I actually found it difficult to pick something that better described this phenomena. These are obviously people whose compassion for animals is a function of

I actually found it difficult to pick something that better described this phenomena. These are obviously people whose compassion for animals is a function of their cuteness. I don't see them organizing lynch mobs for similar but much more inhumane acts against farm animals happening in their own communities. Would people care if this was a litter of pigs? Or a litter of rats? And leaving aside this specific example, most people on this planet in rural communities don't have the economic means to employ a dedicated medical professional to put down their excess cats and dogs. For those people drowning the animals is a perfectly legitimate option, it sure beats watching them starve to death. Ignoring all of this and going straight to "oh those poor puppies, what a horrible person" as most people seem to respond is, I think, a privileged western viewpoint.