Elderly Pets for Adoption?!?

Okay, I haven't seen this here, but I feel like complaining about it here anyway. What is the matter with people who try to place their elderly pets for adoption? Just today, I saw a flyer at a petshop from someone wo was looking for a new home for an elderly dog, a listing on a pet adoption website for a 15-year-old cat, and a Park Slope Parents posting to give away a 14-year-old cat. In all cases, these were people's longtime pets that they don't want anymore -- it's always phrased like, "we just don't have time to give Fluffy the attention and care she deserves."

I just cannot imagine how someone could give away an animal they had owned for the pet's entire life. And who on earth do they think is going to take an elderly animal? Who is going to take on an old pet who is most likely entering the years of poor health, huge vet bills and incontinence? Maybe there are some saints out there who would take this on, but I find it hard to believe.

Don't get me wrong, I know it is tough caring for an elderly animal. My cat died at 17 after several years of kidney disease. We had big vet bills and horrible messes everywhere. I truly sympathize with someone who doesn't have the resources to deal with eldercare for an animal. But then the responsible thing is to have your pet put down, NOT to try to foist it off on someone else. It seems so cruel to send a 15-year-old cat to a new home. If anyone disagrees, please let me know. I would love to hear that in fact there are lots of good homes out there for elderly cats and dogs whose "owners" can't be bothered with them anymore.