I am so sorry for your loss.. I lost mine a week ago yesterday... after only being sick for a week.. and only being 6 years old.. I miss him soo much, and cry daily.. when I think of him, when I hear songs on the radio that I have not heard in years (WHY are the playing The Dance by Garth Brooks on my talk radio station??)-- that one did me in. I miss his little face and just his presence with me here.. and how some mornings I would wake up to him hugging my neck resting his head either under my chin or on my cheek....I thought maybe he did that after trying to wake me, but just gave up and lied down by me.. but one day I was just wakin up and he didnt know.. and he came and did this.. just hugged me and fell back to sleep by his mama (me) It is very hard coming to grips with this loss.. and sadly there are many people dealing with this -- and you are right, they are not "just pets"