If i seen some kid hurting little animals, I think i would put that kid in a hospital (or worse). But this is a game, and a well made story. The author isn't promoting the abuse of animals (I don't think anyway), but instead he is taking you on a strange, horrible journey to a place you hope you would never have to go, with a monster far more real and scarier then people normally see in today's fictional media.
P.S. There was a boy just like this in the book "IT". But when they made the movie, they took him out because it was too disturbing. Was that the inspiration for this ? If the author reads this could you please comment.