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Patrick McDonnell, Creator of Mutts

© Susanna McLeod

Who would guess that an uncomplicated comic strip about a dog and a cat might help improve the lives of real dogs and cats? The stars of the Mutts comic strip, Earl and Mooch don't walk on their hind feet or talk to their humans. They play outside, chase other animals and are taunted endlessly by nut-tossing squirrels. Their strong base for humour is that they act just like we expect dogs and cats to behave. It is obvious through his work in Mutts that cartoonist Patrick McDonnell is an animal lover, using his acclaimed strip to promote animal rights and safety.

Annually since 1998, Patrick McDonnell has included a week-long series of strips in Mutts to promote the Humane Society of the United States' National Animal Shelter Week. Calling the strips "Shelter Stories," McDonnell recounts stories about animal shelters, both happy and sad, to attract attention to animal plights and to promote adoptions. He has used characters Earl and Mooch to benefit wellness clinics, Pet Fest and other Humane Society events. McDonnell has also designed a licence plate for New Jersey to help raise funds for the state's Animal Population Control Fund.

Mutts is a deceptively simple, happy comic. With minimal backgrounds to set the stage, Earl the dog, Mooch the cat, assorted animal friends and several humans are illustrated in clear, clean detail, similar in style to Peanuts and McDonnell's favourite, "Krazy Kat." Each critter has a well-developed personality that draws the reader in to sympathize, understand and laugh.

The cartoonist is no newcomer to techniques of the art form. McDonnell knew he wanted to be a cartoonist by the ripe old age of four. He received much encouragement from his parents, who themselves met at art school. His mom became a teacher of fashion design and assistant superintendent of schools. His dad, knowing it would be difficult to make a solid living as an artist, became a beer salesman. The McDonnell family also included two more sons and a daughter. *(1)

Majoring in illustration at the School of Visual Arts in New York City, McDonnell graduated in 1978 with a Bachelor's degree. He immediately and boldly took his illustration portfolio to two syndicates but faced rejection by both. Instead, he found work illustrating the Russell Baker column in the New York Times Sunday Magazine. He held the post for 10 years. McDonnell's professional illustration work also appeared in Parents Magazine (the monthly Bad Baby strip), Reader's Digest, Sports Illustrated, Time and Forbes, just to name a few.

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