There is an organization in Ashville that is very concerned about animals and may be able to provide guidance and support. They may be able to help obtain a replacement pet which may help your son in dealing with his loss. That organization is Companion Animal Connection (C.A.C.)

http://www.geocities.com/cacanimal/
Who They Are...Companion Animal Connection is a small group of animal lovers that want to see more animals in quality homes and fewer animals euthanized in local shelters and abandoned in the streets. CAC volunteers have experience with thousands of animals in both medical care and temperament assessment.
Why Use CAC? Animals are our passion, not our business. CAC wants what is best for the animal and the adopter, not to make money. CAC raises money to fill the gap between the adoption donation and medical costs. All adopters are provided with the support needed to make the adoption successful (basic obedience, housebreaking, chewing, etc.) While awaiting adoption, animals stay in foster homes where they receive love and attention. Also, animals receive top notch medical care including vaccinations, heartworm testing, and spay/neuter surgeries. Adoptions are never final. We hope adopters will work at the relationship, but if a match does not work, the animal is returned to CAC.
What Do They Do? CAC matches people and companion animals. We help people find just the right companion to share their lives with. All animals are of sound temperament and receive thorough medical care. We consider lifestyle and animal personality when matching adopters and their animal.
Where Does CAC Find Animals? CAC animals are wonderful animals that need loving homes. They come from local shelters, rescue groups, previous owners, or are "strays" that have been abandoned. They may be mixed-breed or purebred, young or adult, canine or feline. They are animals that are simply victims of overpopulation and/or uncommitted owners.
The above information may sound like a promotion of a particular organization, that is in part true but my real intent is to show while we do have people in our community that perpetrate the heinous act described we also have individuals and groups of individuals that want to make our community a better place for ourselves and future generations of pet owners.
P.S. It is very important that incidents of this nature are communicated to the Police Department at 983-3112. So if anyone else experiences a similar problem we can track and see if we can catch the people involved.