In <I>Mutts</i>, Patrick McDonnell strikes a delicate balance between lighthearted fun and responsible social commentary through the exploits of Earl the dog and Mooch the cat—now chronicled in their 16th book collection.<P>Earl and Mooch, along with supporting sidekicks Shtinky Puddin', Sourpuss, Guard Dog, and Crabby, humorously approach a range of subjects—from napping and daydreaming to summer vacations and Christmas anticipations—in addition to tackling important issues like responsible pet ownership, animal shelters, and saving our endangered species. Syndicated since 1994, <I>Mutts</i> appears in 700 newspapers in over 20 countries and receives at least one million visits each month to its official Web site, www.muttscomics.com.