Johannesburg - The community of Gatesville, Athlone in Cape Town stoned and set alight three pit bulls after the dogs mauled a girl in a nearby field.
It is reported that on learning about this, on Saturday, angry members of the community stoned, stabbed, and burned to death three pit bulls in full view of children.
This has not been the first incident reported to the SPCA of dogs being set alight in one weekend. This comes after another dog was set alight by the residents of Phomolong in the Free State, who attacked a pit bull with spades and stones before setting it afire after it mauled a three-year-old boy to death.
Police say the boy was playing with a group of children outside a house in Sekoti Mpate on Sunday morning when he was attacked by two pit bulls and killed. Free State police spokesperson, Captain Stephen Thakeng, confirmed the incident.
On Friday, the grandmother of the eight-year-old boy from Vista Park, Free State, who was mauled to death by a pit bull, told TimesLIVE Premium of her last memories with her grandson.
Her grandson, Olebogeng Mosime, was laid to rest on Friday, with the grandmother, Siphiwe Litabe, saying the death of her grandson continues to haunt her as he died while she was holding his hand.
In the Athlone case, the Cape of Good Hope SPCA reported that the dog escaped from its enclosure and jumped over the fence into the neighbour's premises at around 2pm on Saturday.
"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," said SPCA Inspector Jeffrey Mfini.
"The community took matters into their own hands and attacked the dogs, stoning, stabbing, and hitting the animals with objects before burning them to death," he said.
Mfini said he and the team rushed to the scene, found the dogs burning, and extinguished the flames after the dogs succumbed to their injuries.
"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.
According to the SPCA, dog owners who wish to surrender their pit bulls to the SPCA and members of the community have been encouraged to report cruelty to animals to them.
"It is tragic that a child was harmed and 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," Pieterse said.
The Star