The root of the word abuse is use. When humans use any other creature, abuse follows.

Animal rehomers are asked all the time for a dog or cat for mother or father but usually it is for mother.

Mother often lives in an apartment and is dependant on others for her survival. The elderly are notorious for neglecting animals: their dogs are obese, toe-nails overgrown; skin and ear infections and rotten teeth are common.

No ethical animal rehomer hands over a dependant little life to anyone who is also dependant on others for survival.

The children of the elderly person always promise that if anything happens to mother, they will adopt the dog, but there are far too many calls from family members who are trying to off-load mother's dog after she has died, often accompanied by the threat, "We will take it to the SPCA if you won't take it", for us to trust them.

Feel-good stories of animals "helping" humans get a lot of press but as usual no one is telling the story that the animals would tell if they could do studies and send out press releases.