Mutts creator Patrick McDonnell posted a letter right this moment speaking in regards to the conclusion of the dramatic Guard Dog storyline that had been working within the King Features syndicated cartoon since November 1, 2023 – the longest continuous story within the day by day strip’s historical past.
The Guard Dog storyline was a radical shift in tone of the day by day gag cartoon, often centered on the antics of pets Earl the Dog, Mooch the Cat, their animal friends and house owners since its 1994 debut – turning to a background character left perpetually chained in a yard for almost three many years, seeing them deserted, rescued, and renamed. It was arguably essentially the most heart-breaking interval of the comedian’s historical past – working for 43 continuous instalments, ending right this moment.
In the letter launched right this moment, McDonnell stated:
“The time was now.
“On November 1st, the Guard Dog story started working in newspapers and on Mutts.com. And, right this moment, this a part of Guard Dog’s journey involves a cheerful ending and new starting.
“I’ve been promising you (and myself) for too many years that someday he would be free, and while a few animal advocates have continued to lobby that Guard Dog still has a job to do, many more agreed it was time. Freeing Guard Dog became the longest Mutts story ever.”
He additionally added context to the character’s new identify: “Sparky”. And sure – it’s a Charles M. Schulz nod:
“For those who have wondered about Guard Dog’s new name — I wasn’t sure what Doozy would call him. Initially I thought to just keep “Guard Dog” as now he could be Doozy’s guardian. But then I considered “Sparky.” Sparky was the nickname for Charles M. Schulz, the creator of Peanuts. There would by no means have been a Mutts cartoon nor Guard Dog if not for his inspiration. So Guard Dog’s new identify is my tribute to a terrific man, cartoonist, and pal.”
Guard Dog was launched to the Mutts cartoon in November 27, 1995 however from August 23, 1996 – his thirtieth look within the strip – he started to appear eternally chained in somebody’s yard, offering an necessary animal rights message to readers and followers.
According to the Mutts web site:
“Guard Dog made his debut in the Mutts comic strip in 1995 and quickly became one of the strip’s most beloved characters. As a chained dog longing for freedom, he’s played an important role in raising awareness about the cruelty of tethering and has inspired countless Mutts readers to become involved in animal welfare.”
On the genesis of the character, McDonnell had informed the Associated Press, in a November 30 article, that he had emerged from preliminary sketches for an antagonistic character:
“I started in my sketchbooks drawing a tough dog. I drew a big gruff dog and I put a studded collar on him. And then I drew a chain. And when I did that, it changed everything. I realized that it wasn’t a villain. It was a tragic character.”
The ongoing tragedy of Guard Dog – which was as soon as once more mirrored on in an October 12 cartoon previous to the story of his eventual freedom – was one thing that McDonnell needed to treatment, he stated to the AP:
“I think it just hit me that I can’t do it forever and that it has to happen. I had a vague idea what the story was going to be, but I finally took some time and said, ‘Well, what is that story?’ And I was happy with what I came up with. So I said, ‘Now’s the time to do it.’”
The Full Letter:
The time was now.
On November 1st, the Guard Dog story started working in newspapers and on MUTTS.com. And, right this moment, this a part of Guard Dog’s journey involves a cheerful ending and new starting.
I’ve been promising you (and myself) for too a few years that sometime he could be free, and whereas just a few animal advocates have continued to foyer that Guard Dog nonetheless has a job to do, many extra agreed it was time. Freeing Guard Dog turned the longest MUTTS story ever.
Telling a story like this in a day by day cartoon is a special studying expertise. Media right this moment trains us for speedy satisfaction for our dwindling consideration spans. Telling an extended story with solely three panels each 24 hours for seven weeks provides a number of rigidity and, I’ve realized, anxiousness. I appreciated your endurance and religion.
It was emotional for me, too, in writing and drawing the story — however after I consider all of the horrors poor chained canine need to endure in actual life, I knew his story should be informed. Guard Dog is fabricated from pen and ink. There are far too many actual canine dwelling chained with far worse tales to inform.
Gretchen Wyler, actress, animal activist and founding father of The Ark Trust, famously stated: “We must not refuse to see with our eyes what they must endure with their bodies.”
I’ve been touched by all of the feedback on the MUTTS social media posts. I’ve all the time hoped readers would care about and relate to the MUTTS characters as they do their very own furry family members. It is heartening that so a lot of you’ve gotten written to say that Guard Dog (now Sparky) and Doozy impressed you to assist a chained canine, or that one in all your individual canine lived their life on the finish of a sequence till you gave them a loving, without end dwelling. May this cartoon story open extra hearts to assist chained canine.
For those that have questioned about Guard Dog’s new identify — I wasn’t positive what Doozy would name him. Initially I assumed to simply hold “Guard Dog” as now he could be Doozy’s guardian. But then I considered “Sparky.” Sparky was the nickname for Charles M. Schulz, the creator of Peanuts. There would by no means have been a MUTTS cartoon nor Guard Dog if not for his inspiration. So Guard Dog’s new identify is my tribute to a terrific man, cartoonist, and pal.
Thank you for all of your help, type phrases and love. And thanks to all of the rescuers and shelter staff — the true unsung heroes.
P.S. I’ve been getting a number of requests to show the Guard Dog story right into a e book. More on that, quickly.
Discussion about this post