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Concerning animals: Parting is sweet sorrow for 'Mutts' creator BY JOAN LOWELL SMITH, For the Star-Ledger ANYONE WHO loves a pet will agonize when the time comes to say that last goodbye. I'm still not sure whether the permanent parting is easier if your pet lives a long life, or worse because the treasured animal has been part of your life for so many years. "Mutts" cartoonist Patrick McDonnell isn't sure either. But he views the death of Earl, the Jack Russell terrier he and wife Karen lived with for 19 years, with a mixture of intense grief and gratitude -- gratitude that Earl was with them for so long. "We feel we were blessed," he says. "The last couple of months told us he was leaving us, but you are never fully prepared -- just a little more prepared." Sweet, perky little Earl became more than a lovable companion to the artist. He became McDonnell's inspiration for "Mutts," his cartoon strip syndicated in more than 700 newspapers, including The Star-Ledger. It took time before McDonnell allowed me to write a tribute to his beloved pal, who died in November. When I saw the cartoonist on March 8 at St. Hubert's Canine Cotillion, he gave me the okay to devote a column to Earl, which is my honor. Party animal Earl accompanied the McDonnells to previous Canine Cotillions, the last time in 2005 when he was 17. "He was still excited and stayed up the whole night," McDonnell recalls. I remember Earl's cute little white head peeking over McDonnell's shoulder during the cocktail hour as fans made a fuss over both the canine star and his owner. Before McDonnell created "Mutts," he established himself as a magazine illustrator. "Funny thing is that I always used to draw a generic white dog -- my dream dog -- when a good friend told me I was drawing a Jack Russell," he recalls, saying he and Karen decided to abandon Manhattan to find a place in Middlesex County where they could have a dog like the one he envisioned. Handpicked "I wasn't that knowledgeable about dogs back then," he admits, "so I went to a reputable breeder for Earl." Although he couldn't have asked for a more perfect dog, he says, "Today, I would adopt." (In recent years, McDonnell has worked closely with the Humane Society to promote adoptions, and spaying and neutering of pets through the Animal Friendly license plates. While you're driving around New Jersey, you may spot plates featuring Mutts characters designed by the artist. The majority of proceeds from plate sales go to the state's Animal Population Control Fund, which underwrites low-cost spay-neuter procedures for qualified applicants through participating veterinarians. Contact njmvc.gov to learn more.) Although they are not quite ready for another dog, "Karen has been spending a lot of time on Petfinder.com ... just looking," McDonnell says, with a chuckle. "Now, she's getting a little itchier, so who knows?" Will it be a different breed or another Jack Russell? (AKC now calls the breed Parson Jack Russell.) McDonnell pauses before answering. "We're really not sure, but we seem to be leaning in that direction, although another Jack Russell would have a very tough act to follow." "Earl is still alive in the strip," he says. "And he's still living in our hearts and always will. I don't think there is a day we don't talk about him. If you believed in reincarnation, it would not be a bad life to come back as a cartoonist's dog," he adds with a laugh. Dealing with grief Continuing to draw the strip has helped McDonnell with the grieving process. "When you have a daily deadline, you don't have much time to grieve," he says. "I know it's therapeutic. The first few weeks, I'll admit I focused more on cats. But when I draw, I'm thinking about Earl." What about the McDonnells' cat? How is she taking Earl's absence? Since Karen McDonnell rescued MeeMow from a parking lot 10 or 11 years ago, the cat has always known frisky Earl. "Now that Earl is gone, we think she's a little more playful and relaxed without him racing around," McDonnell admits. Losing Earl hit both McDonnells very hard. "He was our great friend and loved us both. But he chose to sleep on Karen's head for 19 years." On a card with a tender photo of Earl looking out a window, McDonnell selected a quote by the late author Agnes Sligh Turnbull of Maplewood: "Dogs' lives are too short. ... their only fault, really." Most of us can echo that with an amen! Written by Joan Lowell Smith Appeared in the The Star-Ledger on Thursday, April 03, 2008  |
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