So “Family Guy” killed off Brian Griffin, the family dog and only “normal person” on the show.

In the episode “Life of Brian,” which aired Nov. 24, Brian gets hit by a car and eventually dies from his injuries.

The shocking death of a popular character may have been a stunt to jolt sagging ratings. Such tragic deaths in fictional series have been known to happen a time or two.

Still, many fans are lashing out at the writers over Brian’s untimely death. Some say they will never watch the show again. Others are asking why couldn’t they have killed off Meg, the family’s black sheep, instead.

Now, of course, there is a petition to bring Brian back.

The reaction of longtime fans to the dog’s death — disappointment and anger — shows how deeply viewers get attached to their favorite characters, and how they begin to feel a sense of ownership over a work of fiction.

I will admit that I was kind of shocked and actually felt a little bad for Brian. I recently lost a family pet, so the death kind of hit home a bit.

To be honest, though, I haven’t watched “Family Guy” much in the past couple of years. But Brian has always been one of my favorite characters. I do have an inkling to watch a few episodes of the show now that Brian is gone. It should be interesting to see what the writers have in store with the new dog Vinny. Will this bring me back to watching the show consistently? Probably not.

Not having Brian on the show leaves a whole too big to be filled. I can’t imagine there being a good replacement. And that right there leads me to believe that the will eventually bring him back. That would be epic and would the show’s ratings would go through the roof.

But for now, R.I.P. Brian. Hope you’re enjoying a martini or two in TV dog heaven.