A video of a tricycle driver dragging a cat tied to the back of his vehicle in Malasiqui, Pangasinan has gone viral, drawing condemnation from animal welfare groups and netizens.

The video shows the cat struggling to keep up with the moving tricycle before falling and getting dragged.

A bystander, who filmed the incident, called out the driver repeatedly.

"Boss, pinapahirapan mo yung pusa!" the bystander said.

Animal welfare groups, including the Animal Kingdom Foundation, condemned the act strongly.

“Napaka-cruel — purposely talaga [ito ginawa]... Apparently, very clear na ito ay kanyang tinorture o tino-torture at that time. It's really super unacceptable. Napakasakit sa puso panoorin,” Atty. Heidi Caguioa, the group’s program director, said.

Barangay officials located the injured cat, provided first aid, and transferred it to a private veterinary clinic in Calasiao for further treatment.

The tricycle driver is identified as 71-year-old Ciriaco Mendoza Jr.

Mendoza said he only wanted to get rid of the cat, which he said had been scratching and causing trouble.

“Humihingi ako ng pasensiya o paumanhin. Hindi ko naman intensyon ‘yung ginawa ko na ‘yung pusa na iniligay ko sa tricycle ay brutal,” he said.

Authorities, including the Malasiqui Police Station, are considering filing complaints against the driver for animal cruelty.