That is a very sad story. She hints at a troubling aspect to this story that is not explained. She moved home for her pregnancy? She was preoccupied with personal problems to the precllusion of taking care of herself during her pregnancy? There is another story here that is even sadder than the loss of her dog.
But, she is right about one thing — animals can teach you a lot. And, I can tell her something else — she will never get over her guilt for ignoring her dog in his last days.