November 11, 2024 • 18 mins
Maria chats with returning guest MUTT's creator Patrick McDonnell. Last they spoke, Guard Dog was freed and adopted: his chain was broken 11/30/23 and then he was adopted 12/14/23.
And now Breaking The Chain, The Guard Dog Story book is available!
MUTTS is also celebrating its 30th Anniversary (9/5/94) and you can follow year-by-year at MUTTS.COM.
Patrick's work is currently showing at the Arts Council of Princeton NJ until Dec.7th.
And now Breaking The Chain, The Guard Dog Story book is available!
MUTTS is also celebrating its 30th Anniversary (9/5/94) and you can follow year-by-year at MUTTS.COM.
Patrick's work is currently showing at the Arts Council of Princeton NJ until Dec.7th.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
It's Maria's MutS and Stuff.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
What a great idea on iHeartRadio.
Speaker 3 (00:10):
Welcome to Maria's Mutts and Stuff. And with me is
return guest because I love him and his work so much.
It is Patrick McDonald, the creator of Mutts. So Patrick,
thank you, and I have to say congratulations from the
get go on your thirtieth anniversary of Mutts.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
Yeah, it's amazing.
Speaker 3 (00:29):
It is amazing.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
Sometimes it feels like I just started, and sometimes I
feel like I've been doing it.
Speaker 3 (00:34):
Forever, of course, of course. But well, first of all,
I guess I should remind people who are listening the
last time you and I spoke it was the end
of last year, and it was after guard Dog was
freed and adopted. And I actually listened back to the
last time and we were talking about guard Dog becoming
a book, and you were like, yeah, it's in the works,
(00:55):
we'll see and now it's reality. So congratulations on that
as well, Thank.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
You, Thank you. Actually was the quickest book I ever did,
and you know, the guard Dog story ended in December
of last year, and usually books for this year are
already put to bed. But I talked to my editor,
Charlie Katchman and asked him if we could get this
book out, and he said, well, if we could do
it in like three or four weeks, we can. So
that we put the book together in three to four weeks,
(01:22):
which is pretty quick to put up. Yeah, this side together.
But it came out great. If I say so myself.
Speaker 3 (01:28):
It damn no, of course. Yeah, yeah, well that's that's phenomenal. Three.
I mean that's very like quick turnaround.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
Yeah yeah, well, you know, the story was so powerful.
I just wanted and then the people enjoyed it so much.
I wanted the book to come out as soon as possible,
So it came out, actually came out a day before
the thirtieth anniversary of months.
Speaker 3 (01:48):
I saw that. That's it. So congratulations on both. I
mean that must have been like a double whammy, amazing
for both, you know what I mean, both days two
in a row like that. Was that planned to have
it around your anniversary or just so happy and no, you.
Speaker 2 (02:00):
Know, actually they were shooting for it and they made it.
Oh nice, The book company thought it would be a
nice Absolutely, it's a beautiful tribute.
Speaker 3 (02:11):
And you know, timing is nice, and you know what
it's it's almost like having a construction job and it
actually ended on time, you know what I mean, it
was perfect.
Speaker 2 (02:22):
It's probably as rare, probably as rare as that.
Speaker 3 (02:26):
Well, the book is beautiful and it's exactly as you
had talked about when we spoke last and and uh,
you put you know, it has responses from people because
I know and we talked about it when guard Dog
was freed, and you were kind of blown away from
all the comments from your readers. Uh that what what
an impact? And you know is that still happening?
Speaker 2 (02:48):
Yeah, well, you know every time, you know, it's really nice.
You know, whenever a new guard Book strip appears and
he's you know, in his new loving home with Doozy,
we always get we always get a great response. People
love seeing him now finally having a happy, healthy life.
And I don't blame him, you know, it's funny. You know,
(03:09):
I had him chained up for like twenty eight years,
which sounds crazy, but it's true, right, and mainly because
you know, I'm obviously friendly.
Speaker 1 (03:18):
With a lot of animal protection groups.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
Sure it all said he had a job to do
in a mission to you know, get that message out
there about tethered dogs. Right. But now that I finally freedom,
even me. I just loved drawing him free after after
drawing him on the chain for so long. It's so
nice to have him happy and with and have him
with his little friend Doozies.
