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<v Speaker 1>It's Maria's MutS and Stuff.

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<v Speaker 2>What a great idea on iHeartRadio.

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<v Speaker 3>Welcome to Maria's Mutts and Stuff. And with me is

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<v Speaker 3>return guest because I love him and his work so much.

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<v Speaker 3>It is Patrick McDonald, the creator of Mutts. So Patrick,

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<v Speaker 3>thank you, and I have to say congratulations from the

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<v Speaker 3>get go on your thirtieth anniversary of Mutts.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, it's amazing.

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<v Speaker 3>It is amazing.

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<v Speaker 2>Sometimes it feels like I just started, and sometimes I

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<v Speaker 2>feel like I've been doing it.

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<v Speaker 3>Forever, of course, of course. But well, first of all,

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<v Speaker 3>I guess I should remind people who are listening the

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<v Speaker 3>last time you and I spoke it was the end

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<v Speaker 3>of last year, and it was after guard Dog was

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<v Speaker 3>freed and adopted. And I actually listened back to the

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<v Speaker 3>last time and we were talking about guard Dog becoming

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<v Speaker 3>a book, and you were like, yeah, it's in the works,

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<v Speaker 3>we'll see and now it's reality. So congratulations on that

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<v Speaker 3>as well, Thank.

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<v Speaker 2>You, Thank you. Actually was the quickest book I ever did,

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<v Speaker 2>and you know, the guard Dog story ended in December

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<v Speaker 2>of last year, and usually books for this year are

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<v Speaker 2>already put to bed. But I talked to my editor,

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<v Speaker 2>Charlie Katchman and asked him if we could get this

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<v Speaker 2>book out, and he said, well, if we could do

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<v Speaker 2>it in like three or four weeks, we can. So

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<v Speaker 2>that we put the book together in three to four weeks,

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<v Speaker 2>which is pretty quick to put up. Yeah, this side together.

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<v Speaker 2>But it came out great. If I say so myself.

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<v Speaker 3>It damn no, of course. Yeah, yeah, well that's that's phenomenal. Three.

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<v Speaker 3>I mean that's very like quick turnaround.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah yeah, well, you know, the story was so powerful.

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<v Speaker 2>I just wanted and then the people enjoyed it so much.

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<v Speaker 2>I wanted the book to come out as soon as possible,

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<v Speaker 2>So it came out, actually came out a day before

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<v Speaker 2>the thirtieth anniversary of months.

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<v Speaker 3>I saw that. That's it. So congratulations on both. I

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<v Speaker 3>mean that must have been like a double whammy, amazing

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<v Speaker 3>for both, you know what I mean, both days two

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<v Speaker 3>in a row like that. Was that planned to have

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<v Speaker 3>it around your anniversary or just so happy and no, you.

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<v Speaker 2>Know, actually they were shooting for it and they made it.

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<v Speaker 2>Oh nice, The book company thought it would be a

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<v Speaker 2>nice Absolutely, it's a beautiful tribute.

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<v Speaker 3>And you know, timing is nice, and you know what

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<v Speaker 3>it's it's almost like having a construction job and it

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<v Speaker 3>actually ended on time, you know what I mean, it

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<v Speaker 3>was perfect.

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<v Speaker 2>It's probably as rare, probably as rare as that.

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<v Speaker 3>Well, the book is beautiful and it's exactly as you

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<v Speaker 3>had talked about when we spoke last and and uh,

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<v Speaker 3>you put you know, it has responses from people because

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<v Speaker 3>I know and we talked about it when guard Dog

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<v Speaker 3>was freed, and you were kind of blown away from

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<v Speaker 3>all the comments from your readers. Uh that what what

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<v Speaker 3>an impact? And you know is that still happening?

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, well, you know every time, you know, it's really nice.

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<v Speaker 2>You know, whenever a new guard Book strip appears and

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<v Speaker 2>he's you know, in his new loving home with Doozy,

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<v Speaker 2>we always get we always get a great response. People

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<v Speaker 2>love seeing him now finally having a happy, healthy life.

