Cape Town – A resident in Hout Bay filed a complaint with the Police about a man who is reportedly responsible for some pit bull attacks in the community.
Fareed Hoosen allegedly reported the matter to the police after a pit bull bit him.
Speaking to IOL, Hoosen said that the owner allegedly used the pit bull for intimidation.
“This guy used to sell puppies for a time and we brought a stop to that. Now he has the pit bull, which he uses to intimidate people and to force them to give him money,” Hoosen was quoted as saying.
“He demands that you give him money and if you don’t he sets the dog on you. We also received information that he was using the pit bull to rob homeless people at night.
“I had spotted him and told him to move along and as I did, he turned around and put the dog on me. I didn’t have my bullet-proof jacket on and the dog bit me on my stomach area.”
ALSO READ | 67-year-old man arrested after his pit bulls attack woman who succumbs to her injuries
The publisher further reported that police spokesperson Wesley Twigg said an investigation was under way.
According to Sandra Swart, who is a South African historian specialising in the history of dogs in society, South Africa was “facing a real crisis coupled with a social panic” as she spoke about the spate of pit bull attacks from a historic perspective.
“Remember, ‘pit bull’ is not a clearly defined genetic category. A lot of identification is simply perception. There are at least ten breeds frequently mistaken for a pit bull (which also leads to over-reporting them as perpetrators).
“Equally, if pit bulls were banned tomorrow and the cries for their immediate execution were heeded, many innocent dogs would be killed unnecessarily,” Swart added.
Follow African Insider on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
Picture: Facebook/ Reaction Unit South Africa
For more African news, visit Africaninsider.com
Compiled by Junaid Benjamin
