As for why the church would step in to recommend no
punishment for this man, I haven't a clue. The church group
is Church of Morman (Latter Day Saints), and I don't know
what there teachings are regarding animals.Maybe they
want to "save" this man, and don't consider the animal
abuse as worthy of punishment. I really don't know.
There is an new article at the Freckles update page that's
titled "Domestic Violence Victims , aren't all human"
that tells the depth of the animal/human abuse problem.

http://www.pasadosafehaven.org/Freckles_home.htm