Earl, Mooch, Shtinky Puddin'...If these names sound familiar, you're probably a fan of Mutts, Patrick McDonnell's famous comic strip. This year, we've been lucky enough to feature Mutts in KIND News.

That's how we heard about Julia W., a sixth-grader from New York City. Julia's not just a Mutts fan—she's also the youth correspondent for www.muttscomics.com.

The Write Stuff
Julia got her start when she and her parents had dinner with Patrick McDonnell. "We talked about our interest in wildlife and how Mutts could help tigers in India. Patrick asked me if I would write about animal issues for the Web site," she tells us. "Of course, I said yes!"

Julia has penned two articles about her travels in India, where she and her mom have worked to help endangered tigers. She's also written about pets affected by Hurricane Katrina and the bear hunt in New Jersey. "People should be learning how to live peacefully with animals such as bears and mountain lions—not hunting them!"

So how does she decide what to cover? "I write about topics that interest me," Julia says. "The issue that worries me the most is the wild tiger. Lots of people don't even know tigers are endangered! Making people aware of the problem is a big step toward saving these beautiful animals."

Well put, Julia. We think Shtinky and the rest of the Mutts gang would agree!

Read our entire interview with Julia to learn more!