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<v Speaker 2>And I don't blame him, you know, it's funny. You know,

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<v Speaker 2>I had him chained up for like twenty eight years,

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<v Speaker 2>which sounds crazy, but it's true, right, and mainly because

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<v Speaker 2>you know, I'm obviously friendly.

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<v Speaker 1>With a lot of animal protection groups.

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<v Speaker 2>Sure it all said he had a job to do

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<v Speaker 2>in a mission to you know, get that message out

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<v Speaker 2>there about tethered dogs. Right. But now that I finally freedom,

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<v Speaker 2>even me. I just loved drawing him free after after

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<v Speaker 2>drawing him on the chain for so long. It's so

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<v Speaker 2>nice to have him happy and with and have him

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<v Speaker 2>with his little friend Doozies.

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<v Speaker 3>Yeah. Yeah, it's so sweet. It was like such a

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<v Speaker 3>happy ending. And you know, we just and I was

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<v Speaker 3>thinking of this. We just saw with the hurricanes that

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<v Speaker 3>happened with Helene and Milton, and there was a video

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<v Speaker 3>that went viral of a dog that was tethered and

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<v Speaker 3>a please officer actually stopped on the road, and I

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<v Speaker 3>was watching the video. I don't know how many times

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<v Speaker 3>I watched it. I don't know how the cop even

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<v Speaker 3>saw that dog. But it was again someone who left

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<v Speaker 3>behind their dog tethered to the fence in a hurricane.

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<v Speaker 2>You know, it's it's it's unbelievable, you know that. You know,

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<v Speaker 2>I did this story, and it sounds, I'm sure for

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<v Speaker 2>some people have sounded kind of cruel and fictional, but

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<v Speaker 2>it's just so sad how it's not that uncommon. I

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<v Speaker 2>know dogs are left like that.

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<v Speaker 3>Yeah, I don't understand it. I mean, I I I know,

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<v Speaker 3>I can't even say I understand that. I don't like

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<v Speaker 3>especially if you're leaving enough. Yeah, I mean I can.

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<v Speaker 3>I can't wrap my head around it. Like if you're

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<v Speaker 3>leaving your home because your house is going to be flooded,

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<v Speaker 3>but I'm going to leave my dog chained because he'll survive.

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<v Speaker 3>I don't know how people think. I don't. I don't.

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<v Speaker 3>It's very frustrating. But I guess for all the others

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<v Speaker 3>who were educated through guard Dog and Mutts, I guess

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<v Speaker 3>we need to be grateful and we are grateful for

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<v Speaker 3>those people who you educated all these years.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, it's I hope the message. God, I felt like, boy,

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<v Speaker 2>even if just one person sure inspired and unchained their dog,

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<v Speaker 2>that it was worth it.

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<v Speaker 3>I think so. I think people learned from it. I

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<v Speaker 3>definitely do. I didn't see it anywhere. But are you

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<v Speaker 3>doing a book tour or thinking of it?

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<v Speaker 2>You know I've done. I've done a few places. Actually

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<v Speaker 2>I just did near a comic con.

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<v Speaker 3>Oh okay, oh fun, I.

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<v Speaker 2>Tell you it was. It was extra fun. Actually, Matt

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<v Speaker 2>Groening of The Simpsons interviewed me at comic con.

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<v Speaker 3>Oh what I realize. Oh that's awesome, that's great.

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<v Speaker 2>It was. It was awesome. We did get to talk

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<v Speaker 2>about the book and well, no, It's also interesting with

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<v Speaker 2>the book, so many people wrote it's amazing how many

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<v Speaker 2>people have chained dogs as pets now, And it's just

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<v Speaker 2>such a tribute to dogs, how you know, you know,

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<v Speaker 2>like one human could treat them so horridly and then

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<v Speaker 2>they could, you know, forgive that and be so loving

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<v Speaker 2>and gentle off their new guardians. Just a tribute to

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<v Speaker 2>the heart of dogs.

