What happens when two young artists decide to walk in the paws of the forgotten?
You get Paw by Paw—a powerful and tenderly crafted graphic novel by Heavenly Diane Cukro and Nico Constantino, that doesn’t just tell a story—it advocates.
Set in the fictional (but all-too-familiar) streets of Yuhom City, Paw by Paw follows Marie, a young woman whose soul is mysteriously transferred into the body of a black stray cat. Forced into the margins of society—where food is scarce, shelter uncertain, and kindness a luxury—Marie meets Argos and Cora, two fellow strays who teach her the unspoken rules of survival. But Paw by Paw is more than a magical transformation tale—it’s a reflection of real lives, real animals, and the humans who either ignore or care enough to help.
“We’ve seen stray cats and dogs every day,” says the duo. “We wondered—how do they survive? What would their story be if someone told it from their point of view?”
And so they did.
What makes Paw by Paw resonate isn’t just its art style, which strikes a balance between whimsical and raw, or its well-paced narrative. It’s the heart behind the pages. Cukro and Constantino interviewed rescuers, shelter workers, and everyday Bacolodnons who have taken strays under their wing. Their voices echo through the panels—in the hunger, fear, and cautious hope drawn into every scene.
The creative division was clear: one handled concept development, linework, and rendering, while the other focused on scriptwriting, panel layouts, and colors. But it was the writing that proved most challenging—not because they lacked ideas, but because there was too much to say. Stray animal welfare is a complex issue, entangled with neglect, poverty, overpopulation, and lack of awareness. To weave all this into a compelling, digestible story? That’s no small feat.
Yet they succeeded. And not just in making something beautiful—but in making something that matters.
The title Paw by Paw is a quiet call to action. Like its namesake phrase “step by step,” it reminds us that change doesn’t have to be grand. Feed one cat. Adopt one stray. Share one story. Each small gesture adds up.
“We want communities to realize,” they say, “that helping strays isn’t just the job of rescuers—it’s everyone’s responsibility.”
With Paw by Paw, they haven’t just created a graphic novel. They’ve created a movement—one that gently but firmly insists: if we truly want a better world, we need to start by caring for those who walk quietly beside us.
Sometimes on four legs. Always deserving of love.
Webtoon link: https://www.webtoons.com/…/episode-1-page-1/viewer…