Cape Town - A three-year-old boy has reportedly died after he was mauled by two pit bulls in Henneman, Free State, on Sunday.
The two dogs, belonging to a neighbour, allegedly attacked the child on Sunday morning, after which the dog’s owner had to be saved by police from an angry mob.
The incident comes as the heated debate around the banning of the pitbull breed continues across the country.
Police spokesperson, Stephen Thakeng, confirmed the incident, adding that the dog’s owner was taken to a place of safety.
He said the incensed community also torched one of the pit bulls.
“The child was playing with others at a house in Sekoti Mpate Phomolong when he was attacked and mauled by two pitbull dogs.
“On November 20, at about 08.15am, the boy was playing with other children when he was attacked.
“The angry residents wanted to kill both dogs and attack the owner of these two pit bulls.
“Members of Welkom Public Order Policing were summoned to the scene and removed the owner to a safe place.
“Residents attacked the dogs and one of them was killed with garden spades, hit with stones and ultimately burnt to death.
“The other pit bull was taken by the SPCA for safekeeping,” said Thakeng.
The incident comes just days after an eight-year-old boy, also from the Free State, was bitten to death by his neighbour’s dog.
Police in the Free State shot and killed the dog in Vista Park, Bloemfontein, on November 14.
It is alleged that the dog escaped from its enclosure and jumped over a fence into a neighbour’s premises and attacked the 8-year-old.
Recently, the Bloemfontein SPCA called on citizens to surrender their aggressive dogs if they showed abnormal behaviour.
“If your dog suddenly acts aggressively and attacks a family member, please be that responsible person and call us. A dog may suddenly display human aggressive behaviour without being mistreated or abused. The pressing issue is that we cannot have human aggressive dogs as pets. Human lives do come first and if you have a dog that displays dangerous behaviour towards humans you have to call us on 0514473801 or 0783228332 and surrender your dog.
“If you need assistance with a dog who is showing human directed aggression, please do not harm the dog, do not sell the dog, do not rehome or give the dog away. Please (call us). We will assist you in a responsible and dignified manner,” a post by the SPCA read.
Cape Times