Thanks for highlighting this issue. It breaks my heart and infuriates me all at the same time. I've heard some people even consider pets, and animals in general, to have no soul. That they are like some sort of NPC in a game that can be discarded without a second thought.

My family always had pets growing up, and my folks still do today, and I was raised that if you bring in a pet, they are a part of the family. I wish more people thought of it that way instead of treating them like house ornaments or something worse.

Thanks for this piece.