i always thought animals are happier if they have others of like kind to live with if possible. I have not owned a single dog for over thirty years. I kept two cats, one male one female, two horses, geldings or mares or both, two to five dogs. I have trial time to see how they get along, and if they do then it is permanent home including understanding separating the horse that have been sold prior to me as having stress about separations that were permanent. I have never sold a horse, or dog they are here for life. I saw really early that this makes for a happier animal. They play together often, groom each other and the cats and dogs sleep touching each other. When I leave the only one who gets worried is the GSD head dog. She is torn between being my right hand gal and Mommy to the tribe. Even if you can not provide a companion of the same species do like the zoos, and allow a companion that at least shares some traits like four legs and a tail. Before I had the room, my single horse and pup showed how they relieved their loneliness by hanging out. They loved each other until Jack died at sixteen, my horse looked past me, for him for months, even though by then I had other horses with him. Such social critters need alike of interaction.