Dr. Fletcher

(writing notes) Ron Greenberg wrote on www.helpmypatients.com: "Force him to internalize that this was just an animal he lost. His whole attitude is inappropriate."

Marty

We had a common understanding. She seemed to know me. And it was tacit - it didn't require any explanation. It just seemed natural between the two of us.

Dr. Fletcher

Yeah, I actually wanted to bring that up. I wonder - what sort of relationship did Susan have with other people? People who you had over to the house, or with strangers who came in. How did she respond to other people?

Marty

She responded fine. When people came over to the house I would say she was polite.

Dr. Fletcher

Well, how did she get along with strangers? Say if a stranger wanted to pet her, would she be responsive?

Marty

She was not good with strangers. We would take our walk and she was very protective of our relationship, as I was protective of our relationship.

Dr. Fletcher

I wonder if that's true. I wonder if you might think about whether the dog - to some extent a dog is really just an animal who responds to touch and to being fed. You know, I wonder if there's a danger that you're reading too much into your relationship.

Marty

I don't like to hear you say that because that's not the case at all.

Dr. Fletcher

Well, I think that it might be in the sense that a dog will respond to whoever she's around but if she's transferred to new surroundings, a dog will generally be just as happy. You should consider whether this was a relationship or was it sort of a tactile thing? Was it that you gave her a lot of attention and a lot of petting and maybe she didn't even respond to you internally the way that -

Marty

Are you suggesting that she responded to me just because I pet her, not because she had any special feelings or thoughts? Because that's -

Dr. Fletcher

I think that's a possibility that you should think about. I know it's hard to take in.

Marty

This is not possible. This is not possible. We had a special relationship. It's not possible.

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