woman denied cat for living in rough area of town

believe it or not.  while cats die in shelters every day due to the old myth of "not enough homes," an elderly woman in england was denied a cat by the very rescue group trying to adopt them out.

the reason?  the woman lived in a bad area.

what's worse -  the slight possibility of a cat being hurt by neighborhood kids or a cat sitting in a shelter cage with a good chance of being euthanized?