I can understand how gabriel feels. We get so attached to our pets and it hurts so much when we lose them that it's hard to imagine going through it again. And then sometimes it's nice to have the freedom to come and go without worrying about a little one at home or who will care for them when we take a vacation, because no matter how much we trust our family and friends, we always worry if our furry friends are being cared for in the manner we care for them. Other times we miss the companionship and would like to have a friend there to greet us when we come home after a long hard day. I don't know if I could ever say "never" again to more pets once the current ones are gone but it wouldn't be a decision made lightly.
About the names, my dog is Frisco because I'm a big goof and loved the character of Frisco from General Hospital. My cat is Gizmo, which I catch grief for because his name is too similar to the dog and it confuses them when I call one or the other, but it's the name that popped in my head and seemed to fit him.