I don't think this is true. A Vet visit is very expensive and many people can't afford it, this has nothing to do with how much they love their pet. You can't get blood from a stone, sadly, cost is probably why many much loved pets end up outside and in shelters it's tragic.
Sidebar, I wish animal activists would put their money where their mouths are fund free Vet clinics, no idea where all this donated money goes but it never seem to go to places that help regular people.