If you lost your pet?

[Alexander]

It's interesting how close people get attached to things, often without realizing it. The old saying "You don't know what's most important to you until you've lost it." really seems true.

I used to think that my pets really were not all that important, until the day our only dog Annie had to be put to sleep. I was shattered. (Which is *very* unusual considering I generally dislike dogs and never thought much of Annie in the first place.)

If I were to lose someone in my family or one of my friends... I have no idea how much the trauma would affect me. I know I would change... I just can't imagine how... it's too alien to understand.