Heartbroken Athlone family mourns Jack Russell killed while chasing home invaders

An Athlone family is devastated after tragically losing their beloved six-year-old Jack Russell, named Sean who died in pursuit of robbers who ransacked their home and fled with their belongings.

On Monday, December 1, Roxanne and Devon Jones' world shattered when their dog, Sean Abraham Jones, died moments after robbers jumped over their backyard wall in Garlandale.

Roxanne, who was at home on the day of the incident, said the little pooch was part of their family and was treated like their own son, never sparing spoils such as doggy daycare, his walks and even celebrating his birthday.

She said she had bonded with Sean the moment he arrived at their home because he was ill due to an infestation of worms: "My husband used to work late and we decided we must get a pet to keep me company.

"When he arrived he was six weeks old and was a very sick boy, he coughed up a worm and we rushed him to the vet. He had begun to swell.

"They dewormed him and the veterinarians said if I did not bring him in, he would have died.

"That is when our journey started, he became very special, I even used to joke and say don't you want me to do your CV because he was such a clever boy."

She said she chose the name Sean because it is her husband's second name and they decided that their first born would have the name: "When we got the dog and it was a boy, I said you weren't specific as to what son, so this is our son Sean.

"I made sure that he lacked nothing, apart from that, he was my comfort on days I was sad and happy."

He was the sweetest boy ever and I would question him and ask, who were you in your past life…"

Roxanne said she had just spent a moment cuddling with her dog and allowed him outside to urinate when she heard him barking frantically and that was when she and her relative, who lives on the property, realised two men had jumped over their wall.

"The second time he barked my cousin-in-law went out and he saw two guys walking from our shed in the back, walking with our belongings.

"He came to me and said Rox, I think they broke into the house at the back.

"I ran out and opened the shed and we saw they had made a hole in the slab at the back of the shed.

"I locked the gate because I did not want Sean to run out.

"I went around the house and I found my deceased mother's photographs laying there and other belongings."

She said Sean came out of the hole the robbers had made.He began to sniff and had been standing next to Roxanne and followed the scent of the robbers.

She said a neighbour who became aware of their search for the dog, jumped onto his motorbike to help find him.

"Sean would never leave beyond the gate," she added.

She said she could not have prepared herself for what happened next, hearing the news that her dog was dead: "The neighbour came back and said Sean was dead, I asked what he meant. He said Sean is laying at the bridge side where the robbers walked.

"Sean never leaves my side, never goes past the garden so he followed the robbers. "My cousin-in-law fetched a box and I was stuck in a panic attack… when he came back, he had Sean in a box and my whole world shattered and crumbled."

She said she believes he may have been hit by a car: "I am uncertain what happened but I was so mad because if they did not come into our home, this would not have happened."

Police spokesperson, Captain FC Van Wyk confirmed the burglary at Roxanne's home: "The incident happened  at a premises in Garlandale Crescent Garlandale. According to reports one tyre, three rims and an Adidas bag were stolen. Investigations continue, no arrest as yet."Anyone with any information about this incident can contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or use the mobile application MySAPS anonymously."

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