I guess that's my point, Rodger. An animal is an animal. If it isn't an endangered species, and it isn't a human, then again, what gives? Like others have said, if the guy shaved the kitten and stir-fried it, then he wouldn't have done time. Anytime anyone talks about the "humane" treatment of animals I get a little miffed. An animal isn't a human. There is no humane way to eat a chicken. So the guy snapped the neck of a kitten? If he took it to get it gased at the SPCA he wouldn't have gone to jail, but either way the end result is the same.
BTW, I know I sound like a psycho right now. Maybe it was because my younger brother accidently killed a young cat when he was a small boy, and my mom literally beat the crap out of him....and seeing her freak out on him was more disturbing to me than the dead cat.
Time for my Prozac.
TJR