Tell them that they and the pup were blessed to have each other. I’m sure they know they’ve given pup a wonderful home. As I told my brother last year: The dog had been born. It would have lived its life out somewhere. With my brother, that life was beautiful. I’m sure your son gave him a beautiful life. Part of the responsibility of a good pet owner is loving them enough to let them go easy. I know how hard it it as my heart has broken several times over the years. God bless them.
I know many dislike starlings but they really are quite intelligent. We had one when I was a child. It spoke as well if not better than most parrots. Mom gave it to a couple that owned a gun store. Star picked up quite a vocabulary about guns. One day it got out. I often wonder what it said to people out in the big world.