IPOH: A 42-year-old mechanic has been arrested for allegedly abusing his pet dog.
Ipoh OCPD Asst Comm Abang Zainal Abidin Abang Ahmad said the suspect was arrested on Monday (Jan 20) from his house in Taman Ria near Bercham.
He said the suspect has a criminal record with four previous criminal and 17 narcotics related offences.
“The suspect claimed he hit the dog with a sledgehammer after the dog had bit him.
“We seized the hammer used,” he said when contacted Wednesday.
ACP Abang Zainal Abidin said the dog has been rescued by the Veterinary Services Department (DVS) for treatment.
It was reported earlier that a video had gone viral on social media, showing a man beating a dog with what appears to be a sledgehammer
The dog seemed to be tied to the front gate of the house.
A woman, believed to be the one recording the video, is heard speaking in a Chinese dialect and appears upset.
The video was posted on the Malaysian Dogs Deserve Better Facebook page, detailing the incident in the neighbourhood.
It was claimed in the post that the suspect lives opposite the complainant's house and attempted to kill the dog, and it was also said that the police were informed about the matter immediately.
When contacted, Ipoh Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ISPCA) president Ricky Soong had said that the incident occurred on Saturday (Jan 18) night.
He said he received a call about the matter at about 9.30pm from a neighbour, and he was told that the police went over to warn the suspect.
“I lodged a report of the incident with the DVS.
“I was also informed that the man then took the dog into the house, and the neighbour claimed they could no longer hear the dog's barks,” he said.
“I hope DVS takes the necessary action,” he said.
