I think Gandhi had it right when he said:
“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated”.
America is a capitalist society in which some people are beholden to ideas and not the duty and responsibility associated with reality; therefore, it is expected that some people who live in America, perhaps a great many, treat the lives of animals as temporary fixes of boredom, merely tossing them aside when the new "toy" flashes across the advertising screen.
For example, and we all know this one, at the beginning of summer mom and pop take little Johnny or Pedro or Jinny or Kai to pick out a puppy. At the end of summer, it's time for school again and mom and pop don't have time anymore. Pup goes to the pound.
Disposable. Carelessness. Irresponsible. Shallow. Downright lame!