In the age of social media, influencers hold immense power, with a single post capable of making or breaking a business. But what happens when that influence spirals out of control?
Meow Woo Studio, a pet store in Markham, found itself at the centre of an online storm when a kitten was stolen on Aug. 11. Owner Sarah Chen, desperate to recover her pet, posted surveillance footage on social media, hoping someone would identify the thief.
To her surprise, the person turned out to be a TikTok influencer with over 600,000 followers.
The influencer later returned the cat to a rescue centre, claiming she took it to save the animal from alleged abuse. She publicly defended her actions, insisting the cat was in danger.
Her posts quickly triggered a flood of negative comments toward Meow Woo Studio, with accusations of animal mistreatment.
Chen firmly denied any wrongdoing, “We’ve been engaged in pet grooming, food and supplies for many years and have never abused animals, otherwise our licence would have been revoked by animal protection long ago,” she said.
After investigation, York Regional Police confirmed that there was no indication of animal abuse at the studio. In addition, the influencer has been charged with theft under $5,000 and released with a confidential court date, as she is a young offender.
Though the store was closed, Chen clarified that it was due to unrelated building permit issues, not the accusations of abuse. Despite this, Chen expressed frustration over the harm caused to her business and has called on the influencer to publicly clarify the situation and help restore Meow Woo Studio’s image.
She also expressed concern about the influencer's impact on young followers, many of whom were behind the harshest online attacks.
"This incident raises questions about influencer accountability, especially when their actions cause real harm," she said.
York police emphasized that social media influencers are subject to the same laws as everyone else.
"While freedom of speech is protected under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, criminal charges may apply if actions or words constitute a criminal offence. Additionally, misinformation can lead to civil consequences if it negatively affects a business," the police said in an email.
As for animal safety or other concerns, police advise residents to contact a local police agency, regional animal control or municipal bylaw office instead of taking matters into their own hands because acting on assumptions could result in criminal charges like theft or mischief.
Scarlett Liu is a federally funded Local Journalism Initiative reporter at Markham Economist & Sun