Speaker 3 (03:42):
Yeah. Yeah, it's so sweet. It was like such a
happy ending. And you know, we just and I was
thinking of this. We just saw with the hurricanes that
happened with Helene and Milton, and there was a video
that went viral of a dog that was tethered and
a please officer actually stopped on the road, and I
(04:02):
was watching the video. I don't know how many times
I watched it. I don't know how the cop even
saw that dog. But it was again someone who left
behind their dog tethered to the fence in a hurricane.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
You know, it's it's it's unbelievable, you know that. You know,
I did this story, and it sounds, I'm sure for
some people have sounded kind of cruel and fictional, but
it's just so sad how it's not that uncommon. I
know dogs are left like that.
Speaker 3 (04:28):
Yeah, I don't understand it. I mean, I I I know,
I can't even say I understand that. I don't like
especially if you're leaving enough. Yeah, I mean I can.
I can't wrap my head around it. Like if you're
leaving your home because your house is going to be flooded,
but I'm going to leave my dog chained because he'll survive.
I don't know how people think. I don't. I don't.
(04:48):
It's very frustrating. But I guess for all the others
who were educated through guard Dog and Mutts, I guess
we need to be grateful and we are grateful for
those people who you educated all these years.
Speaker 2 (05:02):
Yeah, it's I hope the message. God, I felt like, boy,
even if just one person sure inspired and unchained their dog,
that it was worth it.
Speaker 3 (05:12):
I think so. I think people learned from it. I
definitely do. I didn't see it anywhere. But are you
doing a book tour or thinking of it?
Speaker 2 (05:18):
You know I've done. I've done a few places. Actually
I just did near a comic con.
Speaker 3 (05:23):
Oh okay, oh fun, I.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
Tell you it was. It was extra fun. Actually, Matt
Groening of The Simpsons interviewed me at comic con.
Speaker 3 (05:32):
Oh what I realize. Oh that's awesome, that's great.
Speaker 2 (05:35):
It was. It was awesome. We did get to talk
about the book and well, no, It's also interesting with
the book, so many people wrote it's amazing how many
people have chained dogs as pets now, And it's just
such a tribute to dogs, how you know, you know,
like one human could treat them so horridly and then
they could, you know, forgive that and be so loving
(05:58):
and gentle off their new guardians. Just a tribute to
the heart of dogs.
Speaker 3 (06:04):
That's true. It's true. I mean people should be as
forgiving as dogs are. I'm always fascinated and amazed by that,
because they really are. It's true. And you always hear
these stories, and you know, you see stories all the
time of dogs that go through so many hardship, you know,
ones that are forced to be fighting dogs, and then
they become you know, just companions and just want to
be loved and just you know, sit on the couch
(06:27):
and watch TV with you. I mean, it's just I
just I love dogs so much because of that.
Speaker 2 (06:34):
You know, in the book, it's not only the you know,
the story that appeared in the newspapers for seven weeks
and it's newly I newly colored it, but also in
a book we have at the back of the book,
we have some true life stories with photographs of you know,
readers who wrote about their.
Speaker 1 (06:53):
Own dogs that were chained dogs.
Speaker 2 (06:55):
So, and there's also a thirty page introduction where I
kind of give the history of a guard dog in
the strip.
Speaker 3 (07:02):
Yes, And were there any because I know, I'm sure
you had so many stories, because I know you had
said that too in the past, that so many people
were reaching out about their own guard dog or a
dog that was a guard dog. Is there anyone in
particular that's in your book that stood out a little
bit more than others.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
Or maybe not? I think, Yeah, I was gonna say,
I think they were all powerful. You know. It's funny.
My editor every year goes visits, spends the fourth of
July with a friend upstate New York. And these people
have two dogs, and the dogs love my editor and
he's known.
Speaker 1 (07:38):
Them for like ten years.
Speaker 2 (07:40):
And it wasn't until the book came out that he
found out these two dogs he's known his whole life
were used to be chained. His friends never told him
that story.
Speaker 3 (07:49):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (07:49):
So it's again just how many. It's amazing how many
dogs you know, through shelters found new homes.
Speaker 3 (07:55):
Sure, yeah, I'm just scratched. I scratched my head over it,
like I just I don't know. I mean, I think
it's come a long way, but I think we need
to come a little bit longer, you know, because people
are still doing it. But we have made progress over
the years. So I guess we should be grateful for that.
And thanks to you, you know, with guard Dog who
who you know, trained many people and taught many people like, yeah,
(08:17):
it's not a good thing to do.
Speaker 2 (08:18):
Yeah, you know, it's true. I'm optimistic. I mean, you know,
there's still long ways to go, but in so many
animal issues. I feel like there's been so many, you know,
in the last in my lifetime just seeing them, so many.
