I hear you! The hurt is more than we can bear, but if we walk into an animal shelter and see all the homeless, lovable furballs who will be put down--euthanized--we might put ourselves through that pain again, loving and losing a pet. Our first pair of collies died, but we hope to have at least ten more good years with our second pair. For me, life without a dog is less of a life. But I do understand those who choose not to go through that heartbreak again.