CABLE thieves have indirectly caused the death of two family pets in Harding. Harold Redman’s three-year-old crossbred Rottweiler, Lucy, and a neighbour’s Jack Russell were electrocuted just metres from the Redman’s house in Gallaway Street on March 18.
“The power went off at about 2am, which is not that unusual,” said Mr Redman. “I heard Lucy and my neighbour’s dog barking like crazy, but managed to go back to sleep.”
The next morning, Lucy was nowhere to be found. “When I went outside, I noticed a nearby field had been burnt. I also saw that the overhead power cables appeared to have been cut. When I went to take a closer look, I was horrified to find Lucy lying dead on the downed cable. I couldn’t get too close, as the cable was still live.” The little Jack Russell was lying nearby, lifeless. “The dogs must have been chasing the thieves when they stumbled on the cables and were electrocuted,” added Mr Redman.
He contacted the police and the municipality. Concerned about the welfare of the schoolchildren who cross the field to get to school, Mr Redman waited at the scene until help arrived. Power was restored at 10am.
“Copper thieves don’t steal just copper, they steal lives,” said one resident. He added that copper theft in Harding is a huge problem. Umuziwabantu Municipality was contacted for comment but none was received at the time of writing. Harding police said no arrests had been made.
Lucy had nine five-week-old puppies which are now being bottle fed.
