That's a very jacked-up psychotic thing to do to the kid, no doubt. And it was obviously potentially very cruel to the rodent if it wasn't quick - but any more so than rat poison, or a trap that doesn't always break the neck, or being stuck until starved to death? Probably not, and the animal cruelty charges lack a little common sense & perspective, IMO.
Edit: Then again, the POS "Mom" does deserve the book thrown at her - and the kid taken away (though that can end up even
worse).
