Court mandates evaluation of dogs after serious attacks on visitors
A pitbull owner will have to deliver her three dogs to the local municipal pound to have them evaluated following three attacks at her home.
Image: File
The Western Cape High Court has ordered the owner of two pit bull terriers and a mixed breed dog to surrender her dogs to the local pound for evaluation. This ruling comes after multiple attacks on visitors to her property, where she operates a salon.
Despite the dogs ordinarily being kept secure, in the backyard of their Caledon home, the court found they do attack members of the public or visitors to Romanda Marais’ property.
Marais is a businesswoman and owner of a nail salon run from a wendy house on the property.
On three occasions, the dogs attacked visitors and their injuries necessitated hospitalisation of the victims for an extended period.
Judge Daniel Thulare ordered that Marais deliver the dogs to Theewaterskloof Municipal Pound by August 26.
If the dog owner fails to do so, the municipality was authorised to impound them as set out in the Impoundment By-Law.
Marais’ attorney, Nazeer Parker, confirmed he would consult with his client by the end of the week for them to decide on a way forward.
In response to the judgment, Theewaterskloof Municipality said: “The municipality notes the outcome of the recent court proceedings. Our responsibility remains to act in terms of the applicable by-laws and to prioritise public safety. We will therefore proceed in line with the court’s decision.”
In one incident, the judgment detailed that a victim had wanted to foster cats in October 2023 from Marais.
“As she waited on the porch, (Marais) came to unlock the security gate, with the dogs already barking and seeming excited. Marais instructed the dogs to say hello to the lady… Suddenly, the first white dog jumped on her and began biting her left shoulder.
“As she attempted to descend the stairs to escape, the dogs continued to bite and pull her, preventing her forward movement. Marais yelled ‘my dogs have never hurt anyone before’, as the bite victim fell on the stairs multiple times due to the dogs jumping and pushing her."
In another incident in January 2024, a salon client arrived at the property when she was attacked inside the wendy house.
According to the client, she was asked if she minded that the gate between the main property and backyard (where the dogs were kept) could be opened for Marais’ mother to gain access to the main property.
The client protested out of fear of the dogs, however, Marais is alleged to have opened the gate. During the dog attack, Marais allegedly could not control the dogs as they bit the client.
In the third attack, a building contractor had attended to some paint work on the property.
During the day when he entered the backyard of the property, he was attacked by the three dogs in unison. He managed to escape to the front garden but was bitten on the left upper leg, both wrists, both forearms, and right calf.
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