It’s pretty clear from looking over this week’s paper that people love their pets. When we sent out the call for cute pet photos, we had no idea what kind of response we’d get.

We were deluged with e-mails, Facebook messages and the like with pictures of dogs and cats, as well as more out-of-the-ordinary companion animals such as horses, goats, snakes and hermit crabs.

Included with many of the photos were individual stories about just how special a particular pet is. There were several stories of pets who work in an official capacity as therapy dogs and many more of how their particular animal provides emotional therapy to the owner and their family. These pets are treasured family members. Many refer to them as their children. They are spoiled, indulged, pampered and loved. It does our collective hearts good to hear these happy tales of wagging tails.

It’s hard to reconcile these heartwarming stories with the treatment other pets receive—from abandonm...