In fact, I would argue this is EXACTLY how all charity should be handled.
I only have an issue when the government shows up with basically a gun pointed to my head to take my money to give it to them.
Everything I just said is dependant of course on if this is really the situation and not some sort of scam.
I’m with you, these poor people just lost everything they had, and now are fearful of losing their best friend on top of that. They are traumatized and feeling dislocated from their lives, and probably have little means of replacing the essentials to live off of, let a lone vet expenses. This is a simple case for not just charity but mercy.