[twhitak]

Only an obtuse reading of the article could give that impression.

I disagree. The story is about the dogs. How, exactly, is the son's death relevant to that story?

[Retired Greyhound]

Like I said, obtuse.

The mention of their son is to show that the family is already dealing with a recent loss.

[Anitius Severinus Boethius]

The story is about a family tragedy. The fact that he lost his son last year is relevant because tragedies build on each other making each successive tragedy that much more tragic.