Since I could not load the OP link I read the NYT review (https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/21/books/review/great-cat-and-dog-massacre-hilda-kean.html?_r=0 https:

Since I could not load the OP link I read the NYT review (https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/21/books/review/great-cat-and-dog-massacre-hilda-kean.html?_r=0 https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/21/books/review/great-cat-an...) . What an interesting phenomenon, has it ever been truly explained? Was this purely a form of compassion by some of those who gave up pets? Surely someone important influenced this decision, an off hand comment or such?