Bulldog costs owner plenty
2007-10-04 08:09
Pretoria - A man from Garsfontein in Pretoria has to pay R85 000 in damages to a 66-year-old man who was bitten by his English bulldog.
The parties agreed on this amount on Wednesday, and it was made an order of the Pretoria High Court.
In terms of the agreement Pieter van Zyl de la Port of Garsfontein has to pay the money to Willem Johannes Paulis Blaauw by October 31.
Blaauw works as a caretaker and lives on a smallholding in Boschkop.
The amount is interest-free provided it is paid on time.
Blaauw said in his affidavit that the bulldog "had attacked and bitten him" in the vicinity of 592 Mias Street in Garsfontein on June 24 2005.
By doing so the dog "had exhibited innate excitability, or viciousness or unsoundness," and had acted "against the nature of that class of tame animals".
He added that De la Port had neglected to ensure at all times that his bulldog did not get out of his property in Mias Street and moved around the area.
The dog had bitten him and broken the larger of the two bones in his forearm.
He had also sustained various bite wounds, scratches and bruises to his left hand and arm.
Blaauw had originally claimed damages of R195 645 plus interest.
He said he had experienced pain, suffering, emotional shock and trauma, loss of enjoyment of life and disfigurement.