Pearls Before Swine by Stephan Pastis for March 09, 2022

So true.

Smaller get togethers — definitely not a bad thing.

Pig has a dog? Or a hot dog? Ehr….forgot that hot dog is, although not always, pig meat.

Make that a cheese dog.

Cheese always comes into it at some point.

A dog? What for?

As Calvin’s Dad would say, pandemics build character!

Our community is going to try having as many as 108 contra dancers meet for dancing with live music in a gymnasium. And, with masks, proof of vaccination, and a signed liability waiver. I can hardly wait!

I for one refuse to believe that Rat had that many friends before the Pandemic.

It will be fascinating to see what comes next after we start to return to “normal”

Pig is just a cheesy guy.

I’ve always said “my dog, my cheese, my God.”

More accurately, the mishandling of the pandemic.

Good thing Pig left out Rat!

“…and this ashtray. And this paddleball game. And this remote control, and that’s all. And these matches. And this lamp. And that’s all I need. Except for this chair, and that’s it.

And this magazine."

That last chart? That’s me, pre-pandemic.

Looks like Pig already forgot the wise assessment suggestion about the wine and cheese.

Rat just said something intelligent.

A dog is good company.

My triangle of acquaintances…

I actually attended an event where proof of vaccination and masking were required: the Shebrew beerfest. Only time anyone has ever asked for my card.

no cheese. thanks

Give the cheese to your dog and you’ll want to be separated from him as well.

So. . .all those acquaintances just disappeared? None stayed in touch via phone/zoom/email, etc.? Sounds like a lot of fair-weather acquaintances to me. Did YOU try to stay in touch? I haven’t lost a single friend during the pandemic. . .

There’s more truth than fiction to Rat’s statement!

And the dog is ironically named ‘Crackers’…

I so identify with pig, only now it’s my puppies, adult children and grandkids. This is nice.

Why is the third frame embarrassing?

I’m picky as to whom I am friends with…

If you have one true friend in your lifetime you’re doing good!

Since this pandemic, I find my family are my true and closest friends…

And the dog is optional.

The two things you can always depend on. Speaking as a Badger.

Third panel is just about perfect, as far as I’m concerned.

I think a lot of people would relate with Pig.

There must be something to it. I remember in church people singing about bringing in the cheese!

Now with the pandemic ending, hopefully we can return to the first panel.

After reading the last panel am I the only one thinking about the lyrics to Deteriorata? (Okay, probably.)

I’ll go my way by myself…I’m alone in a crowd….

My circle of acquaintances is approximated by a pinky ring so the pandemic has had hardly any effect at all on that

It must be Pigs imaginary dog, I don’t remember any dogs in the strip.

they have a dog? thats what they need

I saw someone reading Foxtrot!!!!!

Those are two good choices though…..

Isn’t it interesting how the figure of “Me” is always bigger than any of the acquaintances? Rat’s style is unmistakable.

I really dont want to mean any disrespect to the author of this strip, and I know its hard to write a comic, believe me I couldnt do any better, although I wish I could. But I feel like the strips havent been as good lately. Now I think that well Pastis should do whatever he thinks is best to fix it, and sorry for the long comment length

A cat and cheese, maybe.

You think this would be easy for Rat.

You don’t have a dog, silly old PIg! Luckily, you are perfectly happy with just cheese….

…and chocolate!

… and I can actually do without the dog…

Fewer is better

Then they all leave when they realize how silly they were for going through all that trouble for “contra dancing”.