Pearls Before Swine by Stephan Pastis for April 17, 2024

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    BE THIS GUY  7 months ago

    It also hurts a lot when a cat dies.

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    BasilBruce  7 months ago

    There is, however, the matter of having to use a pooper-scooper.

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    ronaldspence  7 months ago

    lots of lumps in throats today…

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    enigmamz  7 months ago

    Agreed.

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    comic4matt  7 months ago

    Better not check out today’s ‘’For better or for worse’’, Pig…

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    carlsonbob  7 months ago

    Yes, it’s worth it. The 12-14 years they give us is worth it.

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    Blackthorne42  7 months ago

    So so worth it <3

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    TampaFanatic1  7 months ago

    Indeed Pig, there is nothing like the unconditional love of a pet whether it be cat, dog, horse, etc. The pain when one of our cherished pets goes to “the happy hunting ground” royally sucks but Pig is correct in that the advantages and benefits far outweigh the drawbacks. Great strip today pastis!

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    jonnytest  7 months ago

    After 70 years, I’ve had to say goodbye to far too many dogs. No more. Can’t take it anymore.

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    iggyman  7 months ago

    I have lost so many over the years and miss them all, they all get into your heart.

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    orinoco womble  7 months ago

    “Do as you want, it’s your own affair—but you’ve given your heart to a dog to tear.” Rudyard Kipling, The Power of the Dog

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    markkahler52  7 months ago

    It IS worth it!

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    Procat Premium Member 7 months ago

    They will be waiting for you at the Rainbow Bridge.

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    smoore47  7 months ago

    To make the pandemic even worse, my dog died in 2020. I literally cried daily for at least a month and vowed not to get another one. My sisters convinced me that recues were need and that I should do it again. I did, and he and I are doing well.

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    Ellis97  7 months ago

    Well dogs do have only 12-13 years. You can’t stop nature from taking its course, so enjoy your furry friend while you can. Also, don’t pigs have 15-20 years? And don’t rats have 4-5 years?

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    ccnrob  7 months ago

    Very true.

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    jbmlaw01  7 months ago

    We once lost three (of our four) dogs in a 6-week period. True comic.

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    Darkknight55  7 months ago

    Correct on all accounts.

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    Ken Gagne Premium Member 7 months ago

    It’s almost like Pig is reading a certain other long-running comic this week. (avoiding spoilers)

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    Hoosier Guy  7 months ago

    Another minus: they don’t live very long. :-(

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    zodismoon  7 months ago

    We breed toy poodles and I’ve grown attached to a few of them. The longest ours have lived is 15 or 16 years. My oldest now is 14.

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    mholding  7 months ago

    the hardest part of having pets is when they go……

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    ajr58(1)  7 months ago

    WTF is grogu’s problem?

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    Croc Holliday  7 months ago

    The pain subsides over time, and is worth the many years of unconditional love and joy dogs bring into our lives.

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    gpantzer  7 months ago

    I read For Better or For Worse first this morning where the family’s older dog Farley dies after saving the life of the youngest daughter. A comment there mentioned that maybe this strip was meant as a nod to Farley’ death.

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    colddonkey  7 months ago

    and we never forget. . . . . . .

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    sllynch  7 months ago

    Truth.

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    mikeszeller Premium Member 7 months ago

    Interesting timing on this strip considering what the reruns over in For Better or Worse are this week.

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    Znox11  7 months ago

    This strip made me want to go home and hug my dogs.

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    omegasupreme  7 months ago

    I had to watch my pet turtle run away…it took him two wweks but he did it

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    Goat from PBS  7 months ago

    It really is worth it, Pig. I love dogs.

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    Charles & Susan  Premium Member 7 months ago

    Our #milliepuplet will be 10 next month it goes by so fast! You are so right Pig :)

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    Out of the Past  7 months ago

    Not what I was expecting in the comics today. I thought of every dog I ever had. It was almost more than I could stand.

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    Mbwebwe  7 months ago

    Having lost both, I can say losing a child is more heart-ripping than one of our furry companions. But I miss them all.

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    VICTOR PROULX  7 months ago

    As a kid, I though the loss of a pet did not hurt adults as bad as kids. I have since fund this not to be true.

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    ladykat  7 months ago

    Yes, it’s worth it, despite the pain.

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    nojledew01 Premium Member 7 months ago

    This one got me right in the feels. Love it.

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    Bruce1253  7 months ago

    This is the week over on “For Better or For Worse” where Farley dies after rescuing April.

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    old_geek  7 months ago

    Surrounded by dog people. Love the dogs. Hate the poop stench..

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    Queen of America  7 months ago

    Or any pet.

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    Burbank  7 months ago

    I’ve had four dogs during my life, and my westie is now 18 1/2. Overall I don’t think they are worth it, and I hope we don’t get any more.

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    Dapperdan61  Premium Member 7 months ago

    So true. Our 4 legged friends can be more loving than some people

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    harf59  7 months ago

    Amen

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    delennwen  7 months ago

    What does a Pig (and a rat) know about keeping a dog as a pet? Also, pig, you have the same lifespan as an average dog so it’s unlikely you’d have to deal with its death.

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    Purple People Eater  7 months ago

    On the minus side, dogs shed. If you get a dog (or a cat) nothing in your home will ever be truly clean again.

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    MaryBethJavorek1  7 months ago

    I really feel that God gives them a shorter life span so we can have so many in our life span. Our pets are our family too!

