Non cuddly pets are still companions

[Catherine]

Thank you for finding the article. It is nice to know other people have had deep bonds with their reptiles.

What a wonderful lizard Spockie is. He is an Australian Water Dragon and they are beautiful. My Leia is a smaller green water dragon. She has beautiful eyes and bright green colouring.  She is really staring to bond with me. She watches me and I think her swimming is showing off a bit to get my attention. 
After 27 years, John's bond with Spockie must have been incredible. I can believe Spockie visits him.
Jonathan my Bearded Dragon slept on my bed for eight years. After she died, many mornings I would wake up and know she was there on the bed.
This carried on for a long time. When you are bonded with a pet they don't always leave you right away when they die.
I think this is true of any pet we have bonded with.