Punish people who torture, kill animals

Recently a puppy was killed in a particularly vicious manner by a Muscatine County man. Thanks to the lack of common sense on the part of the courts, the perpetrator of this horrible deed had his sentence suspended, making him free to commit more crimes.

People who torture and kill animals should be punished severely. This man should be doing community service at the very least and he should be prohibited from owning an animal. He also should serve time in order to think about what he has done.

Sadly, our animal laws are useless when judges continue to release these violent offenders. Officers of the court must realize what everyone else knows - that animal abusers graduate to hurting people. The judge who is responsible in this case should be ashamed.

Dixie Saylor

Iowa City