Dear allme, muaythailady88, and all others who have posted.

I am a parent of an adult child 26 who has been out of the house for a few years now.
I am still young, thank you.
Love and Loss I am on my own.
The loss of my animals devastated me but the loss of my daughter for 2 years, there are no words to describe that.

For a person who has no children, yes, you are the parent of your pet, as they are part of your family. YOU feel Paternal Love.
Remember everyone is different. Some Mothers will say they love all their children the same. Imo this is not so, each relationship is different and personal.

Let us not forget how wonderful and amazing are children were with glossy eyes of a young parent.

If by choice or circumstance you choose not to have bio children, that is fine but it doesn't exclude you from having Parental Love that is born in you from birth its part of our genes.
How and with who you express it is up to you. You will make relationship/connections in life, I promise you.
When you feel it you will know it.
H.