Oof, even worse off than me... I feel ya. I think I have double Valentines on another account and server, I'd be more than happy to give you one of those if I could <3

As someone who just lost a very beloved WoP pet (a niffler from the first easter egg hunt, so it's an old and special one) due to simple facts of life that I can't help, I strongly agree that there should be a way to rescue your lost pets. I'd gladly pay IRL money to get my niffler back, he's that special to me (and I usually don't get emotionally attached to digital pets at all) and in many ways also an achievement and reward to show off, marking that I did partake in that first egg hunt. Part of the value is the age (and in some cases, the randomized given name) and that can't be replaced by a new pet. 

I'm not saying it should be easy or something to be taken lightly, but there should be an option for those special pets that mean more than the rest and holds value in memories and experiences that you want to be represented on your account. I can't be the only one who'd be willing to spend IRL money on rescuing a pet that represents and symbolises several IRL years of activity and dedication to the site, and while it might not be a huge boost to the site's income it surely can't hurt to have the option for people who are willing to spend on it. It's not a pay to win, it's a minor feature that won't give any advantages (unlike VIP, character changes or wizard cards) but still provide something valuable to the player. 

You can't always foresee that you won't be able to look after an online pet, after all. If I'd realised I wouldn't feed my pets for over a week I would've put them in the kennel, galleons is not the issue here. What I lack is foresight >.<