Dogs have long held a unique and cherished place in human society, capable of making us laugh, surprising us with their unpredictable antics, and occasionally outsmarting their human companions. In his brand-new collection, My Support Dog Ate My Comfort Food: A Collection of Canine Comics, celebrated and award-winning cartoonist Dave Coverly pays tribute to these irresistible quirks and distinct personalities. Through a series of sharp, affectionate, and deeply relatable cartoons, Coverly captures the essence of life with dogs in a way that will instantly resonate with anyone who has ever shared their home with a canine companion.
Best known for his widely syndicated and acclaimed comic strip Speed Bump, Coverly recently sat down to discuss the creative forces behind his latest work. During the conversation, he reflected on the rescued dogs who have inspired his art over the years, the profound connection between humor and empathy, and what our four-legged friends might demand if they ever decided to organize a labor union.
For Coverly, finding inspiration in the animal kingdom is rarely a challenge. When asked if he has ever met an animal that instantly felt like a cartoon character waiting to happen, his response was immediate and lighthearted.
"Ha! Yes, literally, and I say this with nothing but love and affection, every single dog I’ve ever met," Coverly said. "They can be so genuinely derpy and derpily genuine, so open to fun, and so completely unselfconscious that they practically write jokes for me."
To illustrate his point, Coverly highlighted two unforgettable rescue dogs from his personal life who left a lasting impression. The first was Shag, a dog his grandfather discovered roaming the streets of Detroit. Shag possessed the classic, hard-knock demeanor of a quintessential street dog, so much so that it was easy to imagine him casually taking a puff from a cigarette in a dimly lit alley, holding a bottle of fermented gravy in one paw and a pair of dice in the other. Despite being provided with a cozy dog bed made of hay in the garage, Shag had a peculiar morning habit that tested the patience of Coverly’s father: he consistently chose to sleep directly on top of the family car.
The second canine muse was Dandy, a tiny black Chihuahua mix who belonged to Coverly’s sister. Despite her diminutive stature, Dandy possessed an astonishing appetite and an adventurous spirit that knew no bounds. She would literally eat anything. On one memorable occasion while Coverly was dog-sitting, Dandy managed to slip under the backyard fence and bolted like a miniature cannonball. Because the property was situated right next to a golf course, the pursuit turned into a surreal, cartoon-like spectacle. All the family could see was a tiny black dot cresting one fairway hill, disappearing into the valley, and then reappearing atop a distant hill. Panic-stricken, they chased the runaway dog across the links and finally captured her only by resorting to an irresistible trap: a package of Pop-Tarts.
Beyond generating laughter, Coverly believes that humor serves a vital purpose in shaping how humans view the natural world. When asked if humor helps cultivate empathy for all animals in ways that dry facts and statistics sometimes fail to achieve, the cartoonist emphasized the unique speed and accessibility of a good joke.
"Thanks, and yes, I absolutely think humor is a way in to empathy," Coverly explained. "In the case of cartoons, I think it’s not only the humor that creates a connection between people and other animals, it’s the speed of the humor. Facts and statistics are clean-cut and very persuasive on their own, but can also take more time to process, whereas a good joke should make its point quickly."
Coverly noted that most people instinctively understand that other animals possess rich inner lives, feelings, and distinct personalities, even if they do not consciously dwell on it every day. By placing a dog into a scenario typically reserved for humans, he aims to bridge that gap. However, he is careful to maintain the integrity of the animal rather than turning them into mere human stand-ins.
"I try not to anthropomorphize the dogs as much as I put a dog in a human situation—and then let the dog still react like a dog," he said. "The difference is that instead of them simply being proxies for people, they’re still dogs. A lot of humor comes from recognition, so seeing what a dog would do in a situation we’re familiar with can create both humor and empathy at the same time."
Humor, as it turns out, can also offer profound philosophical lessons about human behavior. Reflecting on the funniest lesson an animal has ever taught him about being human, Coverly returned to the saga of Shag and his notorious habit of sleeping on top of the family convertible.
The nightly routine drove Coverly’s father to distraction. The soft-top convertible roof was repeatedly punctured by the dog’s nails, prompting the father to march out to the garage every single morning to scold Shag and chase him off the vehicle. Yet, without fail, Shag would climb back up the following night.
After enduring this frustrating cycle for far too long, the father walked out to the garage one morning, looked up at the defiant dog, and delivered a moment of total surrender: "Damn it, Shag. You win." With that, he offered the dog a gentle pat on the head and walked back inside the house. Remarkably, Shag never slept on top of the car again. It is a story Coverly’s father still relishes telling, offering a timeless parable about stubbornness, perspective, and grace.
Given his deep affection for dogs and his own political leanings, Coverly was posed a playful hypothetical question: If dogs were to form a union tomorrow, what would be their absolute top demand?
While acknowledging that there are pressing, serious issues that urgently need addressing—such as putting an end to puppy mills, halting the breeding of dogs strictly as luxury items, and implementing severe legal consequences for animal abusers—the cartoonist naturally leaned into his creative roots for the ultimate punchline.
"Of course, there are very serious answers I’d like to see happen," Coverly said. "But I’m a cartoonist, so I’m going with: ‘Waggers of the world, untie! You have nothing to lose but your chains!’"
My Support Dog Ate My Comfort Food stands as a joyful, lighthearted tribute to dogs and the boundless individuality, humor, and affection they inject into everyday human life. Readers interested in securing a copy of the book can purchase it directly through the Porchlight Book Company. Additionally, readers looking for a truly unique keepsake can order signed and personalized copies, complete with an original custom dog doodle, directly from Schuler Books.
