How to commit virtual suicide or attack of the irate 'pet parents?'

I found this article rather fascinating, now before you stone me for linking to it or the author for writing it, take a few minutes and process what he is trying to say, it is an intriguing look into an issue that says much about our self-obsessed modern culture.  I work in the industry and the swift transition from 'pet' to 'child' has been rather concerning to me though everyone else seems to just think it is cute and harmless (and a boon to my profession); I find this fuzzing of the edges of what is and is not a person rather disturbing, especially as an adoptive parent (try searching 'adoption' on Pinterest and see what comes up: scads and scads of dogs!).  This article is a timely and incisive look into the topic and is well worth the read, even if you are scandalized that some people still believe that a dog is still just a dog.