Speaker 3 (08:32):
Changes, you know, Oh definitely, yeah, me too.
Speaker 2 (08:35):
No, Yeah, so I get I get optimistic to see
that there has been changes, and I think I think
the younger generation, more and more kids are just coming
into us and realizing that animals, you know, deserve better lives.
Speaker 3 (08:48):
Yeah, I agree, I definitely agree with that. And I
think and I think it goes across the whole the
whole span of of like animal welfare. I mean, think
about being a vegan or a vegetarian twenty years ago,
and it was like, oh, you can eat a potato,
you know, and now and now it's very very different,
and there are so many younger people I know who
(09:09):
are vegans, are vegetarians and before I mean I remember
when I first went people, and this is a long
time ago, and people looked at me like I had
three heads, like wait, do we eat chicken? And I'm like, no,
be you.
Speaker 2 (09:23):
Know, so yeah, no, my wife and I've been being
for a.
Speaker 3 (09:27):
Real long time.
Speaker 2 (09:28):
Yeah, and You're right, it's so much easier now and
every you know, it's it's amazing. I mean, we were
in Europe two years ago and I was thinking, well,
maybe it's not going to be you know, we're not
going to be able to have that many vegan meals,
but every restaurant we went to had vegan venues.
Speaker 3 (09:45):
So that's amazing.
Speaker 2 (09:46):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (09:47):
How times have changed, thankfully, But yeah, it was very
very different. And I think the fact, like you said,
with younger people, I think that is actually that's helped us,
you know, because yeah, no, it's true. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (10:01):
Even at my book signings that I'm talking like twenty
years ago, you know, so many times I'd have parents
with really young children come up, and the parents weren't vegan.
But they're saying the kids want to be vegan, and
they're raising their kids vegan. So I think kids come
into this world, you know, loving animals, and I think
now this this younger generation is actually doing something about it.
Speaker 3 (10:23):
Yeah. I think so too, because I've heard the same
thing with parents aren't but their kids are, and I'm like, yeah,
you know, so yay future generations.
Speaker 2 (10:32):
You know.
Speaker 3 (10:35):
So I noticed on your website, of course, because it
is your thirtieth anniversary, and I love that you did
kind of the history of year by year from when
you first started, so over thirty years September fifth to
nineteen ninety four, from nineteen ninety four till now twenty
twenty four. And I know, like the vegan was something
(10:58):
that you introduced. I saw you many years ago. How
of things, I'm sure I know things have changed. Do
you feel like things changed drastically in like the later
part of the thirty years or at the beginning or
maybe evenly throughout?
Speaker 2 (11:13):
You know, it was a slow evolution for me, you
know when I started. One of my first goals when
I started was that I really did want to keep
Earl and Mooch.
Speaker 1 (11:23):
In the animals in the comic very animal like.
Speaker 2 (11:26):
You know, there's a lot you know, like Donald Duck
and Mickey Mouse, which who are animals, but they don't actually.
Speaker 3 (11:30):
Get right exactly right.
Speaker 2 (11:33):
I think, you know, the strip was inspired by my
own dog Girl and I and as well pet owners
know your dogs and cats have personalities, they're funny. They
don't need to be human to.
Speaker 3 (11:46):
Be funding right, right exactly.
Speaker 2 (11:47):
Yeah. So you know, my goal in the beginning was
to try to see the world through their eyes and
you know, keep them as as animal like as possible.
Of course they talk, but you know, they keep them
animal alike. And I think once I started going that route,
you know, trying to see the world through animal eyes,
you know, I started realizing how tough it is for
quite a few animals on this planet, sure particularly I
(12:11):
started out with dogs and cats and shelters and thinking
how could I get that in the strip. So I
slowly started adding those shelter story you know, I do
two weeks of about animals and shelters, and then it
just started, you know, as my consciousness grew the strip
right through. And then I was also asked to join
(12:34):
the Humane to be on the board of the Humane
society the United States, and then I started learning really
out at have it tough on this planet. So I
kind of brought in this the strip to touch on
more animal issues and I try to be entertaining about it, but.
Speaker 3 (12:52):
And you are you are.
Speaker 2 (12:53):
Yeah, So it definitely became a part of the strip
and I'm really happy about that and people and people
respond to it, and you know, you know, it's nice.
A comic strip's so interesting way to make art. You know,
for the readers, you sort of become family. You know.
