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Marmaduke, the comic panel starring America's most lovable Great Dane, has delighted readers for four decades. Created by Brad Anderson in 1954, Marmaduke is distributed by United Feature Syndicate to more than 600 newspapers worldwide. Marmaduke is the most loved troublemaker in his neighborhood and on the comics pages where he delights readers in more than 20 countries. But the real focus in this comic panel is the relationship between the Great Dane and his family. "The Marmaduke strip has never been just a gag," Anderson explains. "I refuse to just go for the joke every time. When you express so-called human emotions in an animal, you're getting into the real character of the dog. When you get into the character itself, you go a step beyond the cartoon and into life." Marmaduke is a canine with a conscience. He and Anderson lend a helpful hand to many charities including the Delta Society's Pet Partners program. Marmaduke is the official "spokesdog" for the animal-assisted therapy program in which volunteers and their pets visit the sick and elderly in hospitals and care-centers. Marmaduke has also lent a paw to the American Cancer Society, leading their "Paws for a Cause" dog walk-a-thon for several years as Chairdog. This annual event raises money for the fight against human and animal cancers. In 1993, the American Association of Blood Banks chose Marmaduke to star in several public service announcements to help promote their summer blood drive. Winner of the National Cartoonists Society 1976 Reuben Award for Best Panel, Anderson is also the creator of more than two dozen Marmaduke books which have sold more than 10 million copies worldwide. When not working, Anderson enjoys getting together with friends and digging in his garden ("Just like Marmaduke!"). He and his wife, Barbara, live in Montgomery, Tex., and they have four grown children. They share their home with a Great Dane named Marmaladee (no relation to Marmaduke).
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