"Just a dog"?!: we domesticated these animals & evolved them to be reliant on our care, company & attention. We trained them to work for us loyally in different contexts. They have the emotional responses, intelligence & innocense of about a 2 year old child (if you have cared for a sick dog or simply have a dog who greats you home from work, you know this). To watch a creature who adores & depends on you drown & not give a shit is psychologically not that far away from watching a child drown.