog has a job to do. He represents many dogs that live their entire lives chained. Some states have passed legislature to ban this practice, and we’re hoping that others will join in to improve the lives of every “Guard Dog.” If you want to help set Guard Dog free, please contact your state legislators to introduce a ban in your state. For more information, including legislative contact info and sample letters please visit Dogs Deserve Better. And if you’d like to read Patrick's answer to this question, please check the past Musings questions.
Q: How do I submit an idea for a strip or a cause I’d like to see featured in MUTTS?

A: Patrick cannot accept suggestions for MUTTS.
Q: How do I get Patrick to appear at an event or book signing?

A: Although Patrick is invited to many worthwhile and fun events, his commitment to creating a daily MUTTS strip prohibits accepting the great majority. Make sure that you’re signed up for the MUTTS monthly newsletter to see if Patrick will be at a book store in your area soon.
Q: Can I get something signed by Patrick?

A: Look for Patrick’s upcoming book signing appearances in our MUTTS News section.
Q: How can I send an a letter or e-mail to Patrick McDonnell?

A: All letters should be directed to: King Features, Attn: MUTTS/Patrick McDonnell, 300 West 57th Street, New York, NY 10019. E-mail communication with Patrick through this website is not available.
Q: Does MUTTS donate to charities?

A: Due to the high volume of requests, please note only certified 501c3 charities may apply for product donations. If you are a certified 501c3 organization, please read our charity guidelines before submitting an application. Although we would like to support every worthwhile cause, due to the numerous requests that we receive, please note that we may not be able to fulfill every request.

For technical matters (email, subscription problems, or viewing issues), please contact us.