December 15, 2023 • 18 mins
Maria chats with one of her favorites MUTTS Comic Strip creator Patrick McDonnell who returns to talk about the latest: If you follow MUTTS, Guard Dog (who's been tethered for years) was finally freed this week and ultimately adopted!! You can learn more at mutts.com/pages/guard-dog
Patrick is a huge animal advocate and uses MUTTS to spread the word.
You can also learn about Patrick and the books he's written; products to buy (with % going to animal rescue); how we can help chained dogs and more at mutts.com.
Patrick is a huge animal advocate and uses MUTTS to spread the word.
You can also learn about Patrick and the books he's written; products to buy (with % going to animal rescue); how we can help chained dogs and more at mutts.com.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:01):
It's Maria's MutS and Stuff. Whata great idea on iHeartRadio. Welcome to
Maria's Mutts and Stuff. And withme, I'm so very excited because he's
also a return guest, and ofcourse I'm such a big fan of his.
It is MutS Comics creator, author, animal advocate Patrick McDonald, So
(00:25):
Patrick, Hi him, happy tobe here. Oh my goodness. You
know, it's really funny. Ithought, and this is where I think
because of COVID, we lost years. I was thinking, you and I
spoke last maybe two or three yearsago, like right before COVID, and
I looked and it was kind ofweird. But December of twenty eighteen,
(00:46):
so it's been five years. Wow, time does go face. You're right
about COVID. Who knows what dayit is or what time it is.
It's true, I know, likeeverything in our lives has become like pre
COVID post COVID, but it feelslike, oh, it just happened a
couple of years ago, and itwas like, no, it was a
long time ago. But anyway,so you've been very busy all this time,
(01:07):
and Mutts Comics it's been around foralmost thirty years, but it's big
news because for those of us whofollow, and it's millions of us,
guard Dog has finally gotten untethered.Yes, something I've been promising for I'm
not even gonna say how many yearsI've been promising it, but yeah,
And actually today was the day thatDoozy officially adopts him. I saw that.
(01:33):
I saw that, so yeah.So for those who are listening,
say at a later date, todaybeing December fourteenth, So guard Dog got
adopted. So okay, So guardDog first was introduced? It was it
in nineteen ninety five? Is thatcorrect? It was about a year into
this strip. Okay, So goahead, I'm sorry, Oh, I
(01:55):
was going to say, and shehas an interesting origin. I was doing
the strip for about a year,and I thought it would be fun to
have Elimoch to have like a villainor you know, some character that gave
them a hard time that they hadto, you know, go up against.
And so I figured, well,I'll make a real tough dog in
the neighborhood. So in a catchbook, I started drawing what I thought
(02:15):
was like the generic big gruffy dog, and I put a studied collar on
him to make them look tough.And then in my schedules, I drew
the studied collar, but then Iadded a chain and boy, as soon
as I drew that, I lookedat the character and so, no,
this, this isn't a villain.This is a tragic character. And figured
I'd add him to the strip soI can get that message out there.
(02:38):
It's no way, you know allthe chain dogs that are out there that
maybe inspire someone to take the chainoff and bring their dog in. And
you have inspired people over the years. I'm sure you know. The nicest
thing about doing the strip is gettingletters from people who you know, either
got inspired to adopt a new furryfriend or bring their dog in the house
(03:01):
or Boy, I also get alot of people who said they've gone vegetarian
or vegan because of my strick.Wow. Nice, it's nice letters to
receive. Yeah, absolutely, becauseit's like your talent has changed the world.
