CAPE TOWN - A retired couple are grieving the loss of two of their Beagle dogs that they allege were shot and killed by a former cop using a hunting rifle.
Having recently retired to Calvinia in the Northern Cape, the couple said they were also struggling to lodge a criminal complaint, as “no one wanted to help them”.
Gerrie and Anli van Deventer said they had noticed that their dogs escaped from the property after they arrived home from a quick errand last week.
“We immediately then jumped in our vehicle in search of them.
“At the neighbouring property we found one of the male dogs who seemed to have injured his foot and couldn’t keep up with the rest of the pack.
“Then we drove to Witwalle in the direction of Kleinplasie where we saw (a man) and his wife standing in the street looking out over the Witwal farm property.
“When we asked them if they had seen our dogs they said ’no’, the man also said somebody was busy shooting on Witwal but couldn’t see what was being shot at,” said Van Deventer
The couple were allowed on the property and gave chase in the direction from which the shots were being fired.
They said they were met with the alleged perpetrator who was perched on the back of a bakkie using his rifle gear.
“We asked him if he was shooting at dogs and he confirmed, admitting that he had already shot two dogs and further said he was taking aim at a ‘stubborn’ one behind the bush.
“We urged him to stop shooting as it is our dogs that cost R9 000 each. He apologised, then said we can go get the dogs he had already shot,” Van der Walt said.
Both dogs were killed after they suffered bullet wounds to the head.
SAPS in the Northern Cape refuted allegations that there were hurdles in the couple’s attempt to lodge a complaint.
“Calvinia police are investigating a case of malicious damage to property after the allegations of dogs which were fatally shot on a farm property near Calvinia. The SAPS in Calvinia refute the allegation that the complainant was denied the right to open a case against the alleged perpetrator. We can confirm that the matter is being investigated. No one has been arrested at this stage.
The couple has since started an online petition in the hope for justice.
“(The perpetrator) was under no circumstances entitled to shoot our dogs with a large hunting rifle, nor was he able to show us any injured sheep or other animals,” the petition read.
If you would like to sign the petition, visit https://bit.ly/3wKWjTJ
Cape Times