And that's when something breaks loose. Rhymes with hockey sticks.
- This strip
presents a sad misunderstanding that occurs between Grape and Res at a book signing session. Grape discovers Res is responsible for writing all the Pridelands books while his human Miss Auburn takes author credit. Res tries to explain that he's not being exploited, that this arrangement is okay with them both — but Grape storms off to confront Miss Auburn before hearing this. The final panel shows a humiliated Grape crying bitterly after being thrown off the premises, being driven away in Jill Sandwich's car with Max in tow. - It's stated in this comic that "Every dog in the world cries at All Dogs Go to Heaven," and that definitely seems to be true in this universe. Bino is seen weeping while viewing the film during a car ride, while Peanut is shown teary-eyed as he curls up on the couch at home watching the movie. Even Bailey claims this is the reason King finds her crying here, but she actually says this as a coverup.
- Sasha is sometimes prone to being tearjerker material. Her abusive "father" kicks her out in the cold, on Christmas Eve no less, here. A previous Christmas addition (see panel 5) shows us that she still loves him and wants him to be happy — which just makes everything SADDER. Especially since it's the only panel that doesn't contain humor and/or happiness in any form. This is especially true anytime that Sasha refers to her owner as "Daddy", despite how badly he treats her.
- Peanut's crying as he draws his self-insert/alternate universe "Spot (Superdog)" comic with Saso here is heartrending. He has just ruined the Pridelands Imaginate, realizing he has unrequited feelings for Grape in the process, and is pouring his sadness into the strip.Saso: "But I'm dead in my universe."
- Many story arcs starring the third main character, King, AKA Joel, are tearjerkers. Imagine having some supernatural creature arrive and just turn you into an animal just so that he can make you his avatar for a silly game. Thankfully, King gets better and eventually turns the tables on said supernatural creature.
- This comic, where celestial entity Cerberus has assumed the mantle of The Grim Reaper (of The Sacred Darkness variety), is an extremely sad one. She has to take an abandoned, drowned puppy to Heaven.
- The climactic "Heaven's Not Enough" arc is saddening, especially at first. King, happily married to Bailey, hasn't told her about his having been a human or that he's being used as a game pawn by Pete. He urgently prays, calling Pete's bluff on the matter. This in fact conjures up the supernatural being, who proceeds to expose King's secrets to his wife in an attempt to ruin their marriage. Especially bad is seeing Fox's reaction later to seeing his friend King turned back into his former enemy, human Joel here. Initially, Fox beats Joel savagely with the latter refusing to fight back, but Fox finally breaks down in tears hugging his friend, his friendship bond with King being stronger than his hatred for Joel.
- Fox's emotional outburst in the arc "Real Stories of the K9 PD" when Sabrina calls him out for his "fragile sensibilities". This may be Fox at his angriest. After learning King's true identity two years ago in Heaven's Not Enough and now having his love interest Sasha practically stab him in the back (what with her persistently saying that she tried to kill Keene Milton), it's no wonder he feels like his life is out of control.Fox: Fine, know what? I feel like I've lost control of my life! I never learned to seriously deal with my negative emotions, so I bottle them up and channel them into stunts like this! I have to make things better because that's all I have after it felt like you shaved my fur off and made me a laughingstock! And I still don't hate you and Fido! But how can I possibly fix that if I'm still angry even when I don't want to be?!
- Peanut's face in the second panel of this strip will make any reader want to hug the poor guy. He has overheard Grape making a romantic date with Maxwell and is afraid she won't want to be his friend anymore. Two strips later, Peanut struggles to maintain a brave face after seeing Grape off for her first date with Maxwell.
- Tiger Arbelt's character is a sad one much of the time. While he's played as comic relief, he's still very much a psychologically damaged Jerkass Woobie who was treated as a social outcast by the other dogs simply because of his name. Also, consider the fact that Marvin is Tiger's only real friend — and pretty much the only character who doesn't fear, shun, avoid, or hate him. If you think about it, Tiger is a much more tragic character than he seems at first glance.
- Keene makes Breel cry bitterly when he tells him he wants to be left alone, that he believes the pine marten is standing in the way of having all his dreams be fulfilled. Breel, who is very much in love with Keene and willing to give up his place in the afterlife to join him, is utterly devastated.
- Rufus had been sending letters to Maxwell ever since he was adopted by Jeff. However, Maxwell for the life of him felt he couldn't come up with a fitting enough reply and eventually forgot about Rufus. He didn't even recognize him when he saw him again. It's a heartrending circumstance given how Rufus took Maxwell in and saved the abandoned kitten from murderous coyotes.
- Marion breaks down sobbing uncontrollably when his girlfriend Lois doubts his identity after he's been turned into a squirrel. She soon figures it out, though, and comforts him.
- This guest comic shows Draig having a dream where she is bidding a sad farewell to her Spirit Dragon persona, which slowly spirals away and becomes a star in the sky. She has been forced to undergo punishment for losing her and Pete's cosmic game by assuming the form of a fox for the next 70 years or so in the mortal realm. Draig gets teary-eyed, but receives an affectionate hug from her new mother.
