A scandal has erupted on Threads over threats made against a stray cat
On the social media platform Threads, a user publicly wrote that he might kick a stray cat after other people called him out. His comments sparked a wave of outrage, and the man later deleted the posts and deactivated his accounts on Threads and Instagram.
The scandal erupted after a post by a Threads user with the handle roksy_grows. She asked her followers if they greeted animals they encountered on the street. Within a day, the post garnered over 700 likes and 200 comments. Most people responded positively to the question and shared their own stories.
However, one user, vovylia_vovylevi4—who is referred to as Volodymyr Dolgov in public posts—left a rude comment about stray cats. He wrote: “Mostly with cats. I say: ‘What are you looking at, you furry thing? Get the f*** out of the way.’” His words sparked outrage among other users. In the comments, people began to call him out for his attitude toward animals.
After that, he escalated from insults to threats. In one comment, the man stated: “Next time I’ll even kick the s*** out of it,” and tried to shift the blame for any potential violence onto one of the commenters: “It’ll be your fault.” These comments were later deleted. The user also closed his Threads and Instagram accounts after other people began sending him private messages.
At the same time, according to UNN, his Facebook page remained active. The situation sparked a widespread reaction on Threads. Users are sharing screenshots of his comments and profile and calling attention to the threats of animal abuse.
What the Law Says
In Ukraine, animal cruelty can result in criminal charges. According to Article 299 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, liability is established, in particular, for animal cruelty if it results in bodily injury, maiming, or the death of an animal.
The law also provides for liability for setting animals against one another, cruelty motivated by hooliganism or self-interest, as well as the promotion of and public calls for such actions. For certain offenses, the article provides for restriction of liberty or imprisonment for a term of one to three years.
At the same time, mere threats on social media do not in themselves mean that a person has committed a crime. Law enforcement agencies can make a legal assessment of specific statements and actions after investigating the circumstances.
