Where pitbulls are unwelcome: A complex story
Walking the family met on a leash through an estate in Evander recently led to altercations between residents in the complex, the dog's owner and even the police.
Dog owners cannot be forced to get rid of their pitbull terriers, even if they live in complexes and estates.
The Pit Bull Federation of South Africa (PBFSA) explained the legal rights of pitbull owners in the wake of dog attacks that sparked a public outcry to ban this power breed, as well as a debate against a ban.
On local soil, this controversial clash reached boiling point in an altercation between some residents of The Gayles in Evander, a dog owner who also lived in the complex at the time and the local police.
Videos of the incident were shared on social media.
The dog’s owner
Zacharias Coetzer alleged he was confronted three times at his home on January 16 and 17 after a family member walked Coetzer’s pitbull terrier Enzo on a leash in the complex the previous morning.
In the first encounter, a policewoman allegedly confronted Coetzer who had just been discharged from hospital after a shoulder operation.
“She complained about us walking my pitbull,” said Coetzer.
Coetzer asked which law prohibits him from walking a pitbull on a leash.
“She told me that she is the law. The constable said she was going to shoot my dog. It was a threat to me, my girlfriend’s family and to my dog,” said Coetzer.
Coetzer said the constable could not support the accusations.
That evening a member of the home owners’ association and the same police constable, with other residents in tow, were in front of Coetzer’s home.
They wanted the dog gone. Coetzer’s girlfriend, Patricia Coetzee, was taking videos which aggravated the situation.
“Threats were made against us. We were four people against an estate of residents and a police officer,” alleged Coetzee.
Concerned for their safety, the women and children moved out of the complex.
Two police officers accompanied residents of the complex to Coetzer’s home the following day to hand over a signed petition.
“When I asked if the petition was done correctly, one community member lost his temper.”
Coetzer said as he retreated back into his house, this man slammed the security gate into him.
“I was trying to calm down my dog which was by now retaliating towards the people on the other side of the door.
“I tried to pull Enzo back in and shut the door, but the man smacked the door into my operated shoulder.
“I could hear the people shouting outside: ‘Either your dog leaves or you and your dog won’t leave alive’.”
Coetzer was left with no alternative but to find a temporary place of safety for his beloved pet.
He also had to find a new home where he, his girlfriend, the children and Enzo can be reunited.
Coetzer said Enzo is a lovable and soft-tempered animal. He and Patricia have opened police cases against the the relevant parties
The landlord
Mike Lester is the owner of the unit and was the first occupant. He claimed his two Jack Russells had been targeted during the time he lived in The Gayles.
Since 2015 he had complained to the HOA and the managing agent about his dogs being teased and pelted with stones, allegedly by children.
“I began receiving threatening letters under my door,” said Lester.
He purchased a second property moved out of The Gayles. Lester alleged his first tenant also packed up because the dog was pestered.
“The terrified animal escaped the property and wondered the complex – breaking a complex rule caused by the breaking of another complex rule.”
Lester was reprimanded for this transgression of the rules and he challenged it.
“I was told there isn’t much the HOA can do about the children and that the dog was a nuisance.”
“I have now again lost another tenant,” Lester said, referring to Coetzee.
The HOA committee member
The HOA committee member in the videos at first abstained from providing comment, except to say that the message would be passed on to the managing agent and the members of the HOA.
The following message was later received: “I’m advised not to talk to media, All I can say is that the HOA acted according to the rules of the complex and the safety of the residents thereof.”
The managing agent
Irma Swanich from Wikus Muller Property Group (WMPG), said: “We were appointed managing agents for the complex in 2016 and cannot comment on any prior incidents.
“We cannot comment on anything pertaining to the lease as we did not place or manage the tenant and were not involved in negotiating the terms.
“The managing agent is not in charge of the HOA but works on instructions from the HOA and its committee.
“Actions are currently being put in place to avoid any future incidents of the same nature,” said Swanich.
The police
The policewoman did not respond to numerous phone calls and messages for comment.
The Evander police also did not want the constable to respond.
Brigadier Selvy Mohlala, spokesman for the police in Mpumalanga, said in his opinion, the videos are one-sided.
Mohlala said the videos were taken to put the police in disrepute.
“The member did nothing wrong.
“I will not investigate the matter,” he said.
The Highveld Ridge SPCA
Stefanie Burr-Dixon said their trainee inspector, Tokozani Thanjekwayo, responded to the scene on January 16.
“The owner was asked if he wanted to surrender his dog to which the answer was no.
“There was no cause for us to suspect any cruelty or abuse towards the dog from the owner’s side.”
Burr-Dixon said if the dog showed any aggression or danger it would have been removed the animal.
They found the dog to be well looked after, that it showed no aggression and the SPCA did not consider the dog to be dangerous.
The Pit Bull Federation of South Africa
The PBFSA stated in a media release on their website on 15 December the owner of domestic animals is responsible to ensure that their pets are kept in such a manner that it does not cause a nuisance or danger to surrounding neighbours and the public.
“Pitbull owners, as all owners of domestic animals, must safeguard their premises to ensure that the animal cannot gain access to surrounding neighbours and the street area.
“Body corporates and the trustees of complexes and estates cannot change rules unilaterally and can only do so by following due processes.
“If an owner was allowed to keep big dogs the status quo should remain.
“The PBFSA advised pitbull owners who are being forced to get rid of their dogs, to send an email to the PBFSA at management@pbfsa.co.za or to the NSPCA at nspca@nspca.co.za
The pitbull breed
Leahanda Rheeder from the PBFSA management said most pitbulls are fun-loving, gentle and patient with all family members, but not with other dogs.
“The American pitbull terrier is not the pet for every home,” said Rheeder.
Because they were originally bred as fighting dogs, pitbulls are courageous, fearless, stubborn and tenacious and don’t stand down. They must be exercised daily.
Obedience training will ensure that the owner will be able to manage the dog.
“They must be kept on a leash around other dogs or in public.”
She said just like any other large breed of dog, pitbulls should be supervised when with children.
What makes a dog aggressive and even dangerous?
Rheeder said while all dogs exhibit natural canine behaviour, each has a specific breed behaviour.
“If you own an American pitbull terrier, but you don’t know what you are doing, you have a problem dog,” said Rheeder.
“A pitbull has powerful jaws and tenacity. When it attacks with full intent, it attacks to kill. They are powerful dogs that can cause damage in a very short time.
“Owning a pitbull or any other powerful dog with poor temperament, human aggression, or trained aggression which is not managed correctly is like having a loaded gun without a safety catch,” said Rheeder.
She said pitbulls should never be trained to be man-biters, such as police dogs.
The “ingredients” for an attack
•Poor breeding creates a dog with an unstable temperament.
•Poor training or lack of training and socialisation.
•How the dog is housed (small cages, short chains, small gardens with no stimulation).
•What the owner has taught the dog or has allowed the dog to do.
“Attacks should be prevented at all costs, do not set your dog up for failure. Never put your dog in a situation where he might feel the need to act or defend itself,” said Rheeder.
What to do when a dog attacks?
Never try to intervene when dogs fight.
Don’t pull fighting dogs apart or pull a dog away.
Phone the SPCA, police and medical services.
Get people and other animals out of the way.
When people are involved, try to get them to lie still. The more they move the more the dog will bite.
Do not yell or hit the dog, this can only aggravate it more.
Rheeder advised against buying unregistered pitbulls.
“These breeders do not have the breed’s best interest at heart and cannot guarantee astable, sound dog,” saidRheeder.
