Cover image via @shimaaris (Instagram)
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A young boy has been accused of killing cats at a flat in Ampang, Selangor after CCTV footage showed him taking two kittens from a cage outside a resident's home
The incident was highlighted by animal activist Shima Aris in an Instagram post last Friday, 8 August.
In the post, she shared photos of the two dead kittens, saying they were taken from their cage on the fifth floor of Pangsapuri Seri Nilam Block D. Their bodies were later found on the fourth floor of the same building.
"How many more deaths [will there be before action is] taken, the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS)?
"Cats thrown from high floors, cats poisoned! I urge everyone to make an online DVS report," said Shima.
According to the activist, animal abusers should be held responsible for their actions, regardless of their age.
One of the videos she posted shows a resident pointing out bloodstains, splattered across the ground and wall on the fourth-floor staircase.
In an update on the next day, 9 August, Shima claimed an estimated 10 cats had been thrown from the flat's upper floors, and 16 others were poisoned
She brought one of the carcasses, a cat nicknamed Itam, to a vet for a post-mortem after accusing the authorities of inaction.
The vet said Itam may have been abused, hit by a vehicle, or fallen from a building, citing trauma around its eye.
An inspection of its mouth revealed intact teeth and no signs of vomiting, suggesting the blood on its tongue may have been caused by internal bleeding.
Reports about animal abuse in the flat have been emerging since last month, prompting residents to call on DVS to act swiftly to identify the perpetrator
In a 17 July Sinar Harian report, 60-year-old resident Rohani Osman said residents should be kind to all animals, especially cats.
"I think cats are also like humans. They are a living creature and loved by the Prophet. If the perpetrator is willing to do that, then they are truly cruel," she was quoted as saying.
Another resident, Zie Azhar, 54, described the incident as cruel and disgusting, saying many cat carcasses were recently found in the building's communal areas.
"We have laws. Use those laws to teach those who abuse animals a lesson. Otherwise, these incidents will continue to happen," she said.
The Malay daily reported that some residents have already filed a report with DVS.
On 14 July, Shima claimed the alleged cat killers had been paying children to abuse and kill cats.
"These cowards don't even have the spine to do it themselves anymore because they know they're being watched. So, instead, they exploit kids to carry out their cruelty," she wrote.
Last Saturday, Buletin TV3 reported that DVS is still investigating the case
It is understood that several measures have been taken after the CCTV clip showing the boy taking two kittens out of a cage went viral.
Meanwhile, Ampang Jaya district police chief ACP Mohd Azam Ismail said his department has not received a report regarding the latest incident, but confirmed receiving four animal abuse reports in the flat last month.
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