Emotional Dog Art Illustrates the Difference a Choice Can Make
Some dog stories are really about a single moment of hesitation, and this one turns that moment into art. Ademar Vieira, an illustrator from Manaus, Brazil, has been winning over dog lovers with a comic series that shows how life can split in two with one simple choice.
Originally aiming to be a screenwriter, Vieira now tells his stories through drawings, and his series The Choice makes that idea easy to feel. Each image shows two versions of the same life, one with a dog and one without, so the contrast lands fast and hits hard.
That simple setup is what makes the series stick, because the emotional payoff comes from seeing how much one decision can change everything. Read on.
The Choice: A Human and a Dog's Story
“I dedicate it to all the animals that contribute to our mental health during the quarantine.”
In an interview with Bored Panda, Vieira said:
“I started making the strips unpretentiously, just as a way to exorcise my demons during a very difficult phase that I was going through in early 2020. When I posted them, I realized that many people identified with them as well.
I received positive feedback, and then I continued to express the things I was feeling, and the audience grew.”
A quick note from the artist sets the tone.
He added:
“When I recovered from that difficult phase, we were in the coronavirus pandemic, meaning everyone was going through a tough time, so I continued to explore the problems people around the world were facing.
Now, I have used the strips to express my opinions on some issues that I consider relevant, whether personal, social, or political.”
Going viral was a huge shock to the Brazilian artist. He said:
“I couldn’t believe it when one of my comic strips went viral in Latin America in June this year. I received 100,000 likes and gained 20,000 followers in one week.”
That kind of reaction clearly caught him off guard.
He also said:
“Famous people and profiles reached out to congratulate me, which left me on cloud nine, but it also brought the weight of responsibility. Now, I was no longer making strips just for myself and my friends; people from different countries were also seeing my work.”
Ademar also said, "I was very happy that the public showed me a path to follow as an artist, and I want to pursue that path to see what else is good.”
Fans have continued to leave feedback for weeks now.
One Instagram user Mel Robbins, motivational speaker, said: "This is so beautiful. And the fact that you also pointed out the beautiful mess a fog makes. Having a dog is one of the best decisions one can make."
Another user Brené Brown, researcher, remarked: "This picture reminds me of one of the best decisions in my life: having a dog."
The comments kept rolling in after that.
It’s the same kind of heart as the Brazilian mailman who turns his route into a daily dog-love tour.
On Instagram, Ademar said:
“Every time we make a choice, we leave one timeline behind and enter another. So, this comic strip is called 'The Choice.'”
Vieira has also created series in his style dedicated to healthcare workers and delivery drivers during the pandemic.
He has kept that same heartfelt style in other projects too.
He truly is a skilled illustrator, and we look forward to seeing what other heartfelt stories he has to share with us in the future.
He clearly knows how to turn a simple idea into something memorable.
Want more dog-fueled therapy laughs? Meet Sully, my best friend in these 25 funny comics about living with a dog.
Share this article:
