GARDNER (CBS) – The veterinarian that mistakenly euthanized a client’s cat last week is now receiving death threats.

Gardner Police have confirmed Mohammed Malik of The Broadway Animal Hospital has received a number of threatening phone messages and is now taking precautions.

“Dr. Malik has spent over 30 years as a veterinarian, 13 in Gardner and has cared for over 1,000 animals,” Malik’s attorney Michael Sheridan told WBZ NewsRadio 1030 Wednesday.

“I want to remind the public how heart wrenching this is for him as well. He is very distraught.”

Colleen Conlon of Gardner is still grieving the loss of her 8-year-old cat Lady.

Conlon’s 24-year-old son, Jesse, took Lady to the Broadway Animal Hospital fro a flea bath and unknowingly authorized the cat to be put to sleep after he says he was handed the wrong forms. He says he learned of the mix-up when he returned with a second cat and the vet asked whether he wanted to keep the body.

According to the vet, the young man was mistaken for another client who was due to arrive with his cat to be euthanized. The son filled out and signed a euthanasia release form and answered questions from the vet about what he wanted done with the cat’s remains.

Malik has said he now doesn’t believe the man understood what “euthanasia” meant.