Oh, yeah? You don't even sound like you even know what it's like to love an animal as a pet. Have you ever had an entire town call you a witch and make you an outcast? I doubt it, since if you had you would know that animals are the most loyal friends you can find!

[ooc: It's probably a lot like getting sick normally... They'll start feeling a little bad right away, but then the feeling just keeps snowballing as time progresses. The illness probably worsens faster than normal, though.]