Guard shoots New Germany pit bull

A DOG, allegedly shot by a frightened security guard, is currently in recovery. The incident took place in New Germany, and according to the Pinetown police, it occurred after the officer entered the house following a burglar alarm activation.
“The guard got very scared; he then shot the dog, which was taken to the vet for treatment,” said Bongumusa Manqele, the SAPS communications officer in Pinetown.

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Explaining the incident, the dog owner, Joe White, said he had called for response when he suspected an intruder in his property, and that was when his dog was shot.

“At about 16:30 on Wednesday, November 23, our electric fence alarm went off. A few minutes later, our dog, Boost, was barking, and I looked outside my house to see an intruder near the house. The dog scared him, and he ran away. I informed the neighbourhood watch, and at about the same time, our alarm activated. ADT phoned at 16:37 (automated) and 16:38 (live person), and I told them that we had an intruder and would like the armed response to attend to the matter. At 16:57, I received a call saying that the response was there at the gate, but that they wanted me to open the gate due to there being vicious dogs on the property.

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“I went to the gate, and my dog Boost, a pit bull, followed me. To my surprise, the ADT officer had already walked down my long, steep driveway, nearly to the bottom, and our dog went towards him and barked at him. The officer pointed his gun at the dog and was visibly afraid of the dog. Before anything could be done to get the dog, the officer shot the dog. I told the officer to leave immediately and rushed my dog to the vet. The vet indicated that the bullet went through his eye, out his ear, barely missing his brain, and then re-entered his back and then lodged in his thigh,” explained White.

Confirming the incident, Group CEO Wahl Bartmann said, “We are aware of an incident in Pinetown, on Wednesday, November 23, involving one of our armed response officers and a dog belonging to one of our customers. We are investigating the course of events and will offer the customer our full cooperation.” White said the vet bill for the dog’s surgery was R14,044.92. He said he feels that it is appropriate that the security group gives fair compensation for this incident that ‘should have been avoided’.”