In central Illinois, a man was recently sentenced to six months in jail and probation for torturing his girlfriend’s cat, which later died....

In March, Sitter pleaded guilty to one count of animal torture. Reportedly, he dunked the cat, named Mocha, under cold water and beat it with a closed fist. Though Sitter’s girlfriend took Mocha to the veterinarian, who documented numerous injuries, the animal died several hours later.

Prosecutors lobbied for Sitter to be imprisoned for four years because he left the cat to suffer. The man’s public defender, however, argues that he has been in counseling and had depression.

Regardless of the fact that Sitter is mentally unstable, the judge sentenced him only to six months in prison with probation. Understandably, animal rights activists are outraged. What is the difference between one life form and another, they argue?