It's like I know for me with Peanuts as a kid.
I mean, you know, you live with them every day.
(13:15):
Sure you get it, you know, so uh, you know,
if you do it correctly, you really could bring issues
to the table and not feel like you're preaching, but
just sort of like a family talking about something.
Speaker 3 (13:26):
So yeah, no, and that's yeah, no, you have. You've
been very successful with that, and you know you need
to know that because you're right, you don't you I
feel like you've opened people's eyes to so many different
animal welfare issues without shoving it down their throats because
you know, you know how people are, Oh, don't tell
me what to do, but you've done it in a
(13:47):
very like diplomatic entertaining way. Oh thanks, I tried, No
you did, you succeeded. I think Patrick, you definitely have.
So you should really feel good about that because I
think you've definitely taught many, many, many people about animal
welfare issues that maybe, you know, maybe they had heard
about it or they were a little bit aware, but
(14:09):
the fact that they saw it in their favorite comic
strip kind of told to them in an entertaining way.
I don't know. I think that definitely was a brilliant
way of getting to people. Oh thanks, yeah, yeah, So
I know you're just that's what I love about You're
just so humble. Thanks. Oh my goodness. So all right,
(14:31):
Well I don't want to ask what's next, because there's
a lot for you with guard Dog and the book
and everything. But I know you're always working on something
besides the comic strip. What's on the horizon for you? Right,
because I've got I've grown to know you talking to you,
and you know, I'm a big fan of yours. Uh, so, yes,
you're you always have something in the plans and the making.
Speaker 2 (14:55):
And well I'll tell you two projects, okay, One is
you know the thirtieth anniversary of Much this year. Next
year is the twentieth anniversary of my first picture book
for children, and it's a Much book. It was called
The Gift of Nothing, and so there's going to be
a twentieth anniversary edition of the Gift of Nothing next year,
(15:18):
and also with it, there's going to be a new
companion book called The Gift of Everything that also starts
ear Stars are all of Moot. So there will be
two new picture books out for next fall. And then
you know, I we probably didn't talk about this, but
last year I did a book with the Marvel Superheroes.
Speaker 3 (15:39):
I think we just briefly touched on that. I think, yeah, which.
Speaker 2 (15:42):
Was a lot of fun. And part of that book
is I started doing these big, kind of abstract paintings,
but including the superheroes. So I'm having painting show in Princeton,
New Jersey. It's at the Art Council of Princeton and
it starts November ninth, goes to December seventh, New Jersey.
(16:03):
Yeah I should mention this. How could I forget? Yeah,
it's the gallery. The top floor is going to be
these huge paintings, but the bottom floor is going to
be a Prince hand colored prints.
Speaker 1 (16:14):
From the guard Dog series.
Speaker 2 (16:16):
Oh wow, if you're a guard Dog fan, you could
see these and purchase these these hand colored prints. And
each print has a drawing a guard dog on it,
so an original trying. Oh that's amazing. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (16:29):
So okay, so it's November ninth through December seventh. And
tell me again the name of the gallery in Princeton.
Speaker 2 (16:35):
It's called the Arts Council of Princeton on Witherspoon Street.
Speaker 3 (16:39):
Okay, all right, So well that's a project that's happening
right now. That's pretty big. And the next fall will
be the two picture books. And I just think there
has to be something else going on with you. I
just know.
Speaker 2 (16:54):
Yeah, Well, the painting's keeping me busy. Yeah, I have
a few ideas it's next. But okay, I'm just I'm
just literally finishing these two picture books. I just finished
the covers this week, so now it's time for me
to think what the next project's going to be.
Speaker 3 (17:12):
Yeah, yeah, I smell something by the end of the year,
just because that's how you are, because that's you know,
that's it's like, it's what geniuses do. You can't just
stop doing what you do. So but you are. Your
plate is very full and I love it. And for
listeners who want to get the guard Dog Book and
see everything else, go through your thirtieth anniversary. You can
(17:33):
get all that information at MutS dot com. It's very
interesting to follow each year at mutts dot com if
you just read it the homepage and go to the
thirtieth anniversary. And of course there's so many beautiful products
of all of your work at MutS dot com. And
you always are so generous and give portion to animal
rescue groups, which is really amendable.
Speaker 2 (17:55):
Yeah, that's the important.
Speaker 3 (17:56):
Part, it is, and you know, keep doing what you do. Trick.
