Cape Town - A statement by the SPCA in Bloemfontein that 49 pit bulls have so far been surrendered by dog owners to the animal safety institution has garnered a lot of attention on social media.
The article, which was published this week, recounted a tragic incident in which a pitbull attacked and mauled to death an 8-year-old boy who was reportedly playing alone outside his home.
The shocking incident occurred just days after a petition to ban pit bulls in South Africa started to gain momentum.
The petition was launched in October 2022 by the Sizwe Kupelo Foundation, a non-profit organisation that advocates for vulnerable children following yet another attack pit bull attack which resulted in the death of a 10-year-old in Nelson Mandela Bay.
Some of the comments on social media regarding pet owners surrendering their pit bulls congratulated the owners, while some shared their dismay at the owners overwhelming the SPCA with their pets.
Here are a few comments compiled from Facebook: “Well done to the dog owners. Let’s put the safety of our little kids ahead of anything. I pray all the other provinces will follow.”
Another social media user wrote: “Well done owners. Even if the breed is in a well-loved home, there are many documented cases of attacks on children and owners.”
Another user commented: “Shew what a terrible experience for SPCA. All those dogs were surrendered for them to have to deal with. They do an amazing job and deal with so much daily all because some humans can’t be educated on raising animals with love and respect. Thank you, SPCA.”
And another: “Surrendered their dogs? Wtf lol I’ll never be able to give my dog up. He’s part of my family. It’s like giving up one of my family members, imagine.”
Some users asked what would happen to the dogs, while others contributed to the conversation by suggesting that the dogs undergo a stringent training process instead of being surrendered to the SPCA.
“These dogs are wild, they must be sent to the Kruger National Park.”
“I love dogs but I know this through experience with family members owning pit bulls, Cane Corsos, Tosa Inus and Kangals,” another user said.
“A family member owned two pedigreed pit bulls from a champion line and they were raised, trained and socialised in the best of homes and surroundings and treated like kids... they grew up with the family’s two young children.
“Four years later it took one moment, a second for one of the beloved family pit bulls to attack without provocation and started biting on a 5-year-old girl’s face. Anything, and I mean anything, can set this breed off as they are wired differently as with all species on the planet ... it might not happen with every pit out there but one never knows, it is akin to a ticking time bomb.”