UPDATE: Simone Allene from Rawai Animal Lovers (RAL) confirmed in a comment on Facebook that the authorities are taking legal measures against the dog owner. Ms Allene did not disclose any details.
“Prosecution is being taken against him but cases need to be highlighted more to make these people understand. I have had to deal with more cruelty cases in the last year than in all the years I have done rescue. In fact, Soi Dog Foundation have had to highlight this as well,” RAL founder wrote.
The shocking incident was brought to light on Thursday (May 9) by a Russian woman from Chalong. In her post in a popular Russian-speaking group on Facebook, she revealed that a much-loved cat in her neighbourhood was mauled by dogs belonging to a local police officer. The incident took place in Soi Anusorn on Wednesday (May 8).
The poster alleged that the man provoked the attack, in which the dogs inflicted fatal wounds on the cat named Wan-O or Fatty. The man then picked up the dying cat and disposed of the body without making any attempt to save the animal.
The Russian woman provided a video showing the man picking up the unresponsive cat from the ground with several dogs around.
As of today (May 12) the original post has been deleted, but the story has received development in Thai social media. On Friday (May 10), the story and the video were publicized by the Phuket Info Center news page, sparking a huge public outcry.
Phuket Info Center also tagged the Soi Dog Foundation as Wan-O had been “registered with” the foundation and received treatment from Soi Dog volunteers.
Following the Phuket Info Center’s post, local reporters visited Soi Anusorn and interviewed several residents who previously cared for Wan-O and were deeply saddened by his death.
One of the residents revealed to the reporters that Wan-O was the second cat killed this year by the unnamed police officer’s dogs. The previous incident occurred in April, reports Khao Phuket, The Phuket News’ sister newspaper in the Thai language.
Phuket reporters failed to interview the police officer as he was not at home when the reporters visited Soi Anusorn.
It is not clear to which authorities the case has been reported and what response has been received. None of the relevant agencies or animal welfare organizations has publicly commented on it as of today (May 12).