We like I've always said this to you, but I
really truly mean we do need more people in the
world like you, Patrick McDonald for all you do in
your big heart and teaching us all just how to
be better people. And thank you for that.
Speaker 2 (18:14):
Well, thank you for all you do too.
Speaker 3 (18:17):
Likewise, well mine's a really small portion, so and I
get to talk to you, so that's great, So thanks
so much.
Speaker 2 (18:26):
Okay, take care
It's Maria's MutS and Stuff.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
What a great idea on iHeartRadio.
Speaker 3 (00:10):
Welcome to Maria's Mutts and Stuff. And with me is
return guest because I love him and his work so much.
It is Patrick McDonald, the creator of Mutts. So Patrick,
thank you, and I have to say congratulations from the
get go on your thirtieth anniversary of Mutts.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
Yeah, it's amazing.
Speaker 3 (00:29):
It is amazing.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
Sometimes it feels like I just started, and sometimes I
feel like I've been doing it.
Speaker 3 (00:34):
Forever, of course, of course. But well, first of all,
I guess I should remind people who are listening the
last time you and I spoke it was the end
of last year, and it was after guard Dog was
freed and adopted. And I actually listened back to the
last time and we were talking about guard Dog becoming
a book, and you were like, yeah, it's in the works,
(00:55):
we'll see and now it's reality. So congratulations on that
as well, Thank.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
You, Thank you. Actually was the quickest book I ever did,
and you know, the guard Dog story ended in December
of last year, and usually books for this year are
already put to bed. But I talked to my editor,
Charlie Katchman and asked him if we could get this
book out, and he said, well, if we could do
it in like three or four weeks, we can. So
that we put the book together in three to four weeks,
(01:22):
which is pretty quick to put up. Yeah, this side together.
But it came out great. If I say so myself.
Speaker 3 (01:28):
It damn no, of course. Yeah, yeah, well that's that's phenomenal. Three.
I mean that's very like quick turnaround.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
Yeah yeah, well, you know, the story was so powerful.
I just wanted and then the people enjoyed it so much.
I wanted the book to come out as soon as possible,
So it came out, actually came out a day before
the thirtieth anniversary of months.
Speaker 3 (01:48):
I saw that. That's it. So congratulations on both. I
mean that must have been like a double whammy, amazing
for both, you know what I mean, both days two
in a row like that. Was that planned to have
it around your anniversary or just so happy and no, you.
Speaker 2 (02:00):
Know, actually they were shooting for it and they made it.
Oh nice, The book company thought it would be a
nice Absolutely, it's a beautiful tribute.
Speaker 3 (02:11):
And you know, timing is nice, and you know what
it's it's almost like having a construction job and it
actually ended on time, you know what I mean, it
was perfect.
Speaker 2 (02:22):
It's probably as rare, probably as rare as that.
Speaker 3 (02:26):
Well, the book is beautiful and it's exactly as you
had talked about when we spoke last and and uh,
you put you know, it has responses from people because
I know and we talked about it when guard Dog
was freed, and you were kind of blown away from
all the comments from your readers. Uh that what what
an impact? And you know is that still happening?
Speaker 2 (02:48):
Yeah, well, you know every time, you know, it's really nice.
You know, whenever a new guard Book strip appears and
he's you know, in his new loving home with Doozy,
we always get we always get a great response. People
love seeing him now finally having a happy, healthy life.
And I don't blame him, you know, it's funny. You know,
(03:09):
I had him chained up for like twenty eight years,
which sounds crazy, but it's true, right, and mainly because
you know, I'm obviously friendly.
Speaker 1 (03:18):
With a lot of animal protection groups.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
Sure it all said he had a job to do
in a mission to you know, get that message out
there about tethered dogs. Right. But now that I finally freedom,
even me. I just loved drawing him free after after
drawing him on the chain for so long. It's so
nice to have him happy and with and have him
with his little friend Doozies.
Speaker 3 (03:42):
Yeah. Yeah, it's so sweet. It was like such a
happy ending. And you know, we just and I was
thinking of this. We just saw with the hurricanes that
happened with Helene and Milton, and there was a video
that went viral of a dog that was tethered and
a please officer actually stopped on the road, and I
(04:02):
was watching the video. I don't know how many times
I watched it. I don't know how the cop even
saw that dog. But it was again someone who left
behind their dog tethered to the fence in a hurricane.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
You know, it's it's it's unbelievable, you know that. You know,
I did this story, and it sounds, I'm sure for
some people have sounded kind of cruel and fictional, but
it's just so sad how it's not that uncommon. I
know dogs are left like that.
