Why losing a dog feels like losing a family member

Their life arc is our life arc— from city to suburb, from tragedy to bliss. Special thanks to all Vox staffers and family that sent over their dog videos.

Read Alvin's article here: http://www.vox.com/2016/7/11/12109786/dog-death-research

When Alvin lost his dog Rainbow, he felt as though a human has died.

Humans have a special — and somewhat an odd — relationship with dogs. 60% of Americans own a pet, and the most popular of them are dogs. Our relationship with them actually goes back pretty far. Some scholars believe that wolves and humans hunted and lived among each other — and the reason humans came out on top was because we partnered with wolves. Then, as we evolved so did our furry friends. Now, we treat these animals like family. We give them names, keep them safe, and share our lives with them. So when it's time for them to go, it feels a lot like we're losing a part of the family.

The books mentioned in the video can be found here:

Pat Shipman | The Invaders https://www.amazon.com/Invaders-Humans-Their-Neanderthals-Extinction/dp/0674736761
Katherine C. Grier | Pets in America https://www.amazon.com/Pets-America-Katherine-C-Grier/dp/0807829900/ref=la_B001JSB9IE_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1491832750&sr=1-2

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