And I'm sure you don't look atit like that, but it really
is true. You've changed people's mindsabout things. You've enlightened people, educated
(03:23):
people. I mean, I'm sureyou know people have dogs, they don't
consider them part of the family likewe do, and they just keep them
tethered outdoors, which is not thelife that a dog should have. And
I think you know with your column, you've educated that and guard Dog all
these years. So what made youdecide to finally get guard Dog off his
(03:45):
chain now rather than years ago.Well, you know, I've always thought,
I mean, I would obviously freethem someday, but also, you
know, a lot of animals I'mobviously friends link Connection and contact a lot
of animal welfare groups. You know, most of them thought that he had
that mission to do to you know, get that message out there about how
(04:10):
people treat their dogs and hopefully inspiresome people. And so you know I
kept them on the chain for thatpurpose. But you know, I just
I don't know if you know.But just this January, I had I
did a book collaboration with the DalaiLama. Yes, yes, and in
(04:30):
that book it's you know, it'sa book about the environment, but you
know, all the beings on theplanet too, and just that we need
to show more compassion and empathy.And boy, after doing that book,
I took a little time to say, well, how would I I never
really knew I was going to freebut I never thought one hundred percent how
I was going to tell that story. So after doing the Dali Lama book,
(04:51):
I said, I should think aboutcompassion for guard Dog, right,
And I started playing with the ideaand the story started coming and I said,
yeah, I'm ready. I'm readyto do this. Wow. And
and the book with the Dali Lamathat's Heart too Hard? Is that correct?
Yes? And so for people whoare listening and they want to get
(05:11):
your book, they can get itthrough your website. Yeah, dot com
sells the book. And actually ifyou get it on mus dot com,
it will be uh autographed, butit should be in the bookstores in anywhere
you could get a book. ButMu's dot com you will get an autograph
copy. Well that's very nice,and that's perfect for the holidays that people
can you know, gifted or getone for themselves, gift themselves with with
(05:34):
Heart too Hard for the holidays.So okay, so back to guard Dog.
So now I love the fact thatyou've been posting real life stories of
people who have adopted a dog whowas previously tethered. Will that continue in
your comics? Yeah? You know, uh on much uh Mu's dot com
(06:00):
guard Dog, there's a landing pagewhere you could read the whole story.
If you to catch up, youcan read it from the beginning, the
guard dog story. But to me, the best part of it is we've
been getting a lot of responses frompeople who have sent in pictures of their
own rescue chain dogs and those realstories are just so heartwarming and power Yes,
(06:21):
yeah, so as they come in, we've been posting them and they're
really beautiful. I'm hoping we canmaybe do a guard dog book, and
if we do that, I'd loveto include those real life guard dog stories
of the book. Oh, thatwould be wonderful. That would be wonderful.
And for those who aren't, theyshould follow you on Instagram, the
MutS comics on Instagram because you've beenposting the true stories on Instagram, because
(06:46):
I've been seeing it there as Ifollow you, So yeah, we post
them there too. Yeah. Butthat's a great idea, I mean,
is that? And I know youjust have a heart to heart. Will
that be the next book? Youthink? Are you thinking of another book
at this point? I know you'redoing You do a lot, you juggle
a lot of balls at the sametime. So you know, after that,
my latest book that just came out, I went from the Dalai Lama
(07:10):
to the Marvel superheroes. I actuallydid it all about the Marvel superheroes.
So I'm open to the universe.And right now I think the universe is
telling me a Carddog book. Ithink so. Right, So maybe we
could look forward to that in twentytwenty four. Knock on wood. Maybe.
Yeah. Well, well, youknow that's assuming that's that's not right
(07:31):
on my part to assume that itwould take you that short of time to
put it together, because you know, you have to write it, and
so I would say, you're goingto start working on it next year,
Yes, yes, that's it.Yeah, No, I'm going to start
working on it soon because it's it'syou know, the story's already there,
and I'll probably color it because youknow, in the newspapers it's just black
and white. So there's a littlework to do. But ninety percent if
(07:55):
it's already done, Wow, that'sincredible. It's incredible, you know.
And I didn't realize because I guessin my brain, I assume that everybody
is is on the right page.But there are only about twenty three states,
is that right that have tether laws? Yeah, only twenty three and
even though they vary on how strongthey are. So yeah, we still
(08:16):
have a lot of work to do. And on that much dot com slash
guard Dog landing page, you know, we give information of how you can
help and we connect you to youknow, there's a lot of really great
rescue groups that you know work onthese issues and have a lot of good
advice. So you could learn moreabout how you could help on that landing
(08:37):
page on What's dot com. No, that's and that's important because I know
whoever is listening right now, peoplewho listen to the podcast are huge animal
lovers, just like you are.And you know, this is a great
way because there's number. There's strengthin numbers, they say. So the
more people that I think get guidedby what they can find at mutts dot
(09:01):
com, you know, the maybewe'll get more states to pass laws.
