I completely agree with everything you said.
Maybe the difference is that I see all of these events in the context of why Jesus had to die on the cross for every single one of us. We all have our personal “demons” and are quick to condemn the demons of others while ignoring or minimizing our own.
Torturing animals is bad behavior. And the biggest problem I have with it is what it says about the person doing it. They obviously have some issues, be they with the world or the owner of the animal they tortured. It is, after all, a VERY effective way to “get back” at a person.
IOW, this is ALL about the damage done to, or being done to, the person torturing the animal. That is where my compassion is directed. I could not care less about the animal itself. It is a natural resource.
I do care about the animal. I especially have a soft spot in my heart for dogs. My dad told me once, “Dogs are a gift from God so we can know what unconditional love is like.”
I would like to someday be as good a person as my dog thinks I am.
My concern is with the duty of civil governance to protect human beings from the superficially humanoid creatures who are capable of such acts.
Your wife bears a heavy burden brother.