ST. CATHARINES, ONT.—The lawyer for an Ontario veterinarian suspended over mistreatment of animals in his care says his client has received death threats after videos showing him striking, choking and slamming cats and dogs appeared in media reports.

Mahavir Singh Rekhi, of St. Catharines, Ont., pleaded guilty to professional misconduct at the College of Veterinarians of Ontario in July after four former employees filed a complaint about his conduct.

Lawyer Neil Adamson says Rekhi and his family have been subject to serious threats and vigilante justice after some of the 12 videos the former employees submitted to the college as evidence of misconduct were published this week.

Adamson says Rekhi, who attended veterinary school in India, came from a jurisdiction where they treated animals “differently,” but has taken responsibility for his actions.

Ontario’s animal welfare organization has launched a criminal investigation into allegations of cruelty against Rekhi in wake of the news reports.

The college has suspended Rekhi for 10 months, which can be reduced to six months if he attends a variety of training programs, and fined him $10,000.