Well, I sure hope. Soyeah, no, for sure. And
and you are also, because Iknow you do so many different things.
You're also on the board for Fundfor Animals. Yes, yes i am.
And I'm almost on the board ofthe Charles M. Schultz Museum.
(09:22):
Oh wow, museum in Santa Rosa. Wow. And what is that?
What is that? What does thatmean, what do you have to do
being on that board, Like anyboard, you know, you help steer
the direction of the museum and keepthings going. It's such a wonderful museum.
I mean, Peanuts is the reasonI became a cartoonist. Sonored beyond
(09:46):
that museum. Sure, wow,Wow, that's so cool. That's you
know, like you're just like thecoolest person. You do know that,
don't you? No, you are. I'm sure my dog, my dog
thinks so. But other than that, well, there are millions of us
who think so, because you justare the coolest person. I'm sure I
told you that the last time wesmoke five years ago, and you've just
(10:07):
gotten cooler over the years. Ifthat was possible. Oh, that's funny,
but it's true. So what elsecan we look forward to from the
life of Patrick McDonald? Well,you know, the Guardbooks story was such
a fun undertaking. I mean,it's the longest story I've ever done in
(10:30):
Mutts, and I've really been takenwith how the response. I mean,
when you look at Instagram and Facebook, the comments we've been getting. It's
funny. You know. I wastouched as a youngster wheat and Peanuts and
wanted to give some of that joyback and really touching for me to see
how many people are responding to theIt's so funny. They're just little pennanty
(10:54):
characters, but people, the dailycomic strip is such a unique art medium.
We get into people's lives and theyread them every day and they kind
of become part of your family.And it's amazing how people really care about
cartoon characters. Sure, it's alsosuch a strange way to tell a story.
You know, this much guard Dogstory lasted seven weeks. Yes,
(11:18):
yeah, and if that wasn't abook, you probably read it in ten
to fifteen minutes, right right now, that's truly yeah, because you had
to wait every day. People gotreally anxious. If we're worried about Guardo,
because you know, the length oftime that you had to deal with,
is he going to get free?Is he not? Is he going
to survive? You know, justmade it that much more tension. Yeah,
(11:41):
but I love that the comic striphas that unique ability, especially in
this day and age of short attentionspans and everyone just wants everything fast.
That's true, Yeah, that's youknow, I didn't think of it that
way. You're absolutely right. Peoplealways want the very fast response, but
seven weeks that's a long time.But people did wait and and I was
reading some of the comments. Peoplewere afraid that it was going to fall
(12:03):
through. He's not going to getadopted. I was like, oh my
god, it would never be thatway, you know that. I mean,
I loved it because it made itinteresting for them, But I was
also surprised that so many people wouldthink that I would harm right, I
know, but I don't think itwas about Yeah, it wasn't about you.
(12:24):
I think it was just where it'sa cynical nation, you know.
I think you're right. There's somuch negativity. Yes, there's everything.
Even things that are supposedly for kidsalways have such grim negative aspects to it.
I guess people just expected that anythingcould happen in this day and age.
Yes, in my head, Ididn't think about that for once.
(12:45):
Of course, not of course.And it was like, yeah, but
I don't think I had anything todo with you. I think it was
just you're right. There's always suchnegativity and always a dark side, like,
oh, guard dog's going to getuntethered and he's going to live his
life in a shelter or you know, you wouldn't do that. But I
think people are just always prepared forlike doom and Gloom or something even report
(13:07):
guard Dog. Well, you know, I think another aspect too is do
you know the comic strip for Betteror Worse? Yes? Yeah, so
you know, for Better or Worsewas done in real time. You know,
all the characters aged at some point, the dog, you know,
was getting old, and she actuallydid it, you know, a strip
(13:28):
about the dog passing away. Right. I think some people thought, well,
Jesus, that dog could die inthe comics. Maybe guard guard dogs?