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<v Speaker 3>That's true. It's true. I mean people should be as

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<v Speaker 3>forgiving as dogs are. I'm always fascinated and amazed by that,

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<v Speaker 3>because they really are. It's true. And you always hear

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<v Speaker 3>these stories, and you know, you see stories all the

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<v Speaker 3>time of dogs that go through so many hardship, you know,

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<v Speaker 3>ones that are forced to be fighting dogs, and then

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<v Speaker 3>they become you know, just companions and just want to

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<v Speaker 3>be loved and just you know, sit on the couch

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<v Speaker 3>and watch TV with you. I mean, it's just I

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<v Speaker 3>just I love dogs so much because of that.

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<v Speaker 2>You know, in the book, it's not only the you know,

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<v Speaker 2>the story that appeared in the newspapers for seven weeks

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<v Speaker 2>and it's newly I newly colored it, but also in

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<v Speaker 2>a book we have at the back of the book,

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<v Speaker 2>we have some true life stories with photographs of you know,

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<v Speaker 2>readers who wrote about their.

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<v Speaker 1>Own dogs that were chained dogs.

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<v Speaker 2>So, and there's also a thirty page introduction where I

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<v Speaker 2>kind of give the history of a guard dog in

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<v Speaker 2>the strip.

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<v Speaker 3>Yes, And were there any because I know, I'm sure

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<v Speaker 3>you had so many stories, because I know you had

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<v Speaker 3>said that too in the past, that so many people

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<v Speaker 3>were reaching out about their own guard dog or a

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<v Speaker 3>dog that was a guard dog. Is there anyone in

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<v Speaker 3>particular that's in your book that stood out a little

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<v Speaker 3>bit more than others.

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<v Speaker 2>Or maybe not? I think, Yeah, I was gonna say,

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<v Speaker 2>I think they were all powerful. You know. It's funny.

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<v Speaker 2>My editor every year goes visits, spends the fourth of

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<v Speaker 2>July with a friend upstate New York. And these people

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<v Speaker 2>have two dogs, and the dogs love my editor and

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<v Speaker 2>he's known.

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<v Speaker 1>Them for like ten years.

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<v Speaker 2>And it wasn't until the book came out that he

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<v Speaker 2>found out these two dogs he's known his whole life

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<v Speaker 2>were used to be chained. His friends never told him

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<v Speaker 2>that story.

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<v Speaker 3>Wow.

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<v Speaker 2>So it's again just how many. It's amazing how many

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<v Speaker 2>dogs you know, through shelters found new homes.

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<v Speaker 3>Sure, yeah, I'm just scratched. I scratched my head over it,

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<v Speaker 3>like I just I don't know. I mean, I think

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<v Speaker 3>it's come a long way, but I think we need

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<v Speaker 3>to come a little bit longer, you know, because people

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<v Speaker 3>are still doing it. But we have made progress over

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<v Speaker 3>the years. So I guess we should be grateful for that.

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<v Speaker 3>And thanks to you, you know, with guard Dog who

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<v Speaker 3>who you know, trained many people and taught many people like, yeah,

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<v Speaker 3>it's not a good thing to do.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, you know, it's true. I'm optimistic. I mean, you know,

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<v Speaker 2>there's still long ways to go, but in so many

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<v Speaker 2>animal issues. I feel like there's been so many, you know,

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<v Speaker 2>in the last in my lifetime just seeing them, so many.

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<v Speaker 3>Changes, you know, Oh definitely, yeah, me too.

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<v Speaker 2>No, Yeah, so I get I get optimistic to see

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<v Speaker 2>that there has been changes, and I think I think

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<v Speaker 2>the younger generation, more and more kids are just coming

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<v Speaker 2>into us and realizing that animals, you know, deserve better lives.

