Just because people think the man in question deserves to be punished harshly doesn't mean we would value the life of this puppy over that of a four-month old baby!! Talk about taking something out of context and twisting it. Nobody said they thought anything of the sort, for goodness sake.
Ask any mental health professional, and they will tell you that it's a well documented fact that cruelty to animals (among a whole host of other malicious acts) is one of the precursers to serial killing! It doesn't mean that the man is/would be a serial killer, but most serial killers have committed acts like beating a puppy to death before moving onto humans.
A couple of months counseling and some community service wouldn't be doing the man or society any good. He would need serious, long term therapy, and even then, it might not be successful. If he is, in fact, a socio-or psychopath, there is not much you can do for them.
Yep, if he is a true socio/psyche he can play you like a violin with his charm while torturing cats in his basement. It is a thrill they can't and won't live without. They can never be trusted around anyone or anything helpless again. Ever. Animals, human...ever.