Oh my good. I think Ithink that scared some people. Yes,
maybe that's the reason. I justI was just really surprised to see
those comments like, oh please,you know after seven weeks? Did you
(13:48):
did you plan for it to beseven weeks or it just so happened that
you just as you were writing it, just yeah, just as I was
writing it. It just you know, I just when I write, I
just like the story take over andsee where it goes, right, right,
It's it's organic, so wherever itgoes. It could have happened in
two weeks, but it just sohappened to go for seven weeks. Yeah.
(14:09):
When I was doing it. Ididn't think it was going to go
that long because I mean, again, it's a fairly simple story. I
mean, huh, his owners leaveand he's alone for a couple of days,
and then Juicy gets them and bringsthem to the shelter. And I
was saying, well, that's notgoing to be that long a story.
But as it turned out seven weeks. Seven weeks, yeah, yeah,
(14:30):
I know, and it was like, oh, just to I mean,
you know, I follow it too, and just to see that his owner
left him, Like, how couldyou do that? But people do do
that, you know, but ohmy goodness. You know, if you
do read the remarks on the Instagramand Facebook, you know a lot of
them are from the unsung eros ofthis planet there, you know, the
people who work at shelters. Yes, and boy, they all let the
(14:54):
readers know that this happens all thetime. Unfortunately they see it, you
know, all the time. Itdoes. Ye yeah, sounds like sounds
like a crazy villainous plot for mycomic, but unfortunately, you know,
it happens, No, it does. It's it's really very sad, very
tragic. I mean I just rememberyears ago volunteering an animal Care center and
(15:16):
people would surrender their animals, andI would always say, like, I
don't understand how people can do that. And I remember people at the shelter
saying to me, it's better thatthey surrender the animal than they just leave
it behind. And that's exactly whatyou're talking about, which how good people
do that? But people human nature, some of it is awful, you
(15:37):
know, yeah, consciousness for sure. Yeah, And well you enlightened us
on human nature in such an entertainingway, though, and to have such
a positive outcome, So it's reallyso commendable and so excellent that you did
that. You know, all theseyears with guard Dog and everybody just always
(15:58):
wished that he could become untethered,and after all these years, for him
to finally become untethered and get adopted. It's just it's just so heartwarming and
so perfect. So thank you forthat, Oh, thank thank you.
Even for me, it was rewarding, you know, whenever I drew,
like you know, if I didtalks and I would draw them for the
(16:19):
people in the audience, I wouldalways draw him free. Then I was
drew him free. So I feltlike he was kind of an actor in
MutS, sure, but just itwas really rewarding. Oh you see that
dog of mine finally can get ahome and he has a home I know,
and just in time for the holidays. It's just so perfect. So
(16:40):
do you think you're going to beout on I mean, because guard dog
is so big? Uh? Willyou do a speaking tour? Do you
think might come out of this?Wow, that's an interesting thought. I
I haven't been approached about that yet, but it's it's an interesting thought.
Maybe when the maybe when I geta guard dog book out there, maybe
when the book went a book comesout. Yeah, yeah, all right,
(17:02):
I'm just kind of thinking of thingsthat would because I would come see
you to talk about a guard dogand hear you again, so you could
say to say to your agent like, well Maria will be there and she'll
talk about it on the air.So well, this has been wonderful.
Patrick, you are just the best, and thank you for doing all the
things that you've done all these yearsand continue doing to raise awareness. You're
(17:26):
like the biggest animal advocate that weknow of, but you do it in
such a I can't even describe sucha unique way, but just such a
wonderful way. We are truly blessedto have you on this planet, and
I really do mean that so well. And likewise, I think you know
your show is very informative and reallyso pro animal that it's great and I'm
(17:51):
happy to be part of it.Well, thank you, Patrick, and
I hope to speak to you soonerthan five years. So maybe when is
that a deal with the book.If the book comes out, yes,
we'll talk then, yes. Andfor those who are listening, you can
learn more, you can get products, and a percentage goes to animal rescue,
(18:11):
you know, because that's what's inPatrick's heart, And you can find
all the information and products, especiallythis time of year for holiday gifts at
Mutts dot com. So, PatrickMcDonald, thank you so much again,
have a great holiday and thank youfor all that you do, and we'll
speak again. Thank you, takecare you too, Okay, bye bye
It's Maria's MutS and Stuff. Whata great idea on iHeartRadio. Welcome to
Maria's Mutts and Stuff. And withme, I'm so very excited because he's
also a return guest, and ofcourse I'm such a big fan of his.
