As a childless Millennial myself, I don’t think it’s loving pets too much that’s causing young people not to have families. All the childless people my age that I know are also petless. It’s the high cost of housing, healthcare, and general cost of living relative to wages. It’s not wanting to repeat the parenting mistakes of our own parents. It’s older generations telling us we’re incompetent. Who wants the guilt of being a bad parent?
Nor is it confined to a certain generation. My grandfather, born in 1899, definitely cared more for his hunting dogs than he ever did for people. He was fond of quoting Mark Twain, of a still earlier generation, “If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you. This is the principal difference between a dog and a man.”
Condolences for your loss. Hopefully he went peacefully and painlessly.
My calico cat Tasha passed away on Election Day, 2016, at 18, of renal failure, a common cause of death for older cats. I adopted her when she was 15, so I knew she wouldn’t be with me long.
I lost our beloved Corgi (Gryffin) 7 years ago; and, I still think of him often. Most wonderful dog we had ever had in our family.
Back in my early 20's I was tasked with taking my dad's German Shepherd (the family's really) to the vet for euthanasia. Worst thing I have ever done in my life and that moment has stuck with me all these years to the point that I can never bring myself to bring a dog as a companion into my life knowing that they will eventually pass before me..
Sorry on the passing of your buddy. Dog and God are in my Heart.
Pets are family. So beloved