Supporting Cast: Shelter Stories
In case it wasn’t obvious, we here at DailyINK love animals. National Animal Shelter (And Rescue!) Appreciation Week in the US is about to wrap up, but we wanted to leave you with one more reminder that this is a great week to adopt a pet or to tell your local shelter “thank you” for all their hard work caring for the homeless animals in your neighborhood.
Brendan already wrote on Monday about how each year, Patrick McDonnell dedicates the space of MUTTS to tell “Shelter Stories,” the stories of cats, dogs, rabbits, guinea pigs, and other animals without homes, living in animal shelters everywhere.
MUTTS tells the story of Mooch and Earl (a cat and a dog, respectively), their owners, the animals and humans of their neighborhood, and the world around them. But without a doubt, some of the most moving characters in MUTTS are the “guests” who pop up during “Shelter Stories.” Since we’re focusing on felines this week, here are a few of our favorite shelter kitties from years past:
And of course, we at King Features have a few “Shelter Stories” of our own. Here are some of the lovable rescue cats we’ve adopted:
 These are Clare’s cats, Doug, Harriet, and Stella. Doug and Stella are a brother and sister who were adopted from the Geauga County Humane Society in Geauga County, Ohio. Harriet was rescued from deadly winter conditions and moved right in with Doug and Stella and their family. |
 Mike C’s cat, Kitty, was found as a stray and adopted his family! She is mostly an outdoor cat, but stays inside in the winter, where she doubles as the family alarm clock! |
 Mike M’s cats, Midnight and Ebony, are a 2 ½ year old brother-sister Bombay duo adopted from the North Shore Animal League in Long Island, New York. |
 Tea’s cats, Clarisse and Ladybug, were both adopted from the Danbury Animal Welfare Society in Danbury, Connecticut. Ladybug was found in a burned-out building with her litter of kittens. |
We’d like to give a special shout-out to Mighty Mutts in New York City, A Wing and a Prayer in Farmingdale, New York, two great rescue organizations where KFS employees and our friends work and volunteer.
If you’re interested in adopting a pet from a shelter somewhere else in the US, The Shelter Pet Project is a great place to start.
Last year, MUTTS teamed up with The Shelter Pet Project to create these adorable PSA videos about adopting a shelter animal. Check them out!
If you’ve enjoyed the “Shelter Stories” here, you can also buy Patrick’s “Shelter Stories” collection—a book with loads of stories of true-life shelter animals and the comic strips inspired by them and many others like them! You can buy it at the Humane Society online store– and know that you are supporting a good cause!