SERI ALAM: Police have recorded the statement of a man who had allegedly abused his pet dog at a housing estate in Taman Johor Jaya here on Thursday.
Earlier, a 29-seconds long footage of a man repeatedly slapping a dog and hitting it with a cane, while forcing it to get into a house had gone viral.
The dog, believed to be four-month-old puppy, was laying down in front of the gate of the terrace house when a man appeared and violently grabbed the dog from the back of its neck, and dragged it.
Upon nearing the front entrance to the house, the dog seemed reluctant to get in, and squatted instead.
The man then hit the squatting dog with a cane, and also struck it, before grabbing it again and hurling it into the house.
The recording by taken by an individual sitting inside a vehicle, parked across the house.
An animal cruelty police report was lodged against the alleged abuser by a 49-year-old woman.
The footage was shared on various platforms including the Malaysian Dogs Deserve Better Facebook page.
It garnered numerous reactions, mostly urging the authorities to take immediate action against the culprit, while some suggested mirroring the abuse inflicted on the dog, onto the perpetrator, as a punishment.
Seri Alam police chief Superintendent Mohd Sohaimi Ishak said following the footage that went viral, investigation under Section 428 of the penal code for abusing an animal were initiated.
He said police will not tolerant any form of abuse on animals, and stern action according to the law will be taken if the culprits are found guilty, which includes a fine and a three-year imprisonment.
He added investigations under Section 29 (1) (a) of the Animal Welfare Act 2015, and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, are also underway.