I can see where Bicker is coming from re his first few sentances. We live in a capitalist world which is good, and vets are highly trained. Likewise, I just had my boiler serviced and paid a 23 year old �230 for a few hours work. That is life. We pay for skilled services.
However, Bicker, you seem to let yourself down later on. You fail to realise that animals are further categorised. This is not namby pamby, this is anthropology and culture, thus very much part of British culture.
For example we do not eat cats and dogs in the UK whereas China (a third of mankind do). That is because such animals are "DOMESTICATED". This term applied to our furry friends has been in English usage since the 4th century. Therefore loukr's cat was not "just an animal" it was her domesticated animal.
This is the same way as if you were in a woods you would (if needs be) wee-wee up a tree without much ado. If you were in your home (domicile) {Note the letters dom, from the Latin domus=house} and your toilet was broken you would never wee-wee up your welsh dresser would you? But why not? A tree is just wood, a Welsh dresser is just wood! Because you are domesticated!!!! Just like poor Ollie was domesticated.
Just and animal yes, but a loved creature who indeed deserves better than being terminated by a spade.
Bless your heart loukr, and may Ollie be sh4gging loads of sexy felines in Cat Heaven.