It is MutS Comics creator, author, animal advocate Patrick McDonald, So
(00:25):
Patrick, Hi him, happy tobe here. Oh my goodness. You
know, it's really funny. Ithought, and this is where I think
because of COVID, we lost years. I was thinking, you and I
spoke last maybe two or three yearsago, like right before COVID, and
I looked and it was kind ofweird. But December of twenty eighteen,
(00:46):
so it's been five years. Wow, time does go face. You're right
about COVID. Who knows what dayit is or what time it is.
It's true, I know, likeeverything in our lives has become like pre
COVID post COVID, but it feelslike, oh, it just happened a
couple of years ago, and itwas like, no, it was a
long time ago. But anyway,so you've been very busy all this time,
(01:07):
and Mutts Comics it's been around foralmost thirty years, but it's big
news because for those of us whofollow, and it's millions of us,
guard Dog has finally gotten untethered.Yes, something I've been promising for I'm
not even gonna say how many yearsI've been promising it, but yeah,
And actually today was the day thatDoozy officially adopts him. I saw that.
(01:33):
I saw that, so yeah.So for those who are listening,
say at a later date, todaybeing December fourteenth, So guard Dog got
adopted. So okay, So guardDog first was introduced? It was it
in nineteen ninety five? Is thatcorrect? It was about a year into
this strip. Okay, So goahead, I'm sorry, Oh, I
(01:55):
was going to say, and shehas an interesting origin. I was doing
the strip for about a year,and I thought it would be fun to
have Elimoch to have like a villainor you know, some character that gave
them a hard time that they hadto, you know, go up against.
And so I figured, well,I'll make a real tough dog in
the neighborhood. So in a catchbook, I started drawing what I thought
(02:15):
was like the generic big gruffy dog, and I put a studied collar on
him to make them look tough.And then in my schedules, I drew
the studied collar, but then Iadded a chain and boy, as soon
as I drew that, I lookedat the character and so, no,
this, this isn't a villain.This is a tragic character. And figured
I'd add him to the strip soI can get that message out there.
(02:38):
It's no way, you know allthe chain dogs that are out there that
maybe inspire someone to take the chainoff and bring their dog in. And
you have inspired people over the years. I'm sure you know. The nicest
thing about doing the strip is gettingletters from people who you know, either
got inspired to adopt a new furryfriend or bring their dog in the house
(03:01):
or Boy, I also get alot of people who said they've gone vegetarian
or vegan because of my strick.Wow. Nice, it's nice letters to
receive. Yeah, absolutely, becauseit's like your talent has changed the world.
And I'm sure you don't look atit like that, but it really
is true. You've changed people's mindsabout things. You've enlightened people, educated
(03:23):
people. I mean, I'm sureyou know people have dogs, they don't
consider them part of the family likewe do, and they just keep them
tethered outdoors, which is not thelife that a dog should have. And
I think you know with your column, you've educated that and guard Dog all
these years. So what made youdecide to finally get guard Dog off his
(03:45):
chain now rather than years ago.Well, you know, I've always thought,
I mean, I would obviously freethem someday, but also, you
know, a lot of animals I'mobviously friends link Connection and contact a lot
of animal welfare groups. You know, most of them thought that he had
that mission to do to you know, get that message out there about how
(04:10):
people treat their dogs and hopefully inspiresome people. And so you know I
kept them on the chain for thatpurpose. But you know, I just
I don't know if you know.But just this January, I had I
did a book collaboration with the DalaiLama. Yes, yes, and in
(04:30):
that book it's you know, it'sa book about the environment, but you
know, all the beings on theplanet too, and just that we need
to show more compassion and empathy.And boy, after doing that book,
I took a little time to say, well, how would I I never
really knew I was going to freebut I never thought one hundred percent how
I was going to tell that story. So after doing the Dali Lama book,
(04:51):
I said, I should think aboutcompassion for guard Dog, right,
And I started playing with the ideaand the story started coming and I said,
yeah, I'm ready. I'm readyto do this. Wow. And
and the book with the Dali Lamathat's Heart too Hard? Is that correct?
