Is the loss of one's dog comparable to the loss of a special person?

My feisty friend Emily died two days ago. I was surprised at how sad I was when I read the news from my close friend and old business partner in Toronto. Emily was her dog.

The first time I met Emily it would never have crossed my mind to consider her a friend. She was a very "enthusiastic" doberman who wanted you to know that you were on her turf and you better not forget it. The fact that I worked in "her" house did not simplify things. Well, not at first. I soon found out that she could be placated with tea biscuits and I was willing to oblige her food fetish as long as she let me live.

Over time my scent became familiar to her and she barked less. I didn't say that she stopped barking... that would have been totally out of character for her. But, as I mentioned above, she allowed me to live and she even let me pet her now and then.

I saw her last Spring after a six year absence. I was shocked by how much she had aged. I am no pet lover, but I was upset to see that she was so old and laid back. She just mozied around my friend's house and was all too happy to be petted for an hour. I never once feared for the safety of my hands.

I knew that the inevitable end was near. It was obvious although no one mentioned it. And for my friend's sake, I was dreading it.

Now it the inevitable has happened and there is a lot of sadness. My friend never had children. They weren't her thing. But her dog was her child and her friend. I think she treated Emily better than I treat my kids sometimes. Her loss is palatable.

Having recently experienced the loss of my father, I am struck by how sad my friend sounded in her email. My first thought was that you can't compare losing a parent to losing a dog. But now I am not so sure. Lassie swam across the English Channel or some large body of water like that to get back to her beloved family. With all due respect to my father, I don't think either he or I would have done that. We would have waited for the next available boat. obviously we weren't that committed!!! (OH, I am only joking.)

In twelfth grade one of my high school friends cat died. I had known that cat for years and I thought it was the nastiest cat that ever lived. Neighbourhood dogs partied for days after that cat died. There was a sense in the Hood that the Days of Terror were over. However, my friend was dispondent. I mean truly devastated for weeks and weeks. We, her friends, could not cajole her out of it with any of the usual cajoling fare.

In other words, who am I to judge someone else's relationships?

So, to Emily, I wish you a safe journey to the World To Come For Dogs. I hope that there are many places to run free and mark your place. I thank you again for not tearing me limb from limb even though you had many opportunities.