Yep, I know what you mean. I have a pillow permanently stationed just to the right of my trackball, where my 2 "supervisors" park whenever I'm working on the 'puter. They're starting to get older, now both around 13. A friend in my building has a 24 year old cat. Sure hope I can keep mine around for that long. Hell, whenever I think a bit about my last pair of cats, who died within 6 months of each other back in '89 at just over age 14, I still mist up like a school kid. Whether people or pets, losing a loved one is THE hardest thing in life. I definitely agree about the heaven thing. I've known far too many people in life for whom hell would be waaaay too good. Can't say that about a single animal. Dogs & cats give you absolutely unconditional, unjudgemental love. THey don't want you to be anything but yourself. That, unfortunately, does not describe most people.