Graphic content warning: Dog horrifically stabbed 57 times by pastor

In what can only be described as extremely disturbing video material that has gone viral on social media, self-proclaimed Pastor Andries Jeremiah Labuschagné can be seen repeatedly stabbing a purebred Bull Terrier named Leo in the neck and mouth.

The incident took place at flats in Hospital Park, Odendaalsrus, on September 3.

Labuschagné is allegedly a caretaker of the owner of the flats.

Leo, who was just over a year old, died after suffering 57 stab wounds.

Labuschagné and his wife Reinette were arrested on September 6, with Leo’s owner Tanya Sanders present throughout the videos, screaming hysterically and even bravely climbing on top of her beloved Leo to try and prevent Labuschagné from killing her dog.

Labuschagné’s wife is alleged to have provided her husband with the knives used in the attack.

Although not seen or heard in the video, Labuschagné allegedly shouted at his wife to bring a knife, then asked for a sharper knife, saying in Afrikaans, “This knife is too blunt, get me a sharper one!”

Once he received the second knife, Labuschagné began stabbing Leo on the inside of his mouth, after initially stabbing the dog in the neck.

In the video footage, Leo is clearly struggling to get away from his attacker.

After Leo died, Labuschagné is alleged to have said, “There, it’s done.”

The couple made their initial appearance in court on September 9 and will reappear on September 18 for their formal bail applications.

Labuschagné is currently being held at Odendaalsrus Correctional Services, while Mrs Labuschagné is being held at the Kroonstad women’s prison, where both will remain until September 18.

According to messages in WhatsApp groups, Labuschagné stayed in Middelburg for a period of time. He is known for moving across the country, rarely staying in one place for more than a year. The Middelburg Observer contacted several local pastors and religious figures, but no one could confirm that he had indeed resided in the town, as multiple messages on WhatsApp groups have alluded to.

Mike Bolhuis Specialised Security Services has joined the investigation around the incident, putting the Middelburg Observer in touch with Tanya Sanders.

Bolhuis’ team could also not confirm whether Labuschagné stayed in Middelburg.

Dealing with the aftermath

Sanders spoke with the Middelburg Observer about Leo, “He was a really, really good boy. His loss has broken us.”

Leo was known as a playful, excitable dog, who deeply loved his family, “Every morning, I would make my bed and Leo would get the zoomies and jump on, trying to stop me, keeping the bed unkept. Leo loved playing games like tug-of-war, and especially enjoyed play wrestling with my 13-year-old son Andre.”

Sanders told the Middelburg Observer that Leo showed no signs of aggression, except for the usual barking at strangers that passed by the home’s fence.

“Everyone is calling me a hero for trying to save Leo, but I feel like a coward for not being able to stop him. I wish I was stronger to be able to fight. If I was stronger, I would have stopped it from happening,” Sanders said through tears.

Sanders was once a neighbour to the Labuschagnés, with her stating that Labuschagné would give Leo treats almost every day, often playing with him.

In fact, the day before the horrific incident, Labuschagné helped transport Leo from Sanders’ ex-husband’s house to the Hospital Park flats, even giving Leo water and food for the night.

At 10:00 on September 3, Labuschagné arrived at the flats, wanting to move Leo to a different yard. Sanders told him to wait, saying the owner of the flats would be there shortly and he would move Leo.

Leo had been allowed by the property owner to stay in one of the yards, and was to be transported to said owner’s farm just a few hours later.

Labuschagné did not back down and insisted he would move the dog. It is then alleged that he tightly choked Leo with his collar. Leo even tried running away according to Sanders.

Sanders told the Middelburg Observer that all she remembers is being in the bath, washing Leo’s blood off her skin, “Someone told me they had to drag me off of Leo’s body, because I wouldn’t let go.”

“The owner of the flats arrived two hours later. The whole reason we were moving Leo is because he needed more space, two hours later, he would have been taken to a farm where he could have run around as much as he liked.”

Because Sanders had wrapped herself around Leo during the stabbing, the knife Labuschagné was wielding came dangerously close to severely injuring her.

She told the Middelburg Observer that she has opened an assault case and sent a picture of her wrist, which she alleges Labuschagné grabbed during the encounter.

But the mental strain the incident has left on Sanders is immense, “This morning, before answering this call, I had a breakdown. I’m not coping, I’m not dealing with it.”

The Middelburg Observer asked Sanders what she feels would be justice for Leo’s death, to which she stated, “I believe the laws around animal cruelty should change. If you kill an animal, you should be tried as if you killed a person.”

Sanders also could not confirm whether Labuschagné had resided in Middelburg.

The Middelburg Observer reached out to Labuschagné, but he could not respond as he is still in custody.

The Middelburg Observer is in possession of the three videos, but because of the graphic nature of the content, we have decided not to publish them.

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