The story behind a stray cat that hung from a truck and social media
Social media unleashed its ugly side to businessman Leong Chan when a photograph of a stray cat tied behind a truck he was driving went viral to an extent his family and friends are now hounded by well meaning netizens on the pretext of animal abuse.
The saying that the picture tells a thousand words couldn’t be truer to Leong, but in this case the picture told the opposite wrong of the photograph of a tied cat been dragged behind his truck.
It depicted animal physical abuse when in reality, the Ipoh – based man was actually trying to save the feline.
It started earlier this week, when the feline was captured by Leong after two days of searching for it because he was compelled to neuter the domesticated animal.
Why?
Because, the cat had given birth to several kittens, of which some were found dead in his landed home in Simpang Ampat, Juru.
He alternates behind his homes in Ipoh and Simpang Ampat of which the latter has become an area for stray cats to gather.
He leaves behind cat food for them to consume, so they come and have turned it into their adopted home, especially when Leong is away in Ipoh.
During his recent visits back to Penang, he noticed that kittens were found dead and he traced it 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 car and I needed to nab it first.”
On Tuesday, he netted the car and tied a noose behind it (like a dog collar chain) to prevent the kitty cat from escaping and he made an appointment the next day to send it to the nearby private veterinary services clinic, about 1.5 km from his home.
He placed the car inside a basket in the trunk of his friend’s Daniel Khoo four – wheel drive and drove to the clinic.
Along the way, the cat crept out and tried to shoo away but the noose prevented it, just as it was crawling out of the truck.
A passer – by snapped the photograph of the cat tied to the noose, been dragged behind the trunk of the vehicle with the number plate fully visible.
It went viral within minutes – as it was posted as a form of animal cruelty.
“The noose was not tight in reality. It was placed gently on the neck just to prevent the car from running off until it was spay,” said Leong.
Leong only discovered the cat was outside of the truck upon arriving 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 furry creature running all over the office of the department.
“I need your help to spell it out loudly. I meant no harm. I love animals.”
His clarion call for help came after netizens managed to track down his Khoo, who is the owner of the truck and began abusing him online.
When it emerged that he was the actual driver, his family was also targeted, and his young son was also berated by his maid for the alleged animal abuse by Leong.
Despite the police coming out to clarify the situation, as the photograph has since gone viral, Leong and his family continue to be abused online
The veterinarian, who treated the female stray cat, has also cautioned Leong to clear the misconception surrounding the feline.
“I agreed that I was rather careless about placing the car inside the basket and didn’t secure it well until the cat managed to get out.”
“I thought it was just a few minutes drive and the 4kg basket would be adequate.”
But the feline got loose and however entangled with the back trunk of the four – wheel drive, he said.
He needed the media to highlight his case, as social media has driven the wrong perception of the entire episode.
“Please, I did no wrong here and I think it was truly the case of a mistaken photograph.”
Police through the Nibong Tebal district police head Supt Chong Boo Khim has clarified that an alleged act of cat cruelty may not be as it initially appeared.
Chong said that the aggrieved person 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.
Chong said that the investigation revealed the complainant 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 had placed behind his four-wheel vehicle, 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 the situation and immediately removed the leash,” Chong reportedly said.
Leong may yet face a charge of neglect of an animal but he just wants the truth to be told and for his friend Khoo and his family to be left out of any more intimidation.
John Chin reads Harapan Daily.