I thought the following was relevant to this discussion about whether
a person who is cruel to his animals forfeits his right to own them.
It doesn't answer the question, but see this gemara from Y-mi Yevamos
15:3 daf 88a (near the bottom):
R' Lazar omeir:
Ein adam reshai liqach lo beheimah chayah va'of
ela im kein hiskin lahem mezonos
:-)BBii!
-Micha