The Knoester family woke up to a horrific discovery last Tuesday morning.
Nick and Amanda Knoester, from Wadeville, lost five of their dogs on that day, as a result of dog poisoning.
The dogs had been barking the night before.
“Two nights earlier our dogs would bark restlessly and it was not the normal barking, they barked as though they were barking at something or someone,” explained Amanda.
“They barked so much that Nick would wake up, on both nights, and look around the yard, but he couldn’t find nor see anything.”
The barking didn’t stop until the morning before they were poisoned.
“Our dogs barked and I guess whoever did this saw that the dogs’ barks kept us alert because, even on Monday night, they were restless and the last time I went out was just before midnight, which was just before they started to calm down,” explained Nick.
He was the first person to find the dogs in the morning.
“It was when Nick noticed, in the morning, that my motorcycle, that was parked outside, was gone, that he saw some of the dogs lying dead and scattered around the yard,” said Amanda.
“We found the others where they slept; I am guessing they went there after taking the poison and started feeling sick.”
The family were saddened by the theft of the motorcycle, but were more horrified by the loss of their dogs, Bonnie, Sartjie, Mona, Nena and Roxy.
“They can take the motorcycle and all, but leave the animals, I really can’t believe that somebody could be so cruel as to kill our dogs,” said Amanda.
Upon inspection, the family found their small gate broken, which, they suspect, was the way the intruders got into the yard.
They also found what they believe was used to poison the dogs.
“We found a piece of red meat with white powder and black substances on the meat and, from the foam that was coming out from the dogs’ mouths, it looks like they used Ratex or Two Step,” said Nick.
Through their grief, the family would like to thank the police for their quick response.
“I just can’t remember their names at the moment, with everything going on, but those two youngsters, from the Germiston SAPS, were fantastic; they were quick and attentive,” said Nick before leaving for the police station.
Nick had to fetch their retrieved motorcycle from the police station.
“The police actually found the bike before we called them; apparently they spotted a suspicious-looking man, pushing the motorcycle and when they questioned him about it, he couldn’t answer and was arrested,” said Amanda.
“When we told the police that our motorcycle had been stolen, they asked to see a picture of it and, when we showed them, they told us that they had found it.”
Amanda feels like their motorcycle club, Pneuma MCC, or their motorcycles, are being targeted, as the only thing that was taken was the motorcycle.
“They left the children’s bicycles and other things; actually, they moved all those things just to get to the motorcycle and, about two or three weeks ago, another of our club member’s motorcycle was stolen,” she said.
“I am lost for words, the dogs were a huge part of our family.
“I don’t know, they should rather give the animals something to put them to sleep for a few hours, but not harm and kill them.
“We just want people to be vigilant and alert at all times — protect and care for your animals the best way you can, this is a great loss indeed.”
