What possesses some people to hurt animals, most especially baby animals?

I would truly appreciate an honest and non-judgmental answer as to why, not how they should be dealt with, as this is something we all already know. I'm looking on the basis of prevention, not punishment, as the perpetrator is himself a child.
Answers:
I've heard that kids who hurt animals may be experiencing some kind of trauma in their lives. This may turn into something bigger later on in life and the abuse could then move to a human target. If it were my child, I would talk to a councilor, child psychologist, or a psychiatrist to find the underlying root of the problem. He or she is obviously not listening to the people who tell him or her not to do this. Punishment probably won't fix this problem, just increase the intensity of the animal abuse and/or make it more frequent. Good luck.

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They've often been abused, and see injuring other small people and creatures as a way to regain a sense of dominance. But they should be counseled on it ASAP, as research shows many hardcore criminals -- even serial killers -- start by torturing and killing animals.

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They feel they can take advantage of the helpless - they would probably do the same thing to a baby or the elderly if they thought they could get by with it!@

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Most of the one's I know of are cowards and losers. They want to be in control and show their cowardly strength over a small defensless animals.

Animal abusers are usually the ones that turn out to be serial killers.

I would kill an animal abuser before I would kill a child abuser, but heaven would be to place two of them together and kill both of them with a single shot. like what the Japanese Soldiers did to Americans they captured in WW2.

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I think a lot of hurt is inside this child and he or she is taking it out on the animal.You should seek counseling for the child.

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gently and lovingly but firmly explain that this is not
acceptable behavior. explain that the animal is very
delicate and must be handled gently the same as the
child was handled gently as a baby. also explain that
it is not good to cause pain with "after all you don't want
someone or something bigger than you to come along
and hurt you.."