I simply question the mental fortitude of someone who can't go a weekend or a week without their pet.

Sure, if you live one place for half the year and another for the other half, 2 trips a year with a pet is justifiable but unless you can't see, hear, or some other actual disability requires a service animal, perhaps that person doesn't need to be leaving the house.. and any complaints about it I will redirect to the ears of someone else's dog.