4 dogs poisoned in 2 nights
2009-02-04 09:11
Pretoria - A Waterkloof Ridge couple's four dogs were poisoned over two nights, presumably by criminals who wanted to break into their cars.
Fanie Rootman, 60, said their Rottweiler Zasta, 5, and Jack Russell, Miekie, 3, were poisoned on Sunday night.
Their bodies were found in the back yard early on Monday morning. Half-eaten meatballs also lay in the yard.
On Monday, they got a four-year-old Boerbul bitch to protect them.
On Tuesday morning, Rootman became suspicious when the other Jack Russell, the eight-year-old Juliete, did not come to the front door at 04:00 as usual to ask for a biscuit.
"When I called her, I only saw her lifeless body lying on the lawn."
He immediately saw there was also something wrong with the Boerbul, Zita, and rushed her to the vet at 05:00. But Zita died on the examination table.
On Tuesday morning there were no meat balls on the property.
Footprints
Rootman said there were footprints in a flowerbed against the fence. The Rootmans' house is next to Hans Strijdom Avenue.
He suspected that the criminals wanted to break into the three cars parked in his driveway. The criminals stepped over a low fence at the front of the house.
Police spokesperson Captain Colette Weilbach, confirmed that the Rootmans had laid a charge with the police.
She said it was good that people reported such incidents, as police would then patrol the area more regularly.
The meat balls as well as tissue samples would be tested to determine what kind of poison was used.
"I grew up on a farm and love animals very much," said Rootman. "We will definitely get more animals. A friend called me and said another Boerbul is on the way."