What's the punishment for dog abuse?

I'm doing a PE assignment. I have to make a story that uses courage, or something like that and I need to know what the punishment is for this situation.

There is a group of three 13 and 14 year old year old girls. They have a small puppy and begin to...

kick it as another looks on, terrified for the dog's safety. The poor puppy is knocked unconcious, but the trio continues to kick. in the end, the dog receives a broken leg, a few broken ribs and heaps of bruises. The onlooker steps in and tries to stop the girls. She tries all she can, but they won't stop, so the rspca is alerted and turns up only minutes later. Then they give out the punishment to the girls. (Or should the poice turn up and deal out the punishment?) What should the punishment be? What would happen in real life?

Help would be appreciated.

They get a large fine and can face up to two years in jail, I think
I am not totally sure so I would google it.

=]

OhmygodandtheycallMEemo.

0_o ok, some one needs pills asap

fine

Thanx doglover, I'll put that in.

Girls this age, might do some time in Juvenile Detention...but probably not much...a fine...whatever the going rate for animal abuse would be in that area...But I'm certain that they'd all be court ordered to counseling...

phrannie

I deal with actions such as this all the time. I volunteer as an animal abuse investigator. Unfortunately, the girls would just receive a fine and maybe court ordered counseling...
I have my doubts that animal services would have arrived so quickly and without the police. Depending on the area, animal control can't give tickets or make arrests, they are responsible for the animals. The would file a cruelty report for investigation but not be able to arrest the girls.
There was something that happened much like this in my town recently.
5 children found a hurt dog (had been hit by a car) in some bushes. An adult walking by saw them kicking the bushes and went to investigate. The dog was dead by then. The police were called and the children were released to their parents. They appeared in court but were let off because their attorney argued that the dog was injured already and they did a "good service" by putting him out of his misery.
I want to add that if you read case files on serial killers ALL started by abusing animals. That is not saying that all abusers will grow up to become serial killers but it does make you wonder what type of child abuses an animal and what they grow to become.

Death!