http://www.fivedoves.com/letters/oct2010/barrya1020.htm
 
I'll take a stab at it.
Since you mentioned your father is a passed away Christian and he destroyed this pet that you were trying to destroy.
I would guess that it represents something that you struggle with getting rid of.
At one point you describe that pet as being filthy.
But then you say you love pets.
I know in my own experience that some of the things that I struggle getting rid of have spiritual power.
That is they have demonic influence.
A demon is a being without a spirit.
It has a personality.
Even in people we don't like we sometimes find attributes that we somehow enjoy.
So too with demonic strongholds.
Getting rid of them is like getting rid of an old friend even though they are harmful friends.
Does music have anything to do with it?
Then there are the old standard ones, sexual, greed, and other unhealthy life styles.
 
If we are running out of time this could be a serious warning.