NORTHFIELD, Vt. --Unable to have children, Denis and Sarah Scheele got two dogs instead. When one was fatally shot by a man after wandering onto his property, they sued -- and not just for damages. The couple also wanted compensation for their emotional distress and loss of companionship.

Their case is one of a growing number around the country that asks courts to recognize what dog owners already do: A dog is not just a thing. It is man's best friend, and worth more than its retail price as a result, they say.

"You can't put a price on that," said Sarah Scheele, 47, of Annapolis, Md. "When you lose something like that, the loss is immeasurable. You can't just go to a pet store and buy another animal. It doesn't replace the family member that was lost."

No one is arguing that Shadow, a shepherd-chow-spaniel mix acquired at an animal shelter, would fetch a high price. But the Scheeles say the death of an animal they called their "little boy" entitles them to damages above and beyond the direct expenses typically awarded in such cases.

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