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<v Speaker 3>Yeah, I agree, I definitely agree with that. And I

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<v Speaker 3>think and I think it goes across the whole the

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<v Speaker 3>whole span of of like animal welfare. I mean, think

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<v Speaker 3>about being a vegan or a vegetarian twenty years ago,

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<v Speaker 3>and it was like, oh, you can eat a potato,

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<v Speaker 3>you know, and now and now it's very very different,

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<v Speaker 3>and there are so many younger people I know who

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<v Speaker 3>are vegans, are vegetarians and before I mean I remember

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<v Speaker 3>when I first went people, and this is a long

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<v Speaker 3>time ago, and people looked at me like I had

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<v Speaker 3>three heads, like wait, do we eat chicken? And I'm like, no,

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<v Speaker 3>be you.

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<v Speaker 2>Know, so yeah, no, my wife and I've been being

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<v Speaker 2>for a.

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<v Speaker 3>Real long time.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, and You're right, it's so much easier now and

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<v Speaker 2>every you know, it's it's amazing. I mean, we were

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<v Speaker 2>in Europe two years ago and I was thinking, well,

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<v Speaker 2>maybe it's not going to be you know, we're not

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<v Speaker 2>going to be able to have that many vegan meals,

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<v Speaker 2>but every restaurant we went to had vegan venues.

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<v Speaker 3>So that's amazing.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah.

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<v Speaker 3>How times have changed, thankfully, But yeah, it was very

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<v Speaker 3>very different. And I think the fact, like you said,

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<v Speaker 3>with younger people, I think that is actually that's helped us,

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<v Speaker 3>you know, because yeah, no, it's true. Yeah.

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<v Speaker 2>Even at my book signings that I'm talking like twenty

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<v Speaker 2>years ago, you know, so many times I'd have parents

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<v Speaker 2>with really young children come up, and the parents weren't vegan.

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<v Speaker 2>But they're saying the kids want to be vegan, and

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<v Speaker 2>they're raising their kids vegan. So I think kids come

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<v Speaker 2>into this world, you know, loving animals, and I think

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<v Speaker 2>now this this younger generation is actually doing something about it.

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<v Speaker 3>Yeah. I think so too, because I've heard the same

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<v Speaker 3>thing with parents aren't but their kids are, and I'm like, yeah,

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<v Speaker 3>you know, so yay future generations.

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<v Speaker 2>You know.

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<v Speaker 3>So I noticed on your website, of course, because it

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<v Speaker 3>is your thirtieth anniversary, and I love that you did

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<v Speaker 3>kind of the history of year by year from when

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<v Speaker 3>you first started, so over thirty years September fifth to

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<v Speaker 3>nineteen ninety four, from nineteen ninety four till now twenty

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<v Speaker 3>twenty four. And I know, like the vegan was something

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<v Speaker 3>that you introduced. I saw you many years ago. How

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<v Speaker 3>of things, I'm sure I know things have changed. Do

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<v Speaker 3>you feel like things changed drastically in like the later

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<v Speaker 3>part of the thirty years or at the beginning or

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<v Speaker 3>maybe evenly throughout?

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<v Speaker 2>You know, it was a slow evolution for me, you

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<v Speaker 2>know when I started. One of my first goals when

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<v Speaker 2>I started was that I really did want to keep

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<v Speaker 2>Earl and Mooch.

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<v Speaker 1>In the animals in the comic very animal like.

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<v Speaker 2>You know, there's a lot you know, like Donald Duck

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<v Speaker 2>and Mickey Mouse, which who are animals, but they don't actually.

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<v Speaker 3>Get right exactly right.

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<v Speaker 2>I think, you know, the strip was inspired by my

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<v Speaker 2>own dog Girl and I and as well pet owners

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<v Speaker 2>know your dogs and cats have personalities, they're funny. They

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<v Speaker 2>don't need to be human to.

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<v Speaker 3>Be funding right, right exactly.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah. So you know, my goal in the beginning was

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<v Speaker 2>to try to see the world through their eyes and

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<v Speaker 2>you know, keep them as as animal like as possible.