Yes? And so for people whoare listening and they want to get
(05:11):
your book, they can get itthrough your website. Yeah, dot com
sells the book. And actually ifyou get it on mus dot com,
it will be uh autographed, butit should be in the bookstores in anywhere
you could get a book. ButMu's dot com you will get an autograph
copy. Well that's very nice,and that's perfect for the holidays that people
can you know, gifted or getone for themselves, gift themselves with with
(05:34):
Heart too Hard for the holidays.So okay, so back to guard Dog.
So now I love the fact thatyou've been posting real life stories of
people who have adopted a dog whowas previously tethered. Will that continue in
your comics? Yeah? You know, uh on much uh Mu's dot com
(06:00):
guard Dog, there's a landing pagewhere you could read the whole story.
If you to catch up, youcan read it from the beginning, the
guard dog story. But to me, the best part of it is we've
been getting a lot of responses frompeople who have sent in pictures of their
own rescue chain dogs and those realstories are just so heartwarming and power Yes,
(06:21):
yeah, so as they come in, we've been posting them and they're
really beautiful. I'm hoping we canmaybe do a guard dog book, and
if we do that, I'd loveto include those real life guard dog stories
of the book. Oh, thatwould be wonderful. That would be wonderful.
And for those who aren't, theyshould follow you on Instagram, the
MutS comics on Instagram because you've beenposting the true stories on Instagram, because
(06:46):
I've been seeing it there as Ifollow you, So yeah, we post
them there too. Yeah. Butthat's a great idea, I mean,
is that? And I know youjust have a heart to heart. Will
that be the next book? Youthink? Are you thinking of another book
at this point? I know you'redoing You do a lot, you juggle
a lot of balls at the sametime. So you know, after that,
my latest book that just came out, I went from the Dalai Lama
(07:10):
to the Marvel superheroes. I actuallydid it all about the Marvel superheroes.
So I'm open to the universe.And right now I think the universe is
telling me a Carddog book. Ithink so. Right, So maybe we
could look forward to that in twentytwenty four. Knock on wood. Maybe.
Yeah. Well, well, youknow that's assuming that's that's not right
(07:31):
on my part to assume that itwould take you that short of time to
put it together, because you know, you have to write it, and
so I would say, you're goingto start working on it next year,
Yes, yes, that's it.Yeah, No, I'm going to start
working on it soon because it's it'syou know, the story's already there,
and I'll probably color it because youknow, in the newspapers it's just black
and white. So there's a littlework to do. But ninety percent if
(07:55):
it's already done, Wow, that'sincredible. It's incredible, you know.
And I didn't realize because I guessin my brain, I assume that everybody
is is on the right page.But there are only about twenty three states,
is that right that have tether laws? Yeah, only twenty three and
even though they vary on how strongthey are. So yeah, we still
(08:16):
have a lot of work to do. And on that much dot com slash
guard Dog landing page, you know, we give information of how you can
help and we connect you to youknow, there's a lot of really great
rescue groups that you know work onthese issues and have a lot of good
advice. So you could learn moreabout how you could help on that landing
(08:37):
page on What's dot com. No, that's and that's important because I know
whoever is listening right now, peoplewho listen to the podcast are huge animal
lovers, just like you are.And you know, this is a great
way because there's number. There's strengthin numbers, they say. So the
more people that I think get guidedby what they can find at mutts dot
(09:01):
com, you know, the maybewe'll get more states to pass laws.
Well, I sure hope. Soyeah, no, for sure. And
and you are also, because Iknow you do so many different things.
You're also on the board for Fundfor Animals. Yes, yes i am.
