I agree with McheleM. I watch alot of cop shows (law & order, CSI, etc..) and when they talk about mentally disturbed ppl, torturing/killing animals is one of the early signs.
I enjoy scifi/horror as well but if there's a scene where I think an animal is going to be killed, I turn it off.
I'm one of those ppl that won't mind if ppl are killed in a movie but if a dog dies.. omg, I will flood the room.