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<v Speaker 2>Of course they talk, but you know, they keep them

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<v Speaker 2>animal alike. And I think once I started going that route,

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<v Speaker 2>you know, trying to see the world through animal eyes,

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<v Speaker 2>you know, I started realizing how tough it is for

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<v Speaker 2>quite a few animals on this planet, sure particularly I

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<v Speaker 2>started out with dogs and cats and shelters and thinking

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<v Speaker 2>how could I get that in the strip. So I

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<v Speaker 2>slowly started adding those shelter story you know, I do

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<v Speaker 2>two weeks of about animals and shelters, and then it

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<v Speaker 2>just started, you know, as my consciousness grew the strip

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<v Speaker 2>right through. And then I was also asked to join

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<v Speaker 2>the Humane to be on the board of the Humane

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<v Speaker 2>society the United States, and then I started learning really

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<v Speaker 2>out at have it tough on this planet. So I

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<v Speaker 2>kind of brought in this the strip to touch on

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<v Speaker 2>more animal issues and I try to be entertaining about it, but.

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<v Speaker 3>And you are you are.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, So it definitely became a part of the strip

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<v Speaker 2>and I'm really happy about that and people and people

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<v Speaker 2>respond to it, and you know, you know, it's nice.

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<v Speaker 2>A comic strip's so interesting way to make art. You know,

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<v Speaker 2>for the readers, you sort of become family. You know.

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<v Speaker 2>It's like I know for me with Peanuts as a kid.

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<v Speaker 2>I mean, you know, you live with them every day.

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<v Speaker 2>Sure you get it, you know, so uh, you know,

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<v Speaker 2>if you do it correctly, you really could bring issues

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<v Speaker 2>to the table and not feel like you're preaching, but

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<v Speaker 2>just sort of like a family talking about something.

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<v Speaker 3>So yeah, no, and that's yeah, no, you have. You've

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<v Speaker 3>been very successful with that, and you know you need

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<v Speaker 3>to know that because you're right, you don't you I

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<v Speaker 3>feel like you've opened people's eyes to so many different

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<v Speaker 3>animal welfare issues without shoving it down their throats because

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<v Speaker 3>you know, you know how people are, Oh, don't tell

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<v Speaker 3>me what to do, but you've done it in a

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<v Speaker 3>very like diplomatic entertaining way. Oh thanks, I tried, No

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<v Speaker 3>you did, you succeeded. I think Patrick, you definitely have.

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<v Speaker 3>So you should really feel good about that because I

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<v Speaker 3>think you've definitely taught many, many, many people about animal

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<v Speaker 3>welfare issues that maybe, you know, maybe they had heard

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<v Speaker 3>about it or they were a little bit aware, but

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<v Speaker 3>the fact that they saw it in their favorite comic

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<v Speaker 3>strip kind of told to them in an entertaining way.

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<v Speaker 3>I don't know. I think that definitely was a brilliant

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<v Speaker 3>way of getting to people. Oh thanks, yeah, yeah, So

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<v Speaker 3>I know you're just that's what I love about You're

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<v Speaker 3>just so humble. Thanks. Oh my goodness. So all right,

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<v Speaker 3>Well I don't want to ask what's next, because there's

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<v Speaker 3>a lot for you with guard Dog and the book

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<v Speaker 3>and everything. But I know you're always working on something

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<v Speaker 3>besides the comic strip. What's on the horizon for you? Right,

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<v Speaker 3>because I've got I've grown to know you talking to you,

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<v Speaker 3>and you know, I'm a big fan of yours. Uh, so, yes,

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<v Speaker 3>you're you always have something in the plans and the making.

