I recently lost a member of my family.
I don’t tell people my dog died because though Ishy was a dog, it was not a pet shaped hole he left in our lives.
A quick search for pet on Merriam-Webster gave me this:
1. A pampered and usually spoiled child.
2. A person who is treated with unusual kindness or consideration : Darling
3. A domesticated animal kept for pleasure rather than utility.
Read the rest on my blog.