I feel your pain as well. Though more with my shammy healer. I was healing Blood Furnace with a warlock pet, 2 hunter pets, and a holy pally trying to tank. I had my hands full. As aggro would shift often.
I try my best to keep pets alive, but tank always comes first, players second (as they have armor repair bills- pets do not), pets are last- but if I see they are tanking, I try to keep them alive (tank still takes priority).