You're right. These things do happen every now and then. I read in my local newspaper a few years ago of some kid who broke into a lady's house and stuck her cat into the microwave. The animal did not survive, even though the owner got it to the vet as soon as she could.
As you said, (the nerve of) some people, especially kids. What drives them to do things like that?
I hope the one who pulled this stunt was arrested and put in prison for extreme animal abuse.