That suggestion actually had a lot to do with my father stepping down as am elder. Someone told him he shouldn't have had an operation on his dog that he should have donated the money to the org instead. That resulted in a "mind you own business" comment. A couple other comments about him missing a meeting to see his grandchild in a school thing and he was done.
i love dogs. I have had both pets and working dogs, and loved every minute of both. Can't imagine going through life without an animal companion.