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    nostall  7 months ago

    No kidding.

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    jlsnell327  7 months ago

    It is worth it.

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    hooglah  7 months ago

    A truer statement has never been made.

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    Tetonbil  7 months ago

    It is worth it, EVERY GD time! And I will do it again until I can do so no longer. I love my dog! And all the ones who came before. I am a lucky man.

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    Binky  7 months ago

    (☞ ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)☞ I love my dogs and miss them terribly. They will die for you. Losing them is a whole different kind of pain. ♥

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    elgrecousa Premium Member 7 months ago

    Folks, let’s not lose track of what’s going on here; we’re talking about our pets.

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    T Smith  7 months ago

    Love the inconsistency of a strip with anthropomorphized rats, pigs, goats, zebras and alligators, but dogs are pets.

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    J_D_H  7 months ago

    I cried at work over this. It is incredibly true.

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    AZPhinFan  7 months ago

    Good one Stephen!

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    Maswartz  7 months ago

    We just put our 10 year old dog down yesterday…

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    BamCat  7 months ago

    “Dogs’ lives are too short. Their only fault, really.”

    ― Agnes Sligh Turnbull

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    Solaricious Premium Member 7 months ago

    Curse you, Pastis! Every few months you sneak in a strip that hits us right in the feels!! (thank you)

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    KEA  7 months ago

    they also drool, stink, knock stuff over, demand attention, cost a fortune to keep healthy… … …

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    zeexenon  7 months ago

    No, they start with a forearm … there’s easily accessible TWO bones in there.

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    John Jorgensen  7 months ago

    Like reading For Better or For Worse hasn’t been hard enough on its own!

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    ggoskie  7 months ago

    I believe it’s worth it, too. My husband disagrees.

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    Moore 1  7 months ago

    Yes, gone down that road twice and am now on the third one. The more I get to know people the more I love my dog.

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    justanudderpeeon  7 months ago

    My family always treat our pets as family. We have a bookshelf populated with the ashes of over 30 years of family pets, all but one were rescues. All were loved and cherished.

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    Robert Wilson Premium Member 7 months ago

    My sister lives on a rural road. They had to put their basset hound down three weeks ago. Last week, they found a miserable mutt wrapped in a cold wet blanket in the roadside ditch by their house. I hope that there is a special place reserved for people who abandon their dogs.

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    Lablubber   7 months ago

    Letting a dog into your life carries an implied consent to having your heart broken.

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    rgrosenberg  7 months ago

    Agreed !!!

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    Nobody_Important  7 months ago

    This could be any pet!

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    Flatworm  7 months ago

    Interesting that this strip is running on the same day that GoComics is running the rerun of Lynn Johnston’s “For Better or for Worse” strip in which their good old English Sheepdog “Farley” dies from exhaustion after saving their youngest daughter from drowning.

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    AtariDragon  7 months ago

    I hate it when a pet dies, but there are other deaths I hate much more.

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    mousefumanchu Premium Member 7 months ago

    Either one, they take a piece of your heart with them. You swear never again, but you will do it again and make a fur baby very happy.

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    Eric S   7 months ago

    Was this timed for the current For Better Or For Worse story?

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    brick10  7 months ago

    True…..

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    jbruins84341  7 months ago

    Interesting that this strip coincides with Farley the dog’s death on For Better or for Worse. He died a hero.

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    agmcauley Premium Member 7 months ago

    Our sheltie died on January 3 of this year. This comic reminds me of her and Tennyson’s comment that it’s “better to have loved and lost than never loved at all.” Thank-you Stephan for this strip and all your amazing others.

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    sisterea  7 months ago

    I have lost so many cats during my life, some I have held as they were put down, some I have found dead and some have died in my arms. Each time it is heart crushing and each time I know I would not have traded the time we had for anything. My sweet Osiris died at 22, she had been with us for 20 years, I was not there because I was with my father who was having surgery but my husband was with her.

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    Brent Rosenthal Premium Member 7 months ago

    This is so true!

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    eddi-TBH  7 months ago

    I know more than one person who lost a pet and still can’t bear the idea of doing it again.

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    pheets  7 months ago

    Hurts large when we lose any one we love… and have been loved by… and yes, it IS worth it.

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    Moonkey Premium Member 7 months ago

    My beagle and I spent today in our local hospital doing dog therapy. She’s certified. I cannot imagine life without a dog, and I fully intend to find another when it’s time (I am only allowed one dog where I live) and train her to be another therapy dog. They have so much love to give, and my dog just makes people so happy that it makes me happy too. She will be 14 in September and is barely slowing down. We walk about 5 miles a day.

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    French Persons Premium Member 7 months ago

    Paying homage to Farley over at FBoFW…

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    Aladar30 Premium Member 7 months ago

    Just today, this… well played Mr Stephan. Really a great play. Farley, and his siblings, will always be in our heart.

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    MissyTiger  7 months ago

    Oof. Rough timing for me. Tomorrow, I have to go to the vet to bring home my Elvis’ ashes.

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    pamela welch Premium Member 7 months ago

    Every time for every pet, Stephan :-( Then we go back and do it again ♥

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    tvstevie  7 months ago

    “That’s the great thing about dogs: They don’t live too long and you can get another one.”—-George Carlin

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    Steve Peterson Premium Member 7 months ago

    I had to

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