Seriously, are conservatives starting to confuse humans and dogs now?
Well, I'm a strict conservative (NOT a republican), and I think of a K-9 as a tool, useful for the furtherance of the proper discharge of the duties of those employed to protect and serve me.
Please disregard the subtle sarcasm.
However, I am not without compassion. I do not think the K-9 should be elevated to the level of "Brave Officer" or some such, but most dogs I've met that have received even a modicum of training are loyal, hardworking, personable to a degree and certainly worthy of our respect for the sacrifice they may make in the service of human beings.
Therefore, I do not confuse a cop and a dog, but I do mourn (however briefly) the loss of a well-trained and extremely useful tool.
I also understand the officers sense of loss, but refuse to elevate it to the level of comparison with the loss of a sentient human loved one.
Having said all that, I must add that I have no problem with the killer of the tool (dog) being sent to hell, since he was probably on his way with a one-way ticket, anyway.
So, there it is.