Don't count on others being convinced that there's romantic love. I mean....I love my parakeet....sort of. I feed him, give him water, and change his paper. He sings to me and keeps me company while I work. I won't cry when he's gone. I'll just throw him in the garbage with his shitty newspaper.
There are some people who view pets as part of the family, but there are more people who don't.
Jus' sayin'.