Dog stabbed 57 times: Pastor and wife in Free State court

In shocking videos that have gone viral on social media, a bull terrier is seen being repeatedly stabbed in the neck and mouth by a man who appears to be self-proclaimed pastor Andries Jeremiah Labuschagné.

The Middelburg Observer, which is in possession of the three disturbing videos, has chosen not to publish them due to their graphic content.

The incident occurred on September 3 at flats in Hospital Park in Odendaalsrus near Welkom. Andries is reportedly the caretaker of the property. Leo, just over a year old, died after suffering 57 stab wounds.

Labuschagné and his wife Reinette were arrested on September 6. In the videos, Leo’s owner Tanya Sanders can be heard screaming in distress as she attempts to stop the attack, even climbing on top of Leo to protect him. Andries’ wife Reinette is alleged to have handed her husband the knives used in the attack.

Andries is reported to have shouted for a sharper knife, saying in Afrikaans: “This knife is too blunt; get me a sharper one!”

The video footage shows Leo struggling to get away from his attacker, and following his death, Andries allegedly said: “There, it’s done.”

It is not yet known what prompted the attack.

In court

The couple made their initial court appearance in Odendaalsrus on Monday and will reappear on Wednesday for their formal bail applications. Labuschagné is being held at Odendaalsrus Correctional Services, while his wife is detained at Kroonstad women’s prison.

Graphic photo warning:

Dealing with the aftermath

Sanders, devastated by the loss, shared memories of Leo, describing him as a playful and loving dog.

“Every morning, I would make my bed and Leo would get the zoomies and jump on it, trying to stop me… 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 expected barking at strangers who 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 [the attacker]. 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 of the Labuschagnés, with her stating that Andries would give Leo treats almost every day, often playing with him. She said he even helped transport him to the flats from her ex-husband’s house, and he gave Leo water and food for the night.

The incident

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

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

Andries, however, insisted he would move the dog, said Sanders. It is alleged that he then tightly choked Leo with his collar.

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 was 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, she said the knife came dangerously close to severely injuring her.

Assault case

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

Sanders revealed the emotional toll the incident has taken on her, stating: “I’m not coping; I’m not dealing with it.”

She believes animal cruelty laws need to be stricter, saying, “If you kill an animal, you should be tried as if you killed a person.”

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