It doesn’t matter what they consider it. If I take one of my neighbors lambs and eat it, even though it is a pet to them in the eyes of the law it is livestock.
Regardless, eating any animal is not cruel. If they can deem it cruel to eat a rabbit or a dog, it is a short step to claiming the eating of any animal is cruel.
I care for animals, but when we engage in these semantics, companion animal, instead of pet, care giver, instead of owner, pet, instead of livestock, we are on a dangerous course. Mark my words, as a caregiver you will one day be forced to supply whatever care the law deems necessary. You will not be able to put an animal down for what ever reason you see fit. It is simply another taking of property rights.
I consider my pets, pets, but what got this guy in trouble was his intent. It wasn’t like he did this because he was hungry and didn’t have anything else to eat. He did so because he was a jerk trying to get back at his ex-girlfriend. Laws may vary from place, but this rabbit was a pet and most people don’t eat their pets.