I'm aware I may get flamed for this...
First, please note I am a vegetarian, have a much loved dog and cat, and like animals generally. Was shocked by the cat in the bin and puppies in the river incident. Hate animal cruelty.
So, AIBU to not quite think this is such a big deal?
uk.news.yahoo.com/5/20100925/tod-the-pink-prankster-cat-covered-in-dy-870a197.html
BBC reports the same thing:
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-wiltshire-11407516
'The RSPCA is trying to trace the owner of the animal and described the culprits as "sick".'
Why? Sick imo is enjoying causing an animal pain and suffering. The cat is just pink! The dye is non-toxic, so it will not be harmed by licking it, and the 'yobs' who did it have obviously (it is noted in the article) taken care not to get any near the cat's eyes, nose and mouth.
Now, this is clearly not fair on the cat, but I'm struggling to see what harm it will do to it. It may have more difficulty hunting (but being white it would have difficulty anyway and will be fed by owners/RSPCA so it doesn't need to hunt) and it will look a bit foolish.
So what I'm saying is: yes, it was wrong to dye the cat pink, but why is it a 'sick prank' by 'yobs'?
It was apparently thrown over a garden fence, not sure what 'thrown' means here, but surely throwing a cat is more of a big deal than dying its fur?
I just keep thinking people need a bit more of a sense of perspective. There are far worse crimes going on unreported.