The Cape of Good Hope SPCA was alerted to the brutal killing of three pit bulls who were also set alight by community members in Gatesville, Athlone.

According to the report received by the SPCA – the second incident of dogs being set alight in one weekend – the dogs had attacked a young girl in a Gatesville field. The child sustained severe injuries and had to be rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment.

The community took matters into their own hands and attacked the dogs – stoning, stabbing and hitting the animals with various objects before burning them to death.

SPCA Inspector Jeffrey Mfini, who rushed to the scene after the SPCA received the report, found the dogs still burning. Mfini extinguished the fire but all the animals had succumbed to their injuries.

The dogs’ bodies were taken to the SPCA premises in Grassy Park, where post-mortems will be conducted.

“We urge the public to contact the SPCA if a dog behaves aggressively or tries to bite someone. We will take the dog immediately. People must not take matters into their own hands – no animal deserves to endure brutality and suffering,” said the SPCA’s Chief Inspector, Jaco Pieterse.

The Cape of Good Hope SPCA is also reminding members of the public that that the organisation takes in any and all unwanted animals. The SPCA has an open admission policy and will never turn an animal away, regardless of the breed.

Dog owners who wish to give their pit bulls to the SPCA should contact the Inspectorate on 021 700 4158/9 or 083 326 1604 after hours. Community members are also urged to report cruelty to animals to the same numbers.

“It is tragic that a child was harmed and in turn the animals were brutally attacked. No dog should be roaming the streets. Responsible pet owners ensure their animals are kept within their properties. If your home is not adequately fenced, don’t get a dog,” added Pieterse.

This latest incident comes after a three-year-old boy was mauled to death by two pit bulls, in Hennenman in the Free State.

The boy and his friends were playing at a house in Sekoti Mpate Phomolong Hennenman on Sunday morning at about 08:15, when the attack occurred.

Police spokesperson, Captain Stephen Thakeng, said the dogs bit the boy until he died in the yard.

“Angry residents wanted to kill both dogs and attack the owner of these two pit bulls. Members of Welkom Public Order Policing were summoned to the scene and removed the owner to a safe place.”

The residents attacked the dogs, killing one of them with garden spades and stones before setting the animal on fire. The other pit bull was taken by the SPCA.

An inquest docket has been opened for further investigation.

This attack comes a few days after Roseview Primary School pupil, 8-year-old Olebogeng Mosime, was attacked by their neighbour’s pit bull in Vista Park in Bloemfontein on Saturday 12 November 2022.

The SPCA’s view on the petition to ban pit bulls in South Africa

The SPCA movement does not support the petition to ban or outlaw pit bulls – but fully supports the motion to develop and implement stronger regulations/legislation with regard to the keeping and breeding of power breed dogs.

Although the SPCA movement’s mandate is the prevention of cruelty to animals and promoting good animal care, the SPCA also values human lives. Not only do people suffer from dog attacks, other animals are also victims and have been mauled to death. In many instances, the aggressive animals themselves have also been subjected to extreme abuse and cruelty in the manner in which they are kept, trained and even killed. This is an issue where both human and animal lives have been placed in danger by irresponsible people who lack the skills and knowledge required to handle power breeds.

The development and implementation of stronger regulations, such as compulsory sterilisation and permitting in order to keep power breeds, would be a step in the right direction.

Compulsory sterilisation, at the cost of the owner, would assist in preventing power breed puppies from being easily accessible to irresponsible people. Compulsory permitting would assist in being able to hold power breed owners accountable for their pets.