Should animal abuse be considered violent crime

[Catherine]

I understand how you feel. It is hard not to be angry about animal abuse.
The sentences given are nothing compared to the crime.

We do need to classify animal abuse as violent crime because it is by nature violent. We are coming to realize that a tendency to violence does not distinguish between animals and humans. Once we recognize that we can deal with animal abuse more firmly.

Recognizing animals as creatures that should be protected from violence would show that we are maturing as a society. I think laws will be changed. The man who killed Cecil can be prosecuted under anti poaching laws. I don't know if they can do it, but if he gets off in a court of law, he won't get off in the court of public opinion.
In the end justice is done. Sometimes it takes longer.

The man who abused a puppy on an elevator(in front of a camera) ended up losing his job because people pressured the company he works for. In at least this case there were consequences.