[teenyelliott]

There is a big difference between getting rid of vermin, butchering a farm animal, and squeezing to death someone's pet for the sole purpose of inflicting distress on another human being.

A dead hamster may seem funny to many of you, but to me the mindset of a person who, in a rage and intent on doing emotional damage to a loved one, injures or kills a pet is something to be worried about.

If this was some man who killed his girlfriend's puppy in order to scare her you would all be screaming for her to get away from him, but somehow this is a joke.

[RobRoy]

>>and squeezing to death someone’s pet for the sole purpose of inflicting distress on another human being.<<

I compare that to keying someones prized classic car. Same motivation. Same effect.

[jimt]

A dead hamster may seem funny to many of you, but to me the mindset of a person who, in a rage and intent on doing emotional damage to a loved one, injures or kills a pet is something to be worried about.

That's true. But a felony conviction for a hamster is WAY over the top. How about a low grade misdemeanor, and 2 weeks community service at an animal shelter. Even that's fairly severe.