Cartoonists that love animals and aren’t ashamed.

Last updated on January 3, 2023

I wanted to give a shoutout to two extremely talented and funny syndicated guys that work for a cause, and yet don’t get all preachy. (And note the word funny, which most certainly does not describe most syndicated strips.)  This fall, both of these guys aimed many of their cartoons in support of Proposition 2, which just passed here in California! It will affect more than 19 million animals, Farm Sanctuary says, and will most definitely “persuade” other states that it is essential to treat farm animals as living creatures.

A California initiative on the November ballot — Proposition 2, the Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act — will phase out the cramming of veal calves, breeding pigs and egg-laying hens into small cages and crates.

The Huffington Post has an interesting interview with  Patrick McDonnell, the creator of the comic strip MUTTS. (I don’t believe in reading the PuffPost regularly, when they don’t believe in paying their writers (over 2000 now), when it’s the BIGGEST BLOG in the world. (We won’t go into the fact that Arriana Huffington is a billionaire, too.)) 

MM: What inspired you to run a whole week of strips on the humane treatment of farm animals?

PM: Prop 2 is just too important to not tackle. Even though the reform will be modest, it puts a stake into the ground that the way we treat farm animals matters.

MM: Why is Prop 2 important to you, and what can your readers do to help?

PM: Because 20 million animals will be directly impacted, suffering less, if this measure passes. It will also send a clear message to the factory farm conglomerates that, once people are made aware, they will not tolerate the way most animals raised for food are treated in this country.

Patrick is also on the board of the Humane Society. Yay, Mutts!

The other cartoonist I wanted to give a bow to is Dan Piraro, of Bizarro fame.  I think I only saw one or two cartoons about farm animals recently, but he has been associated with Farm Sanctuary for a long time, and has donated a lot of work to them. Farm Sanctuary is a co-sponsor with HSUS on Prop 2. Yay for them!

Dan talks a lot about being a vegan in his blog. He also talks about his half-nekkid wife who does stunts in NYC for Peta.

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