A story on WHO-TV 13 Monday night showed horrifying pictures of animal cruelty right here in the heartland.

A cat that’s cruel owner had shot staples into its nose and a dog with multiple lacerations on its face, stitched up like a hideous Frankenstein’s monster, were two of the animals featured in this story of abuse.

Anyone who could slice the face of a dog for pleasure is not far from finding the same pleasure by cutting a person.

Right now, you could torture and kill an animal on the Capitol steps, and you would be more likely to get a ticket for creating a public nuisance than for an open display of cruelty to an animal.

Currently, the state of Iowa mandates that animal cruelty be punished as a misdemeanor.

Efforts are underway to change all of that, however, by making it a felony to be cruel to an animal.

Some might argue that this is simply the attempt of tree-huggers and bunny-lovers to give the same rights to animals that humans enjoy, but that argument is fatuous.

Everyone should be concerned with overt acts of cruelty against animals regardless of which side of the political spectrum you might find yourself on.

It has been a long-established fact that sociopaths get their start by practicing on animals.

Think about all of the people you have known who got their jollies performing unspeakable acts on animals.

They don’t tend to be warm and inviting, upstanding citizens in all other areas of their lives.

You don’t see too many kids who enjoy putting firecrackers into the orifices of frogs who are described by their neighbors as angels.

Likewise, there are no serial killers who didn’t start out their careers by getting off on the fear and pain they caused neighborhood cats and dogs.

People who hurt animals are sick.

They need our help as much as any other social deviant.

But our society fails to see animal cruelty for the serious crime it is.

Iowa is taking a great first step toward ending cruelty towards animals.

Animal cruelty should be punished as a felony.

We cannot believe in the sanctity of life without acknowledging that there are some lines that should not be crossed, whether we are talking about human beings or animals.

Iowa State Daily Editorial Board: Sara Ziegler, Greg Jerrett, Kate Kompas, Carrie Tett and David Roepke.