text: remorse is an extremely hard thing to gauge.  I don't know if you've ever seen a dog die violently but it's not pretty, and I can see reasons someone might want to get their 3-yr-old out of there and home---But I really know nothing of the situation beyond what's reported here.
  
  Forgiveness, on the other hand, is as much or more for one's own benefit, and the benefit of community, than it is a particular benison on, say, someone who just killed your dog, though that actually helps too.  The lack of it is a very heavy burden on the soul---Carrying around hatred and resentment is like drinking poison every day and hoping the other person suffers for it.
  
  Forgiveness also unlocks unexpected doors, builds bridges across divides, broadens our awareness, and acts as a healing on the community itself; and does more to validate a life, in passing, than the kind of raw hostility I'm seeing surrounding this event.
  
  I know-easy for me to say; just felt the need to say something.