People shouldn’t become so emotionally invested in animals.
I learned this as a small child, after being heartbroken by pets killed in the road more than once.
It’s a heartbreaking situation. Our oldest daughter always wanted a puppy, and 3 years ago we bought her one. It was a little Chihuahua. We wrapped it up in a little box and gave it to her. She was the happiest I’d ever seen her when she opened it. She still has the dog, and loves it as much as she does us I’m sure, but I know that eventually something will happen to it.(I dread the day) That dog literally follows her around everywhere and guards her. She can’t even play tag with other kids, because the little dog will go nuts when anyone makes an aggressive move against her.
What sucks, is I’m a little attached to the dog too, even though I tried not to be. Aside from my daughter, I’m the only other person the dog will ‘respect’. Anytime I enter a room the dog is in, she’ll run up and look at me as if she’s awaiting orders or something. Then she’ll roll over for me to pet her.
Damn.... I’ll probably be nearly as sad as my daughter when that dog eventually dies. I just hope it’s a long time from now..... (I think I’ll go pet it now)
We shouldn't, but we do. How else can you react to a companion that will sit with you when you've had a bad day and offer unconditional friendship.