I was only trying to save the cat, says businessman accused of animal cruelty

A BUSINESSMAN has claimed that he and his family were being criticised on social media following a misunderstanding involving a viral video of a cat which was tied behind a moving pick-up.

Leong Chan said the whole incident was wrongly interpreted and that he was trying to save the cat.

He said he caught the cat earlier this week after trying to catch it for spaying.

"This was after the cat gave birth to several kittens, some of which were found dead in my home in Simpang Ampat, Juru,” he said.

Leong said he travelled between his homes in Ipoh and Simpang Ampat which has become an area for stray cats to gather.

He said leaves cat food for the cats and they have since turned it into their adopted home, especially when Leong is away in Ipoh.

During his recent trip back to Penang, he found dead kittens and he traced them to one particular female stray cat.

"We found kittens dead not once but twice over the past several months. I decided the best approach was to spay the cat and I needed to catch it first."

On Tuesday, he managed to catch the cat. He used a collar and leash to prevent it from escaping and made an appointment the next day to send it to a veterinary clinic, about 1.5 km from his home.

He placed the cat inside a basket in the trunk of his friend's (Daniel Khoo) pick-up 4WD and headed to the clinic.

Along the way, the cat managed to get out of the basket and attempted to escape but was prevented by the leash.

A passer-by snapped a photograph of the cat on the leash, being dragged behind the 4WD with the number plate fully visible.

It went viral within minutes as an act of animal cruelty.

"The leash was not tight and was placed gently around the neck to prevent the cat from running off until it was spayed," said Leong.

He only discovered the cat was outside the 4WD when he arrived at the clinic and rushed it for treatment.

The cat is alive and on the road to recovery and after lodging a police report to clear the air, Leong was asked to place the cat under the care of the state veterinary services department in Seberang Jaya.

He also shared a video of the feline running all over the office in the department.

"I need your help to inform everyone that I meant no harm. I love animals."

He said netizens managed to track down Khoo's address and details and began abusing him online.

"His family was also targeted, and his young son was also berated by his maid for the alleged animal abuse," he said.

"I agreed that I was rather careless about placing the cat inside the basket and didn't secure it well until it managed to get out.

"I thought it was just  a few minutes' drive and the basket would be adequate."

Nibong Tebal police chief Chong Boo Khim also clarified that the alleged act of cat cruelty was not what it appeared to be.

Chong said Leong has clarified the matter with the police through a police report and confirmed that a few reports were also lodged against him for alleged animal abuse.

"Investigations revealed that Leong was on his way to an animal clinic after finding the stray near his housing estate.

“He took the cat to be spayed at a nearby clinic. On the way, he was unaware that the cat, which he placed behind the 4WD, attempted to jump out and was left hanging by a leash tied around its neck. It was only upon reaching the clinic that he noticed and immediately removed the leash and got the cat treated,” Chong said. – August 11, 2024.