By Janine Rayford
Relatives of a Steenberg man killed by his pitbulls have denied claims the dogs had been abused.
His family was angry about reports he had often kicked and taunted his dogs, rearing them to be fighters. He had owned the dogs for six years, raising them from birth.
At the family's request the SPCA put down the dogs on Tuesday.
A neighbour found Jason Waverley, 21, dead on the stoep of his home on Sunday afternoon. He had apparently been bitten in the throat by one of his three pitbull terriers.
"He was a fun-loving person and he loved animals; he never ill-treated his dogs," said his brother Wren Hill.
"I have two Rottweilers. We all love dogs. This is just an unfortunate situation."
Waverley, who was alone at the time of the attack, was found with leashes next to him.
Warrant Officer John Bartlett said he may have tried to break up a fight between two dogs by leashing one of them, when it turned on him.
SPCA chief inspector Andries Venter said Waverley could have been preparing to walk the dogs and been attacked while trying to affix a leash.
"There was no evidence of abuse or that the dogs were subjected to dog fighting. However, mental abuse cannot be easily detected."
Cape of Good Hope SPCA chief executive Allan Perrins said they were concerned about an increase in pitbull numbers on the Cape Flats. "Owners must be aware that most strive to dominate and at the first sign of weakness they may react."