SAN FRANCISCO — Snoopy, perched on his doghouse in front of his typewriter, looks over a farewell message from creator Charles Schulz in the last new daily "Peanuts" strip, running in newspapers Monday.

Schulz, 77, who has written, drawn, colored and lettered every "Peanuts" strip for almost 50 years, decided to retire after being diagnosed with colon cancer in November. His contract stipulates that no one else will ever draw the comic strip.

The single-panel farewell strip is primarily a text message, over Schulz's signature, with the Snoopy drawing in the lower right corner.

"Dear Friends," Schulz writes. "I have been fortunate to draw Charlie Brown and his friends for almost 50 years. It has been the fulfillment of my childhood ambition. Unfortunately, I am no longer able to maintain the schedule demanded by a daily comic strip; therefore I am announcing my retirement.

"I have been grateful over the years for the loyalty of our editors and the wonderful support and love expressed to me by fans of the comic strip.

"Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Linus, Lucy . . . how can I ever forget them. . . ."

Schulz's beloved cast of characters appears in 2,600 newspapers, reaching an estimated 355 million readers daily in 75 countries.

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A final new Sunday strip by Schulz will run in newspapers on Feb. 13. After that, United Feature Syndicate will publish "Peanuts" reprints.

Schulz, who is focusing on his health and family at home in Santa Rosa, Calif., never expected the support he's been given by readers.

, who have sent him 400 to 500 pieces of mail a day, his secretary, Edna Poehner, said Friday.

"He just drew pictures. It's overwhelming for him," she said.

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