Being the animal lover that I am, I have lost numerous dogs and cats to illnesses over the years, and it never gets any easier. It's so heart breaking whether it's a 4 mo. old kitten or an old, gray-faced, 15 year old dog. Some people have a hard time getting a new pet after losing one, because they don't want to go through that grief again, but I always have to rush out and get another pet because I have such a void and a young one is a good distraction and gets me laughing again.