And I'm almost on the board ofthe Charles M. Schultz Museum.
(09:22):
Oh wow, museum in Santa Rosa. Wow. And what is that?
What is that? What does thatmean, what do you have to do
being on that board, Like anyboard, you know, you help steer
the direction of the museum and keepthings going. It's such a wonderful museum.
I mean, Peanuts is the reasonI became a cartoonist. Sonored beyond
(09:46):
that museum. Sure, wow,Wow, that's so cool. That's you
know, like you're just like thecoolest person. You do know that,
don't you? No, you are. I'm sure my dog, my dog
thinks so. But other than that, well, there are millions of us
who think so, because you justare the coolest person. I'm sure I
told you that the last time wesmoke five years ago, and you've just
(10:07):
gotten cooler over the years. Ifthat was possible. Oh, that's funny,
but it's true. So what elsecan we look forward to from the
life of Patrick McDonald? Well,you know, the Guardbooks story was such
a fun undertaking. I mean,it's the longest story I've ever done in
(10:30):
Mutts, and I've really been takenwith how the response. I mean,
when you look at Instagram and Facebook, the comments we've been getting. It's
funny. You know. I wastouched as a youngster wheat and Peanuts and
wanted to give some of that joyback and really touching for me to see
how many people are responding to theIt's so funny. They're just little pennanty
(10:54):
characters, but people, the dailycomic strip is such a unique art medium.
We get into people's lives and theyread them every day and they kind
of become part of your family.And it's amazing how people really care about
cartoon characters. Sure, it's alsosuch a strange way to tell a story.
You know, this much guard Dogstory lasted seven weeks. Yes,
(11:18):
yeah, and if that wasn't abook, you probably read it in ten
to fifteen minutes, right right now, that's truly yeah, because you had
to wait every day. People gotreally anxious. If we're worried about Guardo,
because you know, the length oftime that you had to deal with,
is he going to get free?Is he not? Is he going
to survive? You know, justmade it that much more tension. Yeah,
(11:41):
but I love that the comic striphas that unique ability, especially in
this day and age of short attentionspans and everyone just wants everything fast.
That's true, Yeah, that's youknow, I didn't think of it that
way. You're absolutely right. Peoplealways want the very fast response, but
seven weeks that's a long time.But people did wait and and I was
reading some of the comments. Peoplewere afraid that it was going to fall
(12:03):
through. He's not going to getadopted. I was like, oh my
god, it would never be thatway, you know that. I mean,
I loved it because it made itinteresting for them, But I was
also surprised that so many people wouldthink that I would harm right, I
know, but I don't think itwas about Yeah, it wasn't about you.
(12:24):
I think it was just where it'sa cynical nation, you know.
I think you're right. There's somuch negativity. Yes, there's everything.
Even things that are supposedly for kidsalways have such grim negative aspects to it.
I guess people just expected that anythingcould happen in this day and age.
Yes, in my head, Ididn't think about that for once.
(12:45):
Of course, not of course.And it was like, yeah, but
I don't think I had anything todo with you. I think it was
just you're right. There's always suchnegativity and always a dark side, like,
oh, guard dog's going to getuntethered and he's going to live his
life in a shelter or you know, you wouldn't do that. But I
think people are just always prepared forlike doom and Gloom or something even report
(13:07):
guard Dog. Well, you know, I think another aspect too is do
you know the comic strip for Betteror Worse? Yes? Yeah, so
you know, for Better or Worsewas done in real time. You know,
all the characters aged at some point, the dog, you know,
was getting old, and she actuallydid it, you know, a strip
(13:28):
about the dog passing away. Right. I think some people thought, well,
Jesus, that dog could die inthe comics. Maybe guard guard dogs?
Oh my good. I think Ithink that scared some people. Yes,
maybe that's the reason. I justI was just really surprised to see
those comments like, oh please,you know after seven weeks? Did you
(13:48):
did you plan for it to beseven weeks or it just so happened that
you just as you were writing it, just yeah, just as I was
writing it. It just you know, I just when I write, I
just like the story take over andsee where it goes, right, right,
It's it's organic, so wherever itgoes. It could have happened in
two weeks, but it just sohappened to go for seven weeks. Yeah.
