What a heartbreaking tale. Michael’s reaction to his friend’s death is a reminder of how the deep emotional connections that people make with animals can help them in psychological ways that science and society are only beginning to understand. Volunteers and therapists who work with animals in pet-facilitated therapy visits to the infirm and elderly sometimes report instances of people who have been entirely uncommunicative with other people responding happily and sometimes even speaking to their animal visitors. We can only hope that Michael eventually found peace after Little Blackie’s death.