Ritchie residents have intensified their call for the removal of a “vicious” pit bull that they claim is responsible for the attacks on eight people in the community.
RITCHIE residents have intensified their call for the removal of a “vicious” pit bull that they claim is partly responsible for the attacks on eight people in the community.
The eight victims were reportedly attacked by three pit bulls from a house in Makotoi Street.
Two of the pit bulls were taken away by the SPCA after the most recent attack, but residents say that the most vicious dog was “left behind”.
The residents have accused the Modderrivier police of turning a blind eye to the pit bull attacks and of protecting the dogs instead of humans.
The owners of the pit bulls were reportedly arrested on two occasions in connection with two of the attacks after the victims opened cases with the police.
The first arrest took place in December last year, while the police went to arrest the owners again on Wednesday, January 19.
The residents are now demanding answers as to what the next step will be after the arrest.
They also want an answer as to why the SPCA did not take the dog that they regard as the most vicious.
The residents said that the dog’s owner had taken it away from the yard and did not return with it after three pit bulls attacked a 30-year-old man on Thursday, January 13 in Makotoi Street and the SPCA was called.
Following the attack, the victim was rushed to the Richie Clinic, where he was transferred to the Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe Hospital in Kimberley for medical treatment.
He suffered bite wounds on one of his arms and both of his legs.
The 30-year-old man was on his way home when he was attacked by the dogs in the street.
He said the dogs were not in their yard, but had “come running around a corner”.
He added that it was quiet in the street and the dogs “came for him” and there was no time for him to run away.
He was saved by a woman living in the same street.
The woman reportedly threw an empty bucket at the dogs and they let the man go and fled into the yard.
The victim said he was angered by the “coldness” displayed by the owner of the dog, who did not want to take responsibility for the attack.
He said the owner did not show any remorse and had “strolled out of her yard” and told him that she had not heard anything.
“I tried to walk far away from the dogs’ home but it did not help. I avoided passing near the house because I heard about previous attacks,” the man said.
“After the dogs attacked me and ran into her yard, the owner did not even try to assist me. Her neighbours attempted to help me as I was unable to get up.
“She (the owner) just fetched a broom and started covering my blood (on the floor) with soil, while telling us that she was delayed from going to church.”
The man opened a case at the Modderrivier police station the next day – Friday, January 14.
Police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Sergio Kock last week confirmed that the Modderrivier police were investigating a case after three dogs apparently attacked an adult male in Ritchie.
Kock encouraged anyone with information to contact Detective Sergeant Garcia Bitterbosch on 082 4954 711.
Two more alleged victims have come forward since the attack.
One of them claims that he was attacked by the same dogs on November 28 last year.
He said that he lives in the same street as the dogs and that residents live in fear of being attacked.
He has also opened a case at the Modderrivier police station.
“The owners of these dogs are careless and always deny that their dogs are the ones that attacked people,” said the man. “They refused to take responsibility before, which prevented other victims from opening cases.
The man added that “the police should have arranged for the dog to be put down or be taken away”’
“We can’t even go to the toilet at night because these angry dogs are roaming the streets freely and jump over our fences.
“Even during the day, we are too cautious to allow our children to play outside the house.
“If the owners can’t control their dogs why don’t they get rid of them.”
Another alleged victim, who lives a street away, said that he did not open a case because the owners of the dog denied that he was attacked by their dogs.
Police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Sergio Kock confirmed on Wednesday that the Modderrivier police had arrested a 54-year-old dog owner on January 19.
Kock added that the female suspect was subsequently released and warned to appear in the Modderrivier Magistrate’s Court on January 28 on a charge of assault GBH.
