Strongest signs that your pet is dead (by VetenariansToday):

- doesn't respond to you

- doesn't eat

- doesn't want to take a walk

- doesn't pee or poop

- smells funny

- there is no heartbeat

If you see these signs in your pet, chances are your pet is dead. This is not the end of the world. Pets die for all sorts of reason, but if you think it may have been because of you, this is an opportunity to reflect and learn. Going forward, remember that there are plenty of pets in the pet shop.

In many countries today, you can longer buy pets from a 'pet shop'. Many countries will now permit only animal-breeders to supply pets.

Was hoping that the ~baited comment would elicit a discussion. What would be interesting, from a psychological pov, is to understand why our IQ drops in relationships. The pointed list of 'obvious signs' are indeed obvious. We all recognize them in other peoples' relationships! Immediately, like radar. You always know before your friend if the gf is cheating on him, just by observing. But one's own relationship is obscured by some sort of distorting effect. After it is over, years later, it is crystal clear and then you feel stupid for not seeing it. Because it was obvious, you realize.

This is the interesting psychological aspect of the matter, imo.

I don't think it's a matter of 'IQ Drop'. I think it's more an example of 'Sunk Cost Fallacy' in that we don't want to admit to ourselves that we've wasted years or decades and also many thousands of dollars on a relationship that is very likely over, but maybe, just maybe, might be able to be turned around so that it wasn't all wasted.

We also want to be optimistic about the future, perhaps a result of evolutionary pressure / selection.