A Verulam resident has alleged that he shot his neighbour’s pit bull in self-defence after it entered his property, citing previous incidents, including the death of his pet parrot, according to a report in POST.

However, the dog’s owners dispute this version of events and have opened a case of animal cruelty. They have provided video footage which they claim contradicts the shooter’s account.

The pit bull was two years old and had given birth to seven puppies five weeks earlier.

Ajay Dhanpal, 46, of Grangetown, said that when he heard a noise on his property at about 2.20am, he feared for his life.

He said he initially believed there was an intruder and went outside with his licensed firearm. Instead, he claimed, he encountered the pit bull, which he alleged had been entering his property since last year.

Dhanpal said the dog had previously killed his African grey parrot in September.

“I was terrified as I believed it would attack me. I fired a shot into the ground. The dog stopped at the sound but then turned and came towards me. Fearing that I would be attacked, I shot it once. I then contacted Metro Police and the SAPS to report the incident, as I felt it was the correct course of action, but there was no response. I subsequently called Reaction Unit South Africa (Rusa), and officers responded within minutes.

“They went to my neighbour’s house to inform them that the dog had been shot. Initially, the owner said it could not be his dog, as his was in his yard. However, after checking, he realised the dog was missing. He then came to my yard with the Rusa officers.”

Dhanpal said he kept a firearm for safety reasons and that his wife, two minor children and elderly parents had been living in fear since the alleged incident involving their bird.

“In September, three dogs entered my yard beneath the palisade fencing. My mother was hanging washing at the time and ran inside, locking the gate. One of the dogs seized my pet bird, which was like a child to our family,” he said.

He added that the bird was not caged and had been trained.

“The pit bull killed her and left her in the yard. From that point, my family and I have been fearful of being attacked. Metro Police warned my neighbour to erect a wall to prevent the dogs from escaping. He moved the dogs and built the wall, but returned them at the beginning of this year.

“Two weeks ago, the dogs allegedly entered another neighbour’s yard and attacked his dog. Should I have waited to be mauled before acting? I had to prioritise my safety and my life,” Dhanpal said.

The dog’s owner confirmed that he had opened a case of animal cruelty against Dhanpal but declined to comment further.

Prem Balram, head of Reaction Unit South Africa, said reaction officers found the pit bull against a fence with a gunshot wound.

He said the owner disputed Dhanpal’s claim that the dog had entered his yard.

“The dog’s family contacted us and provided an alternative account of the events leading up to the shooting. The homeowner maintained that he discharged his firearm in self-defence. The dog was taken to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), where she was euthanised.

“The family supplied a 10-minute video to reaction officers, which appears to show the dog on the wall when she was shot. They claim no attack was captured on camera and suggest the shooting may have stemmed from a strained relationship between the neighbours,” Balram said.

IOL News

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