Your last sentence is not true. In many ways it is similar. It is not identical. It is similar in many ways. Animals are perpetual children. They never leave the house and start a life of their own. They depend 100% on us for their care and love and safety. They do not go anywhere without us. Some remain the size of small children their entire lives, even when fully grown or old. Many enjoy being held and walked with. They express love back to their owners in a variety of ways. They are fed, given toys, houses, their own areas, medical care, food, water, comfort, love, friendship. Welcomed as part of the family. Wanted.
It is not identical. In many ways it is similar.
If you equate losing a child to a pet.....there is nothing left to be said, you have said it all.
I really enjoyed your post. It’s apparently a difficult concept for people who don’t love companion animals to understand. I’m more attached to my dog than I am to most people. Yet, if there was a burning building and my dog was in the building along with a random stranger, and I had only one opportunity to enter the building and make a rescue, I would rescue the random stranger without hesitation. That, even though I love my dog beyond reason.