A mother animal is universally known as the last creature on earth you would want to tangle with, so we do recognize the strong bond. Apparently, we can attribute emotions to animals when it's convenient for us, then whip them away when it's not. How very human. Once again, only the owner of a purebred is allowed the luxury of exploiting his pet. People are proud to demonstrate the pure lineage of their dog or cat, which really only means the poor thing is hopelessly inbred.
Every breed is known for weaknesses, from hip dysplasia to epilepsy.
The human obsession with meddling in other species' lives to suit his purposes has resulted in animals that are too big, too small, too long, etc. for their own good. Official physical standards in one area have created great genetic difficulties in other, more important areas. Somehow, these standards are still considered superior. What it all boils down to is our desire for a particular type of dog or cat versus the animals' well-being. I don't know how anyone could honestly say that her desire for a purebred from a breeder outweighs the well-being of a shelter dog about to lose his life.