Pitbulls

A woman succumbed to her injuries after she was mauled by Pitbulls. Image: Pixabay

Pitbulls: Public urged to surrender aggressive and dangerous dogs

Calls for Pitbulls to be banned have been intensified. The public has been urged to surrender aggressive animals to prevent loss of life.

Pitbulls

A woman succumbed to her injuries after she was mauled by Pitbulls. Image: Pixabay

Bloemfontein SPCA has pleaded with the public to surrender any dog that might be a danger to the community or the family of its owners after an eight-year-old was mauled to death by a neighbour’s Pitbull on Saturday 12 November in Vista Park, Bloemfontein. 

CALLS FOR PITBULLS TO BE SURRENDERED 

According to Bloemfontein SPCA, the boy was mauled to death in front of the garage in his Bloemfontein residence.

The SPCA said due to the unique circumstances, the Pitbull was shot and later passed away due to the injuries inflicted by the firearm. 

The other two dogs at the premises were removed by the Bloemfontein SPCA and are now for safekeeping at its premises. 

Members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) also responded to the incident.

Police spokesperson Thabo Covane said the Pitbull allegedly escaped from its enclosure, jumped over the fence and went to the neighbour’s premises. It then attacked the young boy who was playing alone, biting him severely on the neck and chest. The boy was declared dead at the scene.

Pitbulls
The Pitbull was put down after mauling the young boy. Image: Bloemfontein SPCA.

Bloemfontein SPCA said the loss of life, any life is tragic and in a preventive measure, they  would like to plead with the public that aggressive animals should be surrendered to the Bloemfontein Society so that similar incidents do not occur and that even at the end of an aggressive animal’s life. 

Bloemfontein SPCA is situated at 25 McGregor East End Bloemfontein and can be reached at 051 447 3801 or 078 322 8332 respectively. The animal welfare organisation said it will also make collection services available to any owner that does not have the means to take aggressive animals to the SPCA directly.

In October this year, the Sizwe Kupelo Foundation launched a petition calling for the immediate ban of Pitbulls as domestic pets. The petition has been signed by over 49 000 people.

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