I was grateful when he moved on to mice, voles, and even an occasional bird. He prefers squirrels and chipmunks....

I suspect the Mice, Voles, Birds, Chipmunks and Squirrels are somewhat less grateful.

Its really very annoying when purported "animal lovers" rank animals' lives in some sort of value hierarchy according to species.

Its also blatantly hypocritical & self-serving.

"Companion Animal" my arse.