In South Carolina last week a judge sentenced a 22 year old man to 5 years, reduced to 3 years in prison and 2 of probation. 

Now, to be perfectly honest, I wouldn't care if this man was sent to Alcatraz, if it were still a federal prison, but does the punishment fit the crime?

The man was having an argument with his girlfriend when the &*%$#@ tossed her puppy off of a balcony of an apartment building.  The poor puppy suffered massive head & body injuries and was euthanized. The judge, expressing his shock and disgust is quoted as saying in the courtroom "You mean he threw a helpless animal off three floors because he was mad at someone?"

In the news everyday we read about drunk drivers who get their hands slapped, pedophiles and rapists who get released after spending less than a year behind bars and, of course, all those celebrities who just seem to get into trouble all the time.

Personally, I don't even like killing an insect.  I think that animal abuse is just one step away from violence against another human, especially when it's obvious (as in this case) that unmanageable anger caused the offender to lose control.  Still, I'm not sure spending 3 years of his young life behind bars is the only way to send a message that what he did was reprehensible. 

What do you think about this judge's decision?