Taking a stand

I feel very strongly about animal abuse. The thought of someone hurting there pet makes me feel very angry and sick to my stomach. I don't understand who could be so cruel as to beat of hurt something so much smaller than them, probable not even a tenth of the size of them. Pets are loving creatures that are sweet and would not inflict harm usually unless they are provoked. Animal abuse offenders should have to be punished the same way as hurting a human being. Maybe there punishment should be even longer because you have to be a really sick person to want to hurt an animal!