Janette Muller from the Randfontein and Westonaria SPCA recently witnessed an incident where a dog owner was busy provoking his pit bull to start a fight with another pit bull.
Muller, who has footage of this incident, opened a case at the Westonaria Police. Muller says it is not only dog fighting as such that is illegal but also the provoking of your dog to fight.
The dog owner in the above mentioned incident, had his dog on a leash, then hit him and then pushed him towards the other pit bull, aggravating him to fight.
Muller says it has also come to their attention that people are spotted walking their pit bulls in residential areas, where some dogs from the nearby houses then run out into the streets and end up in vicious fighting.
Although these pit bulls are on leashes and the other dogs are not, it is a by law that you cannot walk any dog that you cannot control or that is aggressive.
This is not known to many dog owners and shockingly, also not the fact that dog fighting is illegal. These unintentional dog fights is also a way a pit bull owner trains his or her dog to fight.
The following are offences under the Animal Protection Act ( Number 71 of 1962 ): Any person who –
• Possess, keeps, imports, sells, trains, breeds or has under his control, an animal for the purpose of fighting another animal
• Provokes or incites any animal to attack another animal, or to proceed with fighting the other animal
• For financial gain or a form of amusement promotes animal fights
• Allow any of the above mentioned acts to take place on any premises, or place in his possession, or under his charge or control
• Owns, uses or controls any premises, or place, for the purpose or partly for the purpose, of presenting animal fights on any such premises, or place, or who acts, or assists, in the management of any such premises, or place, or who receives, any consideration, for the admission of any person, to any such premises or place
• Is present as a spectator, at any premises, or place, where any of the acts referred to, is taking place, or where preparation are being made for such acts
Should you be found guilty you could incur a fine or imprisonment for no longer than two years.
Muller added that anybody with any information on the above mentioned can contact the SPCA on 011 412 3114 or 083 654 8195.
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