I've read my own thoughts in so many of your posts! Witness this recent conversation with my husband:

Me: I think that when I am very old, I'll be one of those weird dog ladies with about 12 mutts underfoot at all times.

Him: Oh, no you won't.

Me: Well then, you'd better outlive me.

I too become very upset when I hear stories about animal cruelty, more so than when I hear stories about humans being cruel to one another. I've often wondered why it's so. Is it because I know that dogs would never be cruel to one another or to humans, just for the heck of it, as humans too often are? I don't especially want to wax philosophical and will stop right there, but I did want to say that I do know EXACTLY what you mean.