(14:09):
When I was doing it. Ididn't think it was going to go
that long because I mean, again, it's a fairly simple story. I
mean, huh, his owners leaveand he's alone for a couple of days,
and then Juicy gets them and bringsthem to the shelter. And I
was saying, well, that's notgoing to be that long a story.
But as it turned out seven weeks. Seven weeks, yeah, yeah,
(14:30):
I know, and it was like, oh, just to I mean,
you know, I follow it too, and just to see that his owner
left him, Like, how couldyou do that? But people do do
that, you know, but ohmy goodness. You know, if you
do read the remarks on the Instagramand Facebook, you know a lot of
them are from the unsung eros ofthis planet there, you know, the
people who work at shelters. Yes, and boy, they all let the
(14:54):
readers know that this happens all thetime. Unfortunately they see it, you
know, all the time. Itdoes. Ye yeah, sounds like sounds
like a crazy villainous plot for mycomic, but unfortunately, you know,
it happens, No, it does. It's it's really very sad, very
tragic. I mean I just rememberyears ago volunteering an animal Care center and
(15:16):
people would surrender their animals, andI would always say, like, I
don't understand how people can do that. And I remember people at the shelter
saying to me, it's better thatthey surrender the animal than they just leave
it behind. And that's exactly whatyou're talking about, which how good people
do that? But people human nature, some of it is awful, you
(15:37):
know, yeah, consciousness for sure. Yeah, And well you enlightened us
on human nature in such an entertainingway, though, and to have such
a positive outcome, So it's reallyso commendable and so excellent that you did
that. You know, all theseyears with guard Dog and everybody just always
(15:58):
wished that he could become untethered,and after all these years, for him
to finally become untethered and get adopted. It's just it's just so heartwarming and
so perfect. So thank you forthat, Oh, thank thank you.
Even for me, it was rewarding, you know, whenever I drew,
like you know, if I didtalks and I would draw them for the
(16:19):
people in the audience, I wouldalways draw him free. Then I was
drew him free. So I feltlike he was kind of an actor in
MutS, sure, but just itwas really rewarding. Oh you see that
dog of mine finally can get ahome and he has a home I know,
and just in time for the holidays. It's just so perfect. So
(16:40):
do you think you're going to beout on I mean, because guard dog
is so big? Uh? Willyou do a speaking tour? Do you
think might come out of this?Wow, that's an interesting thought. I
I haven't been approached about that yet, but it's it's an interesting thought.
Maybe when the maybe when I geta guard dog book out there, maybe
when the book went a book comesout. Yeah, yeah, all right,
(17:02):
I'm just kind of thinking of thingsthat would because I would come see
you to talk about a guard dogand hear you again, so you could
say to say to your agent like, well Maria will be there and she'll
talk about it on the air.So well, this has been wonderful.
Patrick, you are just the best, and thank you for doing all the
things that you've done all these yearsand continue doing to raise awareness. You're
(17:26):
like the biggest animal advocate that weknow of, but you do it in
such a I can't even describe sucha unique way, but just such a
wonderful way. We are truly blessedto have you on this planet, and
I really do mean that so well. And likewise, I think you know
your show is very informative and reallyso pro animal that it's great and I'm
(17:51):
happy to be part of it.Well, thank you, Patrick, and
I hope to speak to you soonerthan five years. So maybe when is
that a deal with the book.If the book comes out, yes,
we'll talk then, yes. Andfor those who are listening, you can
learn more, you can get products, and a percentage goes to animal rescue,
(18:11):
you know, because that's what's inPatrick's heart, And you can find
all the information and products, especiallythis time of year for holiday gifts at
Mutts dot com. So, PatrickMcDonald, thank you so much again,
have a great holiday and thank youfor all that you do, and we'll
speak again. Thank you, takecare you too, Okay, bye bye
Popular Podcasts
1. Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
2. Stuff You Missed in History Class
Join Holly and Tracy as they bring you the greatest and strangest Stuff You Missed In History Class in this podcast by iHeartRadio.
3. Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations.