I know how incredably upsetting losing an animal is and as elizabethann said, its shocking how badly people can react.

Im thinking maybe it was like a baby to them, seeing as they were older people the dog was probably their baby in a way. I know a lot of old ladies from work keep pets as company because their children have moved on and dont visit as often, so In a way it must be like losing a baby.

RIP I hope they are all together again.