Durban - The pit bull terrier, which was shot and killed in Malvern earlier this week, had been “reacting” to months of teasing and taunting allegedly from construction workers and school children, the dog’s owner said on Thursday.
The dog had gone on a rampage on Monday morning attacking anyone who crossed its path along Stella Road, Malvern, after breaking free through a gate that had allegedly been forced open.
The animal had reportedly attacked several people, including a woman who had just exited from a taxi. The woman was bitten on her hands and legs.
The pit bull’s reign of terror was ended by a resident who shot it to protect himself, his dog and others who would have fallen victim.
During the commotion, two policemen in a police van had watched from the safety of their vehicle despite calls for help from people who were there.
However, the owner – who asked to remain anonymous – disputed that her dog was vicious saying the dog was a beautiful and a much loved pet that was not crazy.
“My pit bull was teased and taunted day after day by the construction workers who have been working for months outside the house – throwing stones at the dog inside the property as well school children who run past the solid gate and bash on it,” she said.
She had adopted the dog when it was about six months old. The dog was seven years old when it was killed.
The owner said the dog was kept in a locked yard with 1.8m concrete walls as well as 2.4m wire fencing in front of the walls. She said they also had solid steel gates that were supposed to protect the dog.
“The gate had been forced open and left off the rails which is how he got out of the property,” the owner said.
She said it was not necessary for her dog to be shot in the head. “He could have been shot in his legs which would have stopped him.
On the resident who shot and killed the dog, she said: “He shot to kill, not to stop the dog which he could have done,” she said.
A 75-year-old resident, who asked not to be named out of fear of victimisation, said he was very upset about the incident more because the police had sat inside their police vehicle and watched the woman being mauled by the dog which he described as “vicious”.
The elderly man said he had been walking along the road when he heard a woman scream as the dog attacked her as she got out of a taxi.
“It was horrific as people were trying to get it off her, but it would not move. At some point it had her by her fingers.
Through all of this, the policemen in the van with firearms just watched. “I felt helpless because there was nothing I could do at my age.
“Those two should be ashamed of themselves. When life is in danger, jurisdictions do not matter. When people asked for help, they rolled up the windows,” he said.
Judi Gibson, general manager for Animal Anti-Cruelty League, said it is the responsibility of dog owners to contain their pets within their property. - Daily News