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<v Speaker 2>And well I'll tell you two projects, okay, One is

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<v Speaker 2>you know the thirtieth anniversary of Much this year. Next

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<v Speaker 2>year is the twentieth anniversary of my first picture book

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<v Speaker 2>for children, and it's a Much book. It was called

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<v Speaker 2>The Gift of Nothing, and so there's going to be

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<v Speaker 2>a twentieth anniversary edition of the Gift of Nothing next year,

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<v Speaker 2>and also with it, there's going to be a new

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<v Speaker 2>companion book called The Gift of Everything that also starts

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<v Speaker 2>ear Stars are all of Moot. So there will be

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<v Speaker 2>two new picture books out for next fall. And then

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<v Speaker 2>you know, I we probably didn't talk about this, but

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<v Speaker 2>last year I did a book with the Marvel Superheroes.

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<v Speaker 3>I think we just briefly touched on that. I think, yeah, which.

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<v Speaker 2>Was a lot of fun. And part of that book

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<v Speaker 2>is I started doing these big, kind of abstract paintings,

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<v Speaker 2>but including the superheroes. So I'm having painting show in Princeton,

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<v Speaker 2>New Jersey. It's at the Art Council of Princeton and

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<v Speaker 2>it starts November ninth, goes to December seventh, New Jersey.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah I should mention this. How could I forget? Yeah,

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<v Speaker 2>it's the gallery. The top floor is going to be

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<v Speaker 2>these huge paintings, but the bottom floor is going to

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<v Speaker 2>be a Prince hand colored prints.

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<v Speaker 1>From the guard Dog series.

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<v Speaker 2>Oh wow, if you're a guard Dog fan, you could

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<v Speaker 2>see these and purchase these these hand colored prints. And

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<v Speaker 2>each print has a drawing a guard dog on it,

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<v Speaker 2>so an original trying. Oh that's amazing. Yeah.

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<v Speaker 3>So okay, so it's November ninth through December seventh. And

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<v Speaker 3>tell me again the name of the gallery in Princeton.

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<v Speaker 2>It's called the Arts Council of Princeton on Witherspoon Street.

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<v Speaker 3>Okay, all right, So well that's a project that's happening

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<v Speaker 3>right now. That's pretty big. And the next fall will

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<v Speaker 3>be the two picture books. And I just think there

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<v Speaker 3>has to be something else going on with you. I

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<v Speaker 3>just know.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, Well, the painting's keeping me busy. Yeah, I have

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<v Speaker 2>a few ideas it's next. But okay, I'm just I'm

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<v Speaker 2>just literally finishing these two picture books. I just finished

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<v Speaker 2>the covers this week, so now it's time for me

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<v Speaker 2>to think what the next project's going to be.

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<v Speaker 3>Yeah, yeah, I smell something by the end of the year,

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<v Speaker 3>just because that's how you are, because that's you know,

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<v Speaker 3>that's it's like, it's what geniuses do. You can't just

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<v Speaker 3>stop doing what you do. So but you are. Your

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<v Speaker 3>plate is very full and I love it. And for

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<v Speaker 3>listeners who want to get the guard Dog Book and

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<v Speaker 3>see everything else, go through your thirtieth anniversary. You can

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<v Speaker 3>get all that information at MutS dot com. It's very

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<v Speaker 3>interesting to follow each year at mutts dot com if

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<v Speaker 3>you just read it the homepage and go to the

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<v Speaker 3>thirtieth anniversary. And of course there's so many beautiful products

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<v Speaker 3>of all of your work at MutS dot com. And

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<v Speaker 3>you always are so generous and give portion to animal

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<v Speaker 3>rescue groups, which is really amendable.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, that's the important.

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<v Speaker 3>Part, it is, and you know, keep doing what you do. Trick.

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<v Speaker 3>We like I've always said this to you, but I

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<v Speaker 3>really truly mean we do need more people in the

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<v Speaker 3>world like you, Patrick McDonald for all you do in

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<v Speaker 3>your big heart and teaching us all just how to

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<v Speaker 3>be better people. And thank you for that.

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<v Speaker 2>Well, thank you for all you do too.

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<v Speaker 3>Likewise, well mine's a really small portion, so and I

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<v Speaker 3>get to talk to you, so that's great, So thanks

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<v Speaker 3>so much.

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<v Speaker 2>Okay, take care