"I agree with you completely. It is an idea made up by childish, sick, sadistic minds. The Lord gave us dominion over the earth and its inhabitants, but we are to treat them kindly and responsively. It is sick that some enjoy and laugh at the suffering of helpless creatures, which does not mean people who care for animals don't care more for the unborn that are murdered."
That's a Christian response, and I'm surprised there aren't more like it here. It has always struck me as odd that liberal actvists don't extend that same sensitivity to innocent unborn babies!
"This also does not mean we agree with PETA and their tactics."
The HSUS were the ones who complained, though we can assume PETAS also objects, as do many soccer moms, etc..
"One of the first characteristics of a psychopath is their cruelty to animals. Why encourage such behavior?"
Absolutely. Adults should lead by teaching compassion, not emulate the worst of adolescence. The kind of adolescent who would enjoy such roadkill candy probably would enjoy "Faces of Death" along with their satanic death metal or rap.
It is natural to be curious about animals and our job to teach them how we relate to them. As adults we need to teach kids that the critters God gave us have souls, and meaning.
You grew up in some city. Right?