Speaker 3 (04:28):
Yeah, I don't understand it. I mean, I I I know,
I can't even say I understand that. I don't like
especially if you're leaving enough. Yeah, I mean I can.
I can't wrap my head around it. Like if you're
leaving your home because your house is going to be flooded,
but I'm going to leave my dog chained because he'll survive.
I don't know how people think. I don't. I don't.
(04:48):
It's very frustrating. But I guess for all the others
who were educated through guard Dog and Mutts, I guess
we need to be grateful and we are grateful for
those people who you educated all these years.
Speaker 2 (05:02):
Yeah, it's I hope the message. God, I felt like, boy,
even if just one person sure inspired and unchained their dog,
that it was worth it.
Speaker 3 (05:12):
I think so. I think people learned from it. I
definitely do. I didn't see it anywhere. But are you
doing a book tour or thinking of it?
Speaker 2 (05:18):
You know I've done. I've done a few places. Actually
I just did near a comic con.
Speaker 3 (05:23):
Oh okay, oh fun, I.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
Tell you it was. It was extra fun. Actually, Matt
Groening of The Simpsons interviewed me at comic con.
Speaker 3 (05:32):
Oh what I realize. Oh that's awesome, that's great.
Speaker 2 (05:35):
It was. It was awesome. We did get to talk
about the book and well, no, It's also interesting with
the book, so many people wrote it's amazing how many
people have chained dogs as pets now, And it's just
such a tribute to dogs, how you know, you know,
like one human could treat them so horridly and then
they could, you know, forgive that and be so loving
(05:58):
and gentle off their new guardians. Just a tribute to
the heart of dogs.
Speaker 3 (06:04):
That's true. It's true. I mean people should be as
forgiving as dogs are. I'm always fascinated and amazed by that,
because they really are. It's true. And you always hear
these stories, and you know, you see stories all the
time of dogs that go through so many hardship, you know,
ones that are forced to be fighting dogs, and then
they become you know, just companions and just want to
be loved and just you know, sit on the couch
(06:27):
and watch TV with you. I mean, it's just I
just I love dogs so much because of that.
Speaker 2 (06:34):
You know, in the book, it's not only the you know,
the story that appeared in the newspapers for seven weeks
and it's newly I newly colored it, but also in
a book we have at the back of the book,
we have some true life stories with photographs of you know,
readers who wrote about their.
Speaker 1 (06:53):
Own dogs that were chained dogs.
Speaker 2 (06:55):
So, and there's also a thirty page introduction where I
kind of give the history of a guard dog in
the strip.
Speaker 3 (07:02):
Yes, And were there any because I know, I'm sure
you had so many stories, because I know you had
said that too in the past, that so many people
were reaching out about their own guard dog or a
dog that was a guard dog. Is there anyone in
particular that's in your book that stood out a little
bit more than others.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
Or maybe not? I think, Yeah, I was gonna say,
I think they were all powerful. You know. It's funny.
My editor every year goes visits, spends the fourth of
July with a friend upstate New York. And these people
have two dogs, and the dogs love my editor and
he's known.
Speaker 1 (07:38):
Them for like ten years.
Speaker 2 (07:40):
And it wasn't until the book came out that he
found out these two dogs he's known his whole life
were used to be chained. His friends never told him
that story.
Speaker 3 (07:49):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (07:49):
So it's again just how many. It's amazing how many
dogs you know, through shelters found new homes.
Speaker 3 (07:55):
Sure, yeah, I'm just scratched. I scratched my head over it,
like I just I don't know. I mean, I think
it's come a long way, but I think we need
to come a little bit longer, you know, because people
are still doing it. But we have made progress over
the years. So I guess we should be grateful for that.
And thanks to you, you know, with guard Dog who
who you know, trained many people and taught many people like, yeah,
(08:17):
it's not a good thing to do.
Speaker 2 (08:18):
Yeah, you know, it's true. I'm optimistic. I mean, you know,
there's still long ways to go, but in so many
animal issues. I feel like there's been so many, you know,
in the last in my lifetime just seeing them, so many.
Speaker 3 (08:32):
Changes, you know, Oh definitely, yeah, me too.
Speaker 2 (08:35):
No, Yeah, so I get I get optimistic to see
that there has been changes, and I think I think
the younger generation, more and more kids are just coming
into us and realizing that animals, you know, deserve better lives.
