India, July 13 -- Dogs' lives are too short. Their only fault, really. Agnes Sligh Turnbull A pet parent's worst fear is losing their fur baby and the pain and emptiness that comes with it. And this grief is all-consuming.

When Rocky, my pet of 14 years, a Tibetan Mastiff, died, my family was shaken, and we decided not to keep another one. I still remember that day when I came home to find my furry friend lying on the floor, his head to one side, his body lifeless and cold. The image haunts me even today as I try to shake it off my mind.

The pain was such that I avoided looking at the entrance where he was mostly leashed and seeing his belongings made the healing process even more difficult. It was a constant reminder of his presence in...