The animals are definitely part of my family, and the children I will never have. I have been known when traveling in the past to call to talk to them on the phone to hear about their reactions; it has been funny as sometimes some have been interested and others could care less about the oddity of the phone and voice in it. It's more for my benefit as I miss them but they have no idea what that phone means. My one lab would actually respond by licking the phone while I was talking, kisses (?) or something good left on it (?), who knows but calling for me is an odd, comforting thing to do while away.