Someone tried to put me at ease once, a long time ago by telling me that the animals I see were mostly rescues and probably suffering from some malady that doesn't allow them to fend for themselves in the wild, so have to be taken care of or else they would have had to have been 'put down'. Now, having been a Vet tech in my younger days and having assisted veteranarians in euthanizing cats and dogs - I have to say, well okay, but I'm still a wee bit skeptical - if only they could talk...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0uO5RKI-S8