The artist who makes people cry with her comics has released a sequel to ‘Little Fish’ about the spirit of a dog visiting its owner who has a new puppy. When our pets pass away, they create a void that almost nothing can fill. And it’s usually too soon to consider obtaining another pet after losing a beloved friend—the pain is still intense. However, what do you do if someone gives you a new pet? Do you strike out and criticise the animal, or do you embrace it as a possible friend and show it the love it deserves?
Jenny Hefczyc, a German artist, addressed these subjects in her most recent comic. In it, the ghost of a deceased dog returns to see its owner and the lovely new puppy given to him by his brother. Jenny’s most famous comic book character, the Grim Reaper, also appears.
The cartoon is a follow-up to ‘Little Fish,’ which refers to the stuffed toy the dog took with it on its last visit to the clinic with its owner.
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In her previous comic, ‘Little Fish,’ artist Jenny depicted an owner saying goodbye to his pet dog. Here’s an excerpt from it.
Jenny brought up the sad topic of how much life changes after our old friends pass away.
Image credits: jenny_jinya
The artist has recently published a sequel to ‘Little Fish’ in which she continues the story by having the soul of the deceased dog visit its owner.
“After ‘Little Fish’ was accomplished, I knew the story had to continue somehow,” she recalled.”
“I felt sorry for Zack and had no name for his poor shepherd. As a dog owner, the story spoke to me at the time. Making the sequel was less brutal, and I like the idea of departed souls (human or animal) checking in from time to time to see how we’re doing. So, basically, the comic had something comforting for me,” the artist said, adding that the sequel was easier to make emotionally than the original.
Jenny also offered guidance to anyone who has recently lost a beloved pet. “Knowing that I had done everything I could to give my pet a good life was consoling. I showered them with affection and cared for their health;
Their lives ended too soon, but we have wonderful memories. You are not required to replace a deceased pet right away; instead, let yourself time to grieve.”
I previously interviewed Jenny about her comic ‘Little Fish,’ to which her most recent comic is a sequel, illustrating the owner’s agony at having to put down a lifelong buddy.
“As someone who has always loved animals, I knew I’d have to say goodbye to a lot of them. I routinely take in sick and injured animals, and not all of them survive. I always stuck with these creatures till the finish because it felt natural and fitting.
“But then a touching letter from a veterinarian went viral, begging people not to abandon dogs in their final hours. This made me feel even more validated, and I wanted to sketch about it even more,” she explained of her inspiration for ‘Little Fish.’
Because the subject was so emotionally charged, the artist took much longer to draw the prequel comic. “I recognised my own dog in this comic, and it was sometimes quite tough for me. I was rarely this relieved after a comic was finished. “But I wanted this topic to be discussed more,” she said.
Jenny urged that we do everything we could to give our dogs one more happy day before they are euthanized and die. It’s our opportunity to demonstrate our appreciation for their warmth and friendship over the years.
“Let it see its friends again and eat its favourite food. Let it know that it is loved above all else. And then accompany it to its last destination, ensuring that the last voice it hears is yours.”
Jenny usually takes around a week to complete a single comic, but she also performs significant research about animals and their care in the meanwhile. Her comics are always well-researched and reflect journalism, not just illustration.
Jenny has always enjoyed art and sketching; her mother joked that she could draw before she could walk. She explained that she “never stopped scribbling” after picking up a pencil as a toddler and realising she wanted to be an artist. “I wanted to tell stories and create worlds,” she told me.
People were getting very emotional after reading the German illustrator’s latest comic
