Perhaps that's hard for you to imagine in the U.S. since shepherding isn't so common here but in Spain, Australia or New Zealand there are large flocks. I've visited Spain and remember seeing very many sheep. Every flock has one or more handlers, shepherds, with their dogs which round up the sheep if they get too far away from the flock. Every now and then a sheep gets caught on barbed-wire fencing or on some log and such. Then the shepherd will bandage up the sheep and dispatch it back to the stall or the flock depending on the severity of the injury.
Shepherds really care for their animals.
Many of you, like me, have or had pets. When your dog, cat or canary gets hurt, you are hurt because you love this animal as if it were your very own child. Our relationship with God is much the same way. I've heard it said that if we all obey God with the unfailing loyalty of a dog we'd all get to Heaven. God loves us beyond our wildest dreams.