I agree with you to a certain extent Nen, but when l was in the Sevices and posted abroad for 2/3 years. We adopted pets from people who had finished their tour of duty. We were encouraged not to take our loving pets back to the UK, because animals are not like humans, they don't adjust to change in the same way as we do. We all like to keep our pets for as long as we can , but peoples circumstances change, so you should not criticise a person when they have to leave a loving pet behind. 

Sorry Nigel, but you have not answered my questions