By: Natasha Archary
The SPCA says more pit bull owners have surrendered their dogs after the latest grisly attack on a 3-year old child in the Free State.
This comes as a marked increase in pit bull attacks has been noted across the country, particularly involving children who have been mauled to death.
In September, a 10-year old boy from Gqeberha was attacked by two of the family’s pit bulls. Last week, an 8-year old boy in Bloemfontein was viciously attacked and killed by a pit bull.
As a result over 49 pit bulls have since been surrendered to the SPCA in the area, however the organisation says more owners from across the country are handing over their dogs too.
The petition which was launched by the Sizwe Kupelo Foundation may have something to do with this, as the foundation is calling for a ban on pit bulls in South Africa.
However, the National SPCA (NSPCA) is not in support of the ban, and said the onus was on the owner to take responsibility for what it calls a “power breed”.
The NSPCA says that pit bull owners should be responsible in ensuring the animals are sterilised, and kept within the confines of their property.
But the South African Pit bull Federation says that the increase in attacks by the breed has to be addressed and are calling for by-laws to regulate the breeding and domestication of pit bulls.
Pit bulls have a notorious reputation for being aggressive, particularly around children, with some owners claiming that the dogs are gentle if raised correctly and given the proper time, affection and training.
The dogs attack more people annually than any other breed in the world, and there are calls for South Africa to ban the breed entirely like the Netherlands, France, Germany, Venezuela and Denmark.
Countries that have pit bull bans in place include:
- Singapore: 1991, pit bulls allowed at home, banned from entering the country
- Netherlands: 1993, complete pit bull ban
- Poland: 1997, laws about fencing and reinforcements for pit bulls
- France: 2000, a complete ban on pit bulls, with the intention the breed expires from the country
- Germany: 2001, complete pit bull ban
- Puerto Rico: 2001, complete pit bull ban
- New Zealand: 2003, pit bulls were banned from entering the country
- Italy: 2004, complete pit bull ban
- Australia: 2009, pit bulls were banned from entering the country
- Ecuador: 2009, pit bulls were banned as domestic animals or pets
- Denmark: 2010, complete pit bulls ban and a ban on breeding
- Venezuela: 2014, complete pit bull ban
Also read: Mother who bludgeoned 4 children with hammer, dies in prison
