On November 11, Dr. Boonyakrit Pinprasong, Deputy Director-General of Thailand’s Department of Livestock Development, addressed the controversy surrounding a cat sedation scene in Mae Yua, a drama on Channel ONE. As an animal welfare official and cat owner, Dr. Boonyakrit shared his personal discomfort after viewing the scene, which has drawn strong criticism online. In response, he convened a teleconference meeting with relevant parties and ordered Channel ONE and the drama’s production team to provide a full explanation.
The Department’s letter, sent today, demands clarification on the identity and credentials of the “expert” responsible for sedating the cat, specifically asking if the individual is a licensed veterinarian. Additionally, the production team must bring the cat in question for examination on November 18. If this is not feasible, department officials will conduct an on-site inspection.
When asked about verifying the cat’s identity, Dr. Boonyakrit admitted the difficulty but emphasized efforts to gather facts by comparing the cat’s appearance to the one seen in the series and interviewing cast and crew members.
Dr. Boonyakrit also noted that Thai animal welfare laws cover issues of animal transportation and use in media, as well as cruelty prevention. If evidence suggests cruelty—such as injury or death of the cat—the responsible parties could face up to two years in prison, a fine of up to 40,000 baht, or both.