Rocky, a pet dog in Port Klang, died after he was allegedly struck, restrained and dragged during an incident on July 29.
During the “Justice for Rocky” press conference held yesterday (Aug 6), Rocky’s owner, Rohini Dewi, said she was willing to hand Rocky over but claimed the residents involved refused to release the restraint around his neck.
She said she returned home to find Rocky being held by two people as a crowd gathered nearby.
Admitted Rocky did not have a licence
Rohini said she told those involved that she would cooperate and allow them to take Rocky.
If you want to take him, I can carry him into the van and hand him over myself. I will not stop you,” she recalled telling them.
She also admitted that Rocky did not have a licence and acknowledged that she was at fault for not obtaining one.
However, she claimed that despite repeatedly pleading with the residents to release the restraint, they continued pulling it.
Rohini said she held Rocky and later sat down on the road with him on her lap, as seen in the viral video.
She continued asking those involved to loosen the restraint, but they allegedly refused.
Tried to cut the restraint
Rohini said she then asked her child to bring a pair of scissors.
However, as her child was panicking, she brought a knife instead and attempted to cut the restraint.
Rohini claimed the restraint was too hard to cut and that residents stopped her child from trying.
When Rohini attempted to cut it herself, she alleged that someone pulled her away and struck her with a piece of wood.
She said she became extremely distressed as Rocky grew weaker.
Rocky was already unresponsive
Rohini previously said Rocky did not respond when she tried to hug or lift him after arriving at the scene.
According to her, council officers arrived several minutes later and the restraint was eventually removed.
However, Rocky was no longer responding by then.
Rocky’s remains were later handed over to the Selangor Department of Veterinary Services for an official veterinary examination.
Persatuan Haiwan Terbiar Malaysia president Kalaivanan Ravichandran said during the press conference that Rocky’s licensing status should be investigated separately from the way he was handled.
He added that the absence of a licence did not give anyone the right to cause unnecessary pain or suffering to an animal.
SAFM said it would continue monitoring the investigations by the police and the Department of Veterinary Services.
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