Pitbulls owners left fuming over call for a ban on the breed

THERE has been an outcry from owners of pitbulls and organisations following the Sizwe Kupelo Foundation’s call for an immediate ban on pitbulls as domestic pets.

The foundation started a petition earlier this month, calling for the immediate ban of pitbulls.

Met with mixed reactions and overwhelming emotions as to the uncertainty of the future of their pets, residents from south Durban have shared their strong sentiments against the ban on their ‘big babies’.

Quraisha Naicker, who owns two pitbulls, Thomas, and Tia, both aged two, said she was against the ban and described her dogs as a part of her family.

“Pitbulls are very loving animals and they crave attention from their owners. Thomas and Tia are very much a part of our family and we treat them as such. A complete ban on pitbulls would be devastating to us, as we cannot live without them. We love them unconditionally.

“I feel that the ban is unfair. I have always had Pitbulls as pets and have not had any negative experiences with the breed. They are excellent pets. Tia is protective and a bit lazy, while Thomas has a lot of energy and loves his agility training which he does daily.

Naicker said it is important to train your dogs from the time you get them.

“My dogs are trained, exercised daily, and fed a proper diet. They also require adequate vet care and you ensure that they are socialised and kept in a secure area,” she said.

Jaquelene Goncalves, who is the proud mom to eight-year-old Sky, who was rescued after her owner died two years ago, said she was confused as to why this breed had to be banned.

“Sky is gentle, loving, loyal, and good with other dogs, people and children. She has a good nature and temperament. I felel it is totally disgusting to ban something God created. It is those who use these dogs for illegal activities like dog fighting, or abuse them that should be punished,” she said.

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The NSPCA, in a statement, said they stand in solidarity with the foundation.

“This is for the protection of our people – especially the vulnerable – who are the most common victims of dog attacks. Although the NSPCA’s mandate is the prevention of cruelty to animals and to promote good animal care, the NSPCA also values human lives.

“This petition should not result in the demonising of pitbulls, but should aid in finding a humane and cohesive way forward to protect the human and animal victims in this issue,” read NSPCA’s statement.

According to the foundation, the proposal of the ban follows years of vicious attacks on innocent citizens, including young children, and most recently, the mauling and death of a 10-year-old girl in Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth).

The foundation said the call to ban Pitbulls in South Africa comes as other countries like Russia, Denmark, and United Kingdom, among others, that have either banned or put restrictions on ownership of the breed or its importation.

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Sizwe Kupelo, the founder and patron of the foundation, has called on the South African government to follow suite.

“We cannot continue losing young people to these vicious dogs that have shown time and again that they should not be kept as pets. The defence by pitbull lovers that it is how you raise the dog, does not hold water. Many people, including joggers, have been attacked and killed by pitbulls.

“It is time that the government takes decisive steps and impose a complete ban on the ownership of pitbulls as domestic animals,” said Kupelo.

In their counter-petition, the Underdogs SA Pitbull Rehabilitation Center -South Africa claimed it is not the breed that needs to be banned, but the people behind the breed that do wrong to the animal, such as abusing them, use them for fighting, starve to trigger aggression and forced breeding.

“They are solely responsible for the outcome of the change in nature and genetics of the Pitbull being human aggressive. Pitbulls should become an exclusive breed. We feel all breeders, breeding organisations registration bodies, as well as illegal backyard and unregistered breeders must be banned,” read the statement.

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