Sad story - I have a guess, but it’s just that. The reason she was “rescuing” was she was afraid that the animals would be euthanized. Caring for them became too much financially, emotionally, physically or all three. If she surrendered them, she would fear (probably correctly) that some would be euthanized. She preferred to have them die with her, someone they knew.
Rationality isn’t one of the strong elements of suicide, but I could see the above happening.
Exactly.