'Mutts' Comic Strip Frees Guard Dog from Chains in Stand Against Cruelty

Patrick McDonnell, long-time animal welfare advocate, changes narrative in popular comic strip to highlight issue of dog chaining.

Patrick McDonnell, creator of the 'Mutts' comic strip, has freed his character Guard Dog from his long-standing depiction of being chained, a symbol of the cruelty of dog chaining since 1996.
McDonnell, who has been involved in animal welfare and served on the board of the Humane Society of the United States for 18 years, decided it was time to change the narrative and show Guard Dog's freedom.
Guard Dog's liberation follows a seven-week storyline in which the dog's owner moves away, leaving him alone, prompting other characters to rally to save him.
As of 2022, 23 states and the District of Columbia have laws on dog tethering or chaining, with variations on the length of time, the weather and what type of collar can be used.
The 'Mutts' website provides resources on adoption, animal welfare groups, and how to advance anti-chaining legislation.