Speaker 3 (08:48):
Yeah, I agree, I definitely agree with that. And I
think and I think it goes across the whole the
whole span of of like animal welfare. I mean, think
about being a vegan or a vegetarian twenty years ago,
and it was like, oh, you can eat a potato,
you know, and now and now it's very very different,
and there are so many younger people I know who
(09:09):
are vegans, are vegetarians and before I mean I remember
when I first went people, and this is a long
time ago, and people looked at me like I had
three heads, like wait, do we eat chicken? And I'm like, no,
be you.
Speaker 2 (09:23):
Know, so yeah, no, my wife and I've been being
for a.
Speaker 3 (09:27):
Real long time.
Speaker 2 (09:28):
Yeah, and You're right, it's so much easier now and
every you know, it's it's amazing. I mean, we were
in Europe two years ago and I was thinking, well,
maybe it's not going to be you know, we're not
going to be able to have that many vegan meals,
but every restaurant we went to had vegan venues.
Speaker 3 (09:45):
So that's amazing.
Speaker 2 (09:46):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (09:47):
How times have changed, thankfully, But yeah, it was very
very different. And I think the fact, like you said,
with younger people, I think that is actually that's helped us,
you know, because yeah, no, it's true. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (10:01):
Even at my book signings that I'm talking like twenty
years ago, you know, so many times I'd have parents
with really young children come up, and the parents weren't vegan.
But they're saying the kids want to be vegan, and
they're raising their kids vegan. So I think kids come
into this world, you know, loving animals, and I think
now this this younger generation is actually doing something about it.
Speaker 3 (10:23):
Yeah. I think so too, because I've heard the same
thing with parents aren't but their kids are, and I'm like, yeah,
you know, so yay future generations.
Speaker 2 (10:32):
You know.
Speaker 3 (10:35):
So I noticed on your website, of course, because it
is your thirtieth anniversary, and I love that you did
kind of the history of year by year from when
you first started, so over thirty years September fifth to
nineteen ninety four, from nineteen ninety four till now twenty
twenty four. And I know, like the vegan was something
(10:58):
that you introduced. I saw you many years ago. How
of things, I'm sure I know things have changed. Do
you feel like things changed drastically in like the later
part of the thirty years or at the beginning or
maybe evenly throughout?
Speaker 2 (11:13):
You know, it was a slow evolution for me, you
know when I started. One of my first goals when
I started was that I really did want to keep
Earl and Mooch.
Speaker 1 (11:23):
In the animals in the comic very animal like.
Speaker 2 (11:26):
You know, there's a lot you know, like Donald Duck
and Mickey Mouse, which who are animals, but they don't actually.
Speaker 3 (11:30):
Get right exactly right.
Speaker 2 (11:33):
I think, you know, the strip was inspired by my
own dog Girl and I and as well pet owners
know your dogs and cats have personalities, they're funny. They
don't need to be human to.
Speaker 3 (11:46):
Be funding right, right exactly.
Speaker 2 (11:47):
Yeah. So you know, my goal in the beginning was
to try to see the world through their eyes and
you know, keep them as as animal like as possible.
Of course they talk, but you know, they keep them
animal alike. And I think once I started going that route,
you know, trying to see the world through animal eyes,
you know, I started realizing how tough it is for
quite a few animals on this planet, sure particularly I
(12:11):
started out with dogs and cats and shelters and thinking
how could I get that in the strip. So I
slowly started adding those shelter story you know, I do
two weeks of about animals and shelters, and then it
just started, you know, as my consciousness grew the strip
right through. And then I was also asked to join
(12:34):
the Humane to be on the board of the Humane
society the United States, and then I started learning really
out at have it tough on this planet. So I
kind of brought in this the strip to touch on
more animal issues and I try to be entertaining about it, but.
Speaker 3 (12:52):
And you are you are.
Speaker 2 (12:53):
Yeah, So it definitely became a part of the strip
and I'm really happy about that and people and people
respond to it, and you know, you know, it's nice.
A comic strip's so interesting way to make art. You know,
for the readers, you sort of become family. You know.
It's like I know for me with Peanuts as a kid.
I mean, you know, you live with them every day.
(13:15):
Sure you get it, you know, so uh, you know,
if you do it correctly, you really could bring issues
to the table and not feel like you're preaching, but
just sort of like a family talking about something.
Speaker 3 (13:26):
So yeah, no, and that's yeah, no, you have. You've
been very successful with that, and you know you need
to know that because you're right, you don't you I
feel like you've opened people's eyes to so many different
animal welfare issues without shoving it down their throats because
you know, you know how people are, Oh, don't tell
me what to do, but you've done it in a
(13:47):
very like diplomatic entertaining way. Oh thanks, I tried, No
you did, you succeeded. I think Patrick, you definitely have.
So you should really feel good about that because I
think you've definitely taught many, many, many people about animal
welfare issues that maybe, you know, maybe they had heard
about it or they were a little bit aware, but
(14:09):
the fact that they saw it in their favorite comic
strip kind of told to them in an entertaining way.
I don't know. I think that definitely was a brilliant
way of getting to people. Oh thanks, yeah, yeah, So
I know you're just that's what I love about You're
just so humble. Thanks. Oh my goodness. So all right,
(14:31):
Well I don't want to ask what's next, because there's
a lot for you with guard Dog and the book
and everything. But I know you're always working on something
besides the comic strip. What's on the horizon for you? Right,
because I've got I've grown to know you talking to you,
and you know, I'm a big fan of yours. Uh, so, yes,
you're you always have something in the plans and the making.
Speaker 2 (14:55):
And well I'll tell you two projects, okay, One is
you know the thirtieth anniversary of Much this year. Next
year is the twentieth anniversary of my first picture book
for children, and it's a Much book. It was called
The Gift of Nothing, and so there's going to be
a twentieth anniversary edition of the Gift of Nothing next year,
(15:18):
and also with it, there's going to be a new
companion book called The Gift of Everything that also starts
ear Stars are all of Moot. So there will be
two new picture books out for next fall. And then
you know, I we probably didn't talk about this, but
last year I did a book with the Marvel Superheroes.
Speaker 3 (15:39):
I think we just briefly touched on that. I think, yeah, which.
Speaker 2 (15:42):
Was a lot of fun. And part of that book
is I started doing these big, kind of abstract paintings,
but including the superheroes. So I'm having painting show in Princeton,
New Jersey. It's at the Art Council of Princeton and
it starts November ninth, goes to December seventh, New Jersey.
(16:03):
Yeah I should mention this. How could I forget? Yeah,
it's the gallery. The top floor is going to be
these huge paintings, but the bottom floor is going to
be a Prince hand colored prints.
Speaker 1 (16:14):
From the guard Dog series.
Speaker 2 (16:16):
Oh wow, if you're a guard Dog fan, you could
see these and purchase these these hand colored prints. And
each print has a drawing a guard dog on it,
so an original trying. Oh that's amazing. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (16:29):
So okay, so it's November ninth through December seventh. And
tell me again the name of the gallery in Princeton.
Speaker 2 (16:35):
It's called the Arts Council of Princeton on Witherspoon Street.
Speaker 3 (16:39):
Okay, all right, So well that's a project that's happening
right now. That's pretty big. And the next fall will
be the two picture books. And I just think there
has to be something else going on with you. I
just know.
Speaker 2 (16:54):
Yeah, Well, the painting's keeping me busy. Yeah, I have
a few ideas it's next. But okay, I'm just I'm
just literally finishing these two picture books. I just finished
the covers this week, so now it's time for me
to think what the next project's going to be.
Speaker 3 (17:12):
Yeah, yeah, I smell something by the end of the year,
just because that's how you are, because that's you know,
that's it's like, it's what geniuses do. You can't just
stop doing what you do. So but you are. Your
plate is very full and I love it. And for
listeners who want to get the guard Dog Book and
see everything else, go through your thirtieth anniversary. You can
(17:33):
get all that information at MutS dot com. It's very
interesting to follow each year at mutts dot com if
you just read it the homepage and go to the
thirtieth anniversary. And of course there's so many beautiful products
of all of your work at MutS dot com. And
you always are so generous and give portion to animal
rescue groups, which is really amendable.
Speaker 2 (17:55):
Yeah, that's the important.
Speaker 3 (17:56):
Part, it is, and you know, keep doing what you do. Trick.
We like I've always said this to you, but I
really truly mean we do need more people in the
world like you, Patrick McDonald for all you do in
your big heart and teaching us all just how to
be better people. And thank you for that.
Speaker 2 (18:14):
Well, thank you for all you do too.
Speaker 3 (18:17):
Likewise, well mine's a really small portion, so and I
get to talk to you, so that's great, So thanks
so much.
Speaker 2 (18:26):
Okay, take care
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