I would do the same thing . . . my assumption has always been, through half a dozen moves, some of them across the country that the animals, all of them, are coming. Even the fish.
Unfortunately, many people aren't willing to go the extra mile for their pets. . . . or have no support from anyone, which can make a huge difference.
What truly appalls me is them abandoning the animals in the house. Damaging the building, and consigning the animals to a painful death. If you really can't keep them, why don't you take them to a shelter like a halfway responsible human being. Of course, most people say can't keep them LONG before they really look at all the options.