it is him you have to pity cos he will never experience the love you, I and lots of others on this forum have experienced
we all know they are not just dogs, cats, rabbits, horses ...whatever .... they are a big part of our family, our life and what we are
how you have described your emotions is perfectly natural, when i have lost pets in the past it has taken me a long time to want another, you dont have that choice, you need little Dante and because of this, I also believe Remy has found him for you, just think ... he is on the other side of the world and he was found within days ... amazing !
you will get there, it is still early days