What could be psychologically wrong with a kid that is torturing animals?

Danger: This is a common sign of a kid who's likely to grow up to be a sociopath -- one without any empathy or sense of the importance of the feelings of others. I hope the parents are appropriately distressed by this behavior. If it's ongoing, it also suggests to me that the kid needs some serious, effective discipline.

Empathy: It can be one of the signs of a psycopath but not necessarily. Children who are humiliated and not shown empathy often model what has been done to them and in turn they become sadistic with an animal. Empathy can be taught and this child should be in psychotherapy. Best.

This is a harbinger: Of potential serious problems. I hope that the child receives intervention.