KOTA KINABALU: 12 June 2026 – The Sabah Veterinary Services Department (DVS) has launched a full internal inquiry into allegations that a male cat died after undergoing a neutering procedure at a government veterinary clinic.
DVS Sabah director Dr Zul Bahar Hj Abdul Rashid said in a statement on Friday that the department took note of and viewed seriously the claims reported by a user named “thebareloons” on 11 June via a post on the social media platform Threads.
A comprehensive internal investigation would be conducted immediately to determine the exact cause of the incident, he said.
The probe includes an examination of documentation, a review of standard operating procedures (SOPs), analysis of relevant records, and interviews with the staff involved in the entire surgical process.
The department also advised the cat’s owner to promptly bring the animal’s carcass to the DVS Sabah Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory in Kepayan for a necropsy to establish the true cause of death.
The statement stressed that such immediate action was crucial because carcasses that have undergone autolysis (decomposition) could compromise diagnostic accuracy.
DVS Sabah gave an assurance that the investigation would be carried out transparently and professionally to ensure fairness for all parties.
