These people couldn’t even TOUCH the cat. IF and IF they could get close enough to hold out an oven mitt with chicken on it, the cat would run past them. That apparently was a step up from having their arms and face clawed and bit.
And he acted astonished that they wouldn’t spend that kind of money on cancer surgery that wasn’t even a guarantee. He basically publicly badgered and humiliated them into agreeing to get the surgery. For an animal that they couldn’t even TOUCH. That is not a ‘pet’ and no one should feel obligated (not that I don’t love cats and animals and all animals deserve a chance, but just dang) to spend that kind of money when the vet suggests putting them down.
I don’t remember seeing any episode like that. Do you remember what season it was on and what the cat’s name was?
From what I recall of that episode, the cat WAS a pet, or at least was in the process of becoming one.
You have to understand where Jackson's attitude about euthanasia is coming from. He worked at animal shelters and was personally involved in putting down animals. That's hard for most people to deal with....in fact, I've heard Mark Levin talk about the harrowing atmosphere of animal shelters and the courage one needs to work there. So of course Jackson is going to try and talk any owner out of euthanasia, whenever possible.
Bottom line, however, a person can't be badgered into anything unless he allows it. I believe the owner of that particular cat was an architect who might well have been able to afford the treatment. Either way, ultimately the choice was up to him.