SPCA urges responsible dog ownership after fatal Mitchells Plain attack

The Cape of Good Hope SPCA has issued an urgent appeal for lawful dog ownership, sterilisation and responsible breeding following the fatal mauling of a Mitchells Plain woman by two pit bull-type dogs last week.

An horrific video of the incident went viral on social media, sparking outrage about the breed and its owners.

Police confirmed that officers were called to a property in Maralize Street, Morgenster, at about 1.53pm last Tuesday following reports of a dog attack.

The victim, 44-year-old, was transported to hospital by private vehicle but later died from her injuries. An inquest docket has been opened to investigate the circumstances surrounding her death. The dogs were removed from the premises by Law Enforcement officers.

Amid widespread reaction online, a person claiming the deceased was their aunt posted on social media disputing suggestions that the dogs belonged to her.

“This is my aunty. The pit bulls weren’t her dogs, it was my cousins dogs (her son). my cousin trained the dogs to be aggressive. They treated the dogs very aggressively as well, always broke my heart going there and seeing how they treated him constantly trying to scare people with the dogs as well. Still so sad to see these clips doing the rounds on social media. The family is broken."

The claims have not been independently verified as the Cape Argus was unable to obtain comment from the family on the allegations. 

In its statement, the SPCA stressed that no assumptions were being made about the specific circumstances of this incident, but said a life had been lost “in a preventable context involving companion animals”.

“Pit bull type dogs are very frequently victims of neglect and cruelty. Some have been kept on chains for their entire lives. Some have been bred to within an inch of their lives and all are kept in circumstances that do not meet their needs. In order to reduce the risk to communities, we must stop the cruelty and neglect and the scale of indiscriminate breeding in this city,” the organisation said.

The SPCA said it enforces the Animals Protection Act and regularly removes dogs from properties where they are confined, chained, malnourished or otherwise cruelly treated. It added that preventing further incidents requires compliance at every level, including adherence to municipal by-laws and responsible ownership.

On-site animal behaviourist Nicole Nel said indiscriminate breeding has far-reaching consequences.

“In South Africa we are facing a severe pet overpopulation crisis. Backyard and indiscriminate breeding often takes place without any consideration for temperament or behavioural stability. This has a disastrous impact on the types of dogs entering homes as companion animals. When power breeds are produced in large numbers with disregard for temperament or with intent to create a more vicious guard dog, communities and the dogs themselves carry the consequences,” she said.

Municipal by-laws require dogs and cats over six months old to be sterilised unless the owner holds a valid breeding permit.

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Cape Argus