[sandman-54]

I think torture in some cases is worse than death and I would blow one of the young men's hands off (reluctantly) in order to prevent a cat from being tortured. Although one of law's purposes is general deterence, that is irrelevant in this case since it is implied that you are the only one that can affect this particular situation. I would rather a man's hand be blown off than a higher mammal be severely tortured.