Hijackers flee pitbull Jock

2004-10-20 22:43

Marida Fitzpatrick

Pretoria - Four hijackers had to flee with their tails between their legs when a brave dog attacked them in the car of an intended victim.

Jock, a three-year-old American pit bull, was waiting for the men as they were holding Mrs Sharon da Silva of Germiston at gunpoint.

Da Silva said: "The hijackers ordered me to run.

"While I was running away, I heard one of the men screaming 'Ouch, ouch, the dog!'," she said.

To crown it all, the dog does not even belong to her.

"He did not know me from Adam, but he fought tooth and nail as if I was his property."

The drama happened about 19:30 one evening last week when Da Silva drove to fetch her daughter at school and saw the lost dog.

She said: "It was raining heavily and he was running to and fro in the traffic. I was afraid he might be hit by a car."

Wasn't scared of the 'stray'

She opened the passenger door of her car and called the dog.

"He ran towards me immediately and jumped into the car."

Da Silva said she didn't think for an instant the dog would attack her.

"The possibility did not even enter my mind. All I wanted to do was to help the poor thing."

She was going to take the dog to a veterinarian or the SPCA, but first had to collect her daughter at Assumption School.

"When I stopped there and opened the door, I looked into a pistol."

She climbed out of the car and handed the car keys to one of the four hijackers. She pleaded with them not to hurt the dog.

The man ordered her to run. She said: "I was waiting for a bullet in the back, but then I heard the dog attacking them."

When she returned with a group of men some minutes later her car was still there, but there was no sign of the hijackers.

"I was greeted by a tail-wagging Jock, proudly sitting on the passenger seat, and all he did was to lick me profusely," said Da Silva.

She could not take Jock home because of her four other dogs - and no guarantee that he would not mete out the same treatment to them.

The Germiston SPCA took care of Jock until Wednesday, when his real owner claimed him.

Sent as her 'guardian angel'

Grant Strydom, Jock's owner, was not surprised by his dog's heroics.

"That is how we know him. Six months ago, he also made a gang of car thieves take to their heels when he grabbed them by the ankles."

According to Strydom, Jock could have opened the garage door with his muzzle to get loose.

"We launched a proper search, but could not find him and when I thought he was a goner, I was really heartsore."

Da Silva is convinced Jock was sent to come to her assistance on the night of the hijacking.

"He really was my guardian angel!"

- Beeld