What MUTTS Means To You: A Lasting Impression

To celebrate 26 years of MUTTS, we’re asking readers to tell us what the strip means to them, and to share some of their best memories of Mooch, Earl, and the rest of the crew.

We are appreciative of all the messages we’ve received, and we will continue to share your responses — so please comment below if you have memories or kind words. Thank you for the love!

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“I love MUTTS so much! I love each animal and all their relationships. I really adore Earl and Ozzie’s bond. One of my favorites is ‘The Boys of Summer’ with Earl and Ozzie surfing a big wave. I look forward to the strip every day and always look at the one hanging in my room.” — Janine T.

“I love Shelter Stories! They always make me cry, especially after I lost my dog in 2017. I’ve been reading them for so many years and my dog was always by my side. My dog was adopted and I loved reading them to him.” — Brea

“I love Shelter Stories! I have the one with the greyhound hanging up in my office. I also love the ones with the squirrels that throw nuts and when the birds sing.” — Fal.

“We adopted our first cat from the Anti-Cruelty Society of Chicago the week MUTTS came out in the Chicago Tribune. I’ve been a fan ever since. The cat I have now actually met Patrick. He signed The Gift of Nothing for her.” — Ashleigh G.

“I love MUTTS because they perfectly capture the eternal optimism of our pets. ‘Today’s The Day!’ will always be my favorite.” — Joan

“I adore MUTTS comics. They are so precious. I also love the occasional special messages like Earth Day and reminders to adopt instead of shopping. I fell in love with these comics as a child and have never stopped.” — Emily B.

Want to share your MUTTS memories with us? We’d love to hear them! Join the conversation on Facebook or leave a note in the comments below.

— Chintan Parikh

Tagged: Animals, People

Comments (15)

I always look forward to your comic in the paper everyday. I especially love the thanksgiving ones and have several cut out and posted on my frig. It’s a great reminder to show gratitude.
Patti

My favourite Mutts comics have been the Shelter Stories, and my very favourite had to do with two lovely young gentlehamsters, “So, I say: go to your local animal shelter and adopt a hamster.” “Or two!” And Marla’s beloved gentleman ham making sure she knew he could not live without her. They joined hands, and Marla repeated her Larry’s words as they both looked towards the reader: “Or two.”

I have lost my original newspaper copy of the strip, cut out and kept for a number of years (it might go back to before my Da’s passing in 2006), and I haven’t been subscribing long enough to the emailed strips to have it amongst them. But I remember Marla and Larry’s lesson well: Together is together, and hearty, positive union, meshes into something bigger than the whole of the relationship’s parts, gestalt fusion. <3

The other specific someone I adore about Mutts, would be Woofie. Because Woofie wuvs everybody, even Mooch, who grudgingly accepts his love. And that unconditional love, both shared with me by my fourlegged friends in my neighbourhood, and my own wee Hams, have helped teach me how to love and move on from a place of great inner turmoil and pain, stemming from my early years of life and lasting for some time before it ebbed away, and I could start to heal.

-Garth Gilmore, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Garth Gilmore

At 92 and still in lockdown, Mutts starts my day off.
Mooch is my alter ego and Earl is the perfect friend.
Keep it up for all us animal lovers.
One cat from shelter and one knocked on our door in an ice storm.
Many…..15 years ago. m
Mildred

I love Mutts and all animals and shelter pets — All my cats that I’ve had over the years were adopted from shelters or were found outside and brought into our home and became part of our family. My dog, rabbit, turtles, chameleon, and fish were most likely brought home from pet shops by my parents when I was a youngster, and I have had pets when growing up, and all through my life. Each one of them had many years of love with our family and each of them had their own personality like the cartoon animals in Mutts. They all gave us their love and devotion over the years, and now that I am a senior who adores your cartoons and the Daily Mutts, and still sharing my life with my senior cat, Patches, I remember every one of my pets with love, and I can see each one of them in your stories. My favorite characters are Mooch & Mama, Mooch & Earl, and Shtinky, but every one of the wonderful characters that appear in your comic strips and books are great — I have quite a number of your books (I save the comic strips as well); they are the best!
Carolyn J. Paurowski

I wish that every animal in shelters could find a loving, forever home. And, in MUTTS shelter stories, they do! I also love the wildlife comics. #AdoptDontShop
Willow Croft

I love Mutts! I used to be a substitute teacher, and I had ordered “The Gift of Nothing”. The day it arrived, I had it in my bag because I had picked it up at the post office, I just hadn’t made it home yet. I had been assigned to sub in a Kindergarten class, it was the end of the day, waiting for buses to be called, parents to show up, etc. No plans from the regular teacher for how to keep the students quiet (so we could hear announcements) and entertained. Mutts to the rescue! Remembered the book, pulled it out and read it to the class. The kids loved it! Some of the parent pick-up kids stayed to hear the end even though their parent was at the door. Easiest end of day I’ve ever had!
Valerie

I love Mooch’s spring dance, the sheer joy and delight of life!
Susan A Burtch

Mooch an earl are the greatest everyday I can’t wait to get my comic mutts in my email. An if im down u always cheer me up I’ve been with u all for years it’s when u first came out with the organic cotton pajamas with mooch an Earl I got every pair I could get at Walmart then I ordered from u too. I loved those I ended up getting two of each an I’m happy I did I divorced 6 yrs ago an moved. Well I’ve wrote u a few times about u all making them again cause my lil jack Russell looks like Earl. But back to pajamas I found a tote full of pj bottoms of mooch an Earl I had 15 pair I was so excited plus I still have some old ones I wore an they r thin but still good unmake great things but u cheer me up. Thank u for giving us much an Earl an everyone of their comics r sweet an cute. I love mooch an Earl thank u so much for sharing them with us. Please don’t stop blessing stay safe Love love love mooch an Earl Love everyone of there comic strips Very special to me Thank u mr McDonnell love u too. All of u at mutts love u mooch an Earl. Blessings
Susan neely

I get Mutts in my email everyday. I love all of it but especially the Book Club, when Mooch “borrows” Doozy’s car and the time at the beach. Maybe one day Mooch will have a Book Club for the gang at the beach.
Will

PLEASE DO ONE IN MEMORY OF MY LIL PATCHES A BLACK WHITE AND TAN LIL GUY WHO WAS MY BELOVED GUINEA PIG..I STILL FIND MY SAD SELF LOOKING DOWN MY HALL FOR HIM…I FOUND A NEW LIL GUY NAMED SKIPPY AND I LAVISH ALL MY LOVE ON HIM…AND HIS 2 PALS PENNY AND SUZY..BEEN RAISING GUINEA PIGS FOR MANY DECADES..I LOVE THEM..BUT THERE ARE SOME THAT TOUCH YOUR HEART MORE THAN OTHERS… I SUPPOSE IF I EVER GET TO HEAVEN..I BETTER BRING A FEW BAGS OF PELLETS..I HOPE THEY WILL ALL BE WAITING FOR ME..
JUDITH SENNING

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