KUALA LUMPUR – The police have launched a new investigation into the deaths of three cats at Universiti Malaya (UM).
The move comes after pressure from activists and animal welfare associations urging the authorities to conduct a further investigation into the deaths of the animals.
Kuala Lumpur police chief Datuk Rusdi Mohd Isa confirmed yesterday that an investigation file had been opened, and statements would be recorded from the parties involved.
At the same time, he said, the police would also call on representatives from animal welfare associations to record their statements regarding the comments made through the media following the tragic deaths of the cats.
“We will record statements from the relevant parties on Thursday,” he said. However, he did not mention who would be called.
Rusdi had previously said that a review of CCTV footage around the location of the deaths of two cats at UM revealed that the animals were attacked by a pack of stray dogs.
He said a review conducted with the Veterinary Services Department confirmed that the injuries sustained by the cats were caused by an attack from wild animals.
However, yesterday the Stray Animal Foundation Malaysia (SAFM) rejected the report suggesting that stray dogs were responsible for the deaths of the cats, which were found in a horrific condition at the university.
SAFM, in a statement, said that the viral CCTV footage did not provide sufficient evidence to blame the stray dogs, and an examination of the cats’ carcasses showed injuries such as severed limbs.
This condition, according to SAFM, is more consistent with the use of sharp objects rather than random bites by dogs.
“Dog attacks typically involve bites and ragged tears, with a focus on the neck area to weaken the victim.
“The consistency of the injuries across all the cats suggests that this was not a random attack by animals, but most likely involved deliberate human action.” – 25 December, 2024