Being Cruel to animals usually gives the person a feeling of superiority. The fact that, by nothing more than 10 fold intellect, the person is able to kill/be cruel to the animal makes them feel dominant.
Kind of like the whole taxidermist deal
Hunters shoot bears who are drinking water peacefully or eating some berries or whatever. and then they have them stuffed into a position to suggest the bear was crouched and ready to attack and the human had the strength and cunning to pull out a firearm and take down this vicious, Carnivorous creature. Man vs Beast. Or Lead vs beast as it should be phrased.