Some people just have more capacity to love their animals than others, I could tell he loved his dog. I have a German Shepherd that has stolen my heart. She is eight years old and in good health but if she goes before me I’m afraid it would just kill me.
I don’t know how it is that some humans can acquire such an attachment to an animal but it does happen and it is wonderful when it does until one has to say goodbye to the other. If the human goes first it is extremely hard on the animal and vice versa.