Pearls Before Swine by Stephan Pastis for April 17, 2024

It also hurts a lot when a cat dies.

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

lots of lumps in throats today…

Agreed.

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

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

So so worth it <3

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!

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

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

“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

It IS worth it!

They will be waiting for you at the Rainbow Bridge.

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.

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?

Very true.

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

Correct on all accounts.

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

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

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.

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

WTF is grogu’s problem?

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

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.

and we never forget. . . . . . .

Truth.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

Yes, it’s worth it, despite the pain.

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

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

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

Or any pet.

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.

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

Amen

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.

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

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!

No kidding.

It is worth it.

A truer statement has never been made.

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.

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

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

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

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

Good one Stephen!

We just put our 10 year old dog down yesterday…

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

― Agnes Sligh Turnbull

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

Agreed !!!

This could be any pet!

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.

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

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.

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

True…..

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

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.

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.

This is so true!

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

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

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.

Paying homage to Farley over at FBoFW…

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

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

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

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

I had to