Dog abuser sorry over incident

PETALING JAYA: The Singaporean caught on camera brutally attacking a guard dog in Puchong says he is filled with remorse and has offered to help the canine get back on its paws. However, residents in the housing estate are not buying his explanation.

Terry Yee, who was identified as the man in the CCTV footage that went viral on social media Thursday, claimed that he lost it after being attacked by the dog numerous times.

“I went overboard. I do apologise that I went overboard and hit the dog to the point I shouldn’t have,” he told TheStarTV in an exclusive interview on Friday.

On Yee’s lap was his pet dog that he had brought over from Singapore.

He also claimed to own other animals such as cats, fish and birds.

“I love animals, but I just snapped that day. (Last) Saturday, I was attacked in the rain and lost my engagement ring. On Sunday, I got attacked again.

“Prior to that, I was attacked ano­­ther six times.

"In the limelight: Yee with his pet dog during his interview with TheStarTV.

 

“They (the management) have the videos, but they only showed the one where I defended myself to the point that I became the aggressor,” he said.

Yee explained that he had no intention of hurting the dog, which belongs to the security guards, and had acted out of frustration after the repeated attacks and lack of effort from the guards to protect him.

However, the guard who was on duty at the time of the incident refuted Yee’s claims.

“Our dog, Furby, is playful and loving and has never attacked anyone. You can ask the other residents,” said D. Mariayee.

According to her, Yee’s dog and Furby would bark excitedly with their tails wagging profusely when they caught sight of each other.

“I think both dogs just wanted to play together,” she added.

She claimed Yee also shoved her when she tried to stop him from hurting Furby.

The housing estate’s residents’ association spokesman concurred, saying that Furby was not an attack dog.

“Furby is a playful dog and is always scampering around happily in our housing estate.

“I am surprised to hear that the dog ‘attacked’ the said person about six times!” he added.

The spokesman also said the association had never received any complaints from Yee about the purpor­ted attacks.

He said the residents’ association would give its cooperation to the police and Veterinary Services Department to ensure that justice was served.

Yee earned the ire of Malaysians after the two-minute 43-second video that showed him violently beating the dog was circulated widely on the Internet.

In the video, he fell off his bicycle as Furby broke free of its leash and barked at him, leading to the violent beating.

Serdang OCPD Asst Comm Megat Mohd Aminuddin Megat Alias said they interviewed Yee and were investigating.