I can't help but notice that we've strayed from the objective of this topic. Back to the topic, animal abusers, first time or not, should deserve heftier punishments. It's the same as saying, "I got pissed off at my neighbour defecating at my lawn everyday so I set him/her on fire." In accordance to any law, that's attempted murder and arson. so it should apply to the law protecting animals. Animals are also lives that the law should be protecting, if not extinction will be imminent.