Does nobody love pets anymore?

I was looking after my old pup, because he'd gotten something clumped between the pads of his paw, and it was hurting him something awful. Now, he's a rescue dog, and at some point someone obviously used to hurt his paws a lot, because he's neurotically protective of them. Seriously. He adores me, but even I can't get near his paws without some serious soothing and calming and caution, ready to retreat at any time if he starts to panic. And if I put a blade near them, to trim the nails or fur, he goes absolutely nuts. So I'm here, trying to look at this clumped paw, trying to soothe him while I see how to wash it clean ... and my Nan is sitting there looking at me like I'm insane, and says 'There must be a reward for loving a dog so much'.

Um. I love all my dogs that much, and indeed any dog. Any pet. Any animal, though spiders creep me the hell out. I still wouldn't hurt one, and if one was hurt I'd do my best to help it. When it's my pups, there isn't anything I wouldn't do for them. Why is that strange?