In the final analysis though, a pet is property. You're right, when a person must choose between the pet and meeting obligations to their family or other people, the priorities are obvious.
Such a choice from the narrow perspective of the animal may be considered cruel by ‘animal rights’ activists, but they're operating on their emotions without consideration of the larger personal context. They are (intentionally or not) trying to take our rights away.
Government should protect our property rights and not be dictating how you and I must act based on someone else’s (oligarch's/bureaucrat’s/activist's) feelings.
They can't be trusted to do the right things in their own lives, how is it better that they dictate how you and I live?
It is scary to think about. I don't trust them & I resent them quite a bit. I think for far too long we have been told what to do.....However I don't want to end up in jail for breaking the law either. I have to raise my daughter who is 9. I am sick of the people we vote into office who say they represent us being such liars. They are for themselves IMO & very few really care about what we the people want....