my child want to hurt animals

my child was playing at his friends when the other boys wanted to hurt a small rabbit, the little boys then told my little boy to strangle him as they wanted him dead, my little boy is 4 i just dont know why he would do that, since then he has been out with my husband and told him he wanted to a puppy that he seen dead, i realy dont know why he is doing this or thinking this.

[skepticalpeach]

It seems like he wants to because his friends encouraged him to do it. From what you said it doesn't sound like it was his idea. I wouldn't let him see those kids again and I would take him to a therapist.

[ALLYLISA]

yes thats what i was thinking letting him go and talk to someone, he hasnt been the same since me and my partner split a year and a half ago he seems like a different child.

[MrsLane]

My son also told me about a boy at school who talked about wanting to hurt animals and though this is could have been just a thing to say that he would never act on I took it very seriously and called the teacher to tell her what my son had said the other child said-and I told the teacher that I didn't want my son to sit by that boy in class anymore. You have to be careful at such an influential age. I would take your son to talk to some about it and I would talk to the other childrens parents about it as well as maybe end the friendship. Harming animals or smaller children is a red flag for many mental  health issues and it seems like these other children who talked your son into doing so may need help.