Some people see dogs and other animals as a nuisance. They don't beleive these animals have emotions or feelings. If an animal doesn't bring money or food into the house then they don't deserve to live. In the south where I live you constantly see abandoned dogs scavanging for food, ribs sticking out, or carcusses of dogs and cats on the side of the road. Some people think nothing of throwing a sack of unwanted kittens or puppies into the river. I've even heard of the banging their heads against something to kill them. They don't even have the decency to take them to a shelter. Of course they don't want to spend the money to spay or neuter. Killing is cheaper. Our family had a dog named Lucky. He wandered outside of the gate on day. He was 16 years old at the time. Blind in one eye, arthritic, and had lost most of his teeth. Even though he had his tags, was obviously well taken care of we found him about 1/4 mile from the house, lying in the middle of the road, shot to death. Why? That dog protected us, entertained us, loved us. In the last years of his life he wasn't even given a chance to die with dignity. I can remember my big 6'5" 200 lb brother who was 20 yrs old at the time, crying like a baby as he dug Lucky's grave in our back yard. People who kill like this don't understand the joy of bonding with an animal and that the love you show this animal is returned many times over.