[you know what, he's right to be sad. this sounds horrible. so she's not letting up with the gentle pets and lets him be upset, staying close though.]

...it's hard when you want to love and care about people, but they find reasons not to love or care about you back. [tentatively.] But your actual owner loves you and wouldn't kick you out, would he? Everything that happened out there was just like a bad dream.

[it's not going to change those feelings or experiences, but...it's something to try and hold onto, she hopes. even if pickles isn't feeling up to talking back, it's what she wants to offer.]