I can nearly unequivocally say that if I am anticipating family members, (partner, mother, father, sibling, extended family) death vs. what I am currently going through with grieving my first and only pet's death, that my dog's death will rank to be the most devastating experience by far. The uncomplicated nature of the relationship and pure unadulterated love that I have for this being is absent of the reluctant compromises, little betrayals, and sacrifices that is a commonstay of human family relationships. If anything, I fail to understand the deep sadness that people experience with human relationships unless they were largely free of blemishes, power struggles, and fights. I can perhaps imagine that my best friends' death will bring about the same level of grief as my dog, if not more, but among my family, my dog's death has changed me irrevocably. I have accepted that I may be broken for awhile and if not forever. There is a real demarcating line drawn in the sand of my life before my dog passed and after she left us. A part of me has truly died.