Kicking does not require you to bend down to grab it. It just takes accuracy and good timing. One well placed kick could render the squirrel immobile and subject it to a public kicking on the front lawn. You also fail to see the posibility of catching the squirrel offguard and eliminating the need for a chase at all.
it would bother me because I don't like to see anything living to be hurt. But for a squirrel? Probably nothing.