My point was that animals don't really get to *choose* their owners....other way around. So let's say landlord kicks dog's arse every day for no good reason but just because he's a miserable barstard. So you and the dog really have something in common, you both want to see the landlord dead. Dogs are usually submissive to their *owner*, especially when abused, so they can't do the deed themselves.
So let's just pretend I'm the dog. I'm happy as hell that my SOB landlord master is out for the day. I'm walking along the street thinking to myself 'Gee, I've got eight hours before my next arse kicking, what joy!'. Just admiring the scenery, maybe thinking about chasing a cat when you happen along and unload buckshot in my hind-quarters. 'Geez, thanks a freakin' lot, that just made my day! I might as well just go off and bleed to death now because my *master* isn't going to spend a nickel to have the vet remove 100 pellets from my backside!'