Neighbour opens fire on dogs

2007-08-28 09:34

Virginia Keppler

Pretoria - A man from Tumbrian Lane in Eersterust to the east of Pretoria had to watch in shock how his neighbour shot his two American pitbull terriers, picked up the shells, and disappeared into his house on Sunday.

Ainsley du Pont, 43, a taxi owner and driver, had to half-carry, half-drag one of his dogs, Snoopy, to his yard. "The seriously wounded Sasha ran to our lawn, where she died."

The still shocked Du Pont said on Monday the shooting took place shortly after he had dropped off his daughter, Dhilna-Waaz, 13, at a church. The dogs ran out when he drove into the yard. "I shouted at them 'you are not leaving', but they ran to a nearby veld.

'I loved my dogs'

"I fetched them and chased them home. Just before they entered through the gate, they heard the neighbour's dog barking. The two large dogs ran to him and started mauling him."

According to Du Pont he was trying to separate the dogs with a stick when the neighbour came out of his house with a gun.

"He cocked the gun and I shouted: 'Lucky, no!' But he opened fire. He then handed the gun to his wife and picked up the shells before they went back into their house."

According to Du Pont he had had the dogs for more than two years.

"I loved my dogs. They have never bitten a child or an adult.

"I feel sorry for the neighbour's dog that was mauled, but that doesn't give anybody the right to take out a gun and shoot. He could even have hit me."

He reported the incident to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

The neighbour was not available for comment on Monday.

Police spokesperson captain Lucas Sithole said the police were investigating charges of illegal firing of a gun in a built-up area and animal abuse.

- Beeld