Tying him to a tree, or even beating him up would not teach him a thing, just make him angry and wanting of revenge.

As angry as this makes me, I do think he should serve his community service time with a Humane Society or like organization, where he could learn that animals are entrusted to our care and should be treated with respect. He could learn how much joy people can find in welcoming a new animal to their home. He would be supervised at all times.

And as much as part of me would like him to get saddled with mucking out stalls of large and temperamental horses who are within chomping or kicking distance, another part of me would like to see him in a room of puppies or kittens who are being silly, goofy and adorable, and completely irresistible. Something to thaw his heart even a little.

At least he gets jail time, even if it doesn't seem like much, it is better than what would have happened not too many years ago, sadly.