Four years ago Smokey the Elder (RB) was diagnosed with a really tough cancer that I elected to have treated. I got a comment from someone to the effect of why are you treating her when she has such a small chance of survival? The reply, and feel free to use it in future: "I don't believe in disposable pets." That was such an incredible squelch that not only did I never get any negative comments again, but people also asked how she was doing with the chemo, etc.