"Pets are funny that way. They want to feel loved, too," he answers, and it's not much of an explanation but one of the things he's always disliked is the notion some people have that pets don't much care. Adopting an animal is well and good but Coop's never understood why someone would want to do that in the first place if they weren't going to welcome the pet as a member of the family.

He'd be devastated if anything were to happen to Sunny or Lucy, would likely cry for weeks, and he's not ashamed to admit that. He loves his dogs like crazy, wouldn't trade them for the world, and he knows that if he ever decided one day to get back on the monogamous relationship wagon, the other person would have to love his dogs, too.

He smiles down at Balto, gliding a hand over her fur and chuckling when her back arches. "Spencer's good with her? I remember Dane wanted a dog forever but their mom wouldn't let him get one." He narrows his eyes, smirking. "Probably for the best. But my totally off-the-record medical opinion is that Balto's just making sure you don't forget she's around." He holds another handful of food out for her, which she immediately starts to eat. "Or, you know, she's trying to tell you that she'd like a hell of a lot more me there."