This puppy was attacked by a neighbour’s dog.
Accusations and counter-accusations fly as a Kuils River family say they are traumatised after a neighbour’s pit bull attacked their 16-week-old puppy.
The Carters claim the attack in their Highbury Park home is the fourth incident involving the “dangerous” terrier since 2019. However, the family housing the pit bull say children from the Carter household often play in their yard, unsupervised, in the presence of the dog.
Cindy Carter said other family members had had close shaves with the dog over the years and the pit bull had almost killed her puppy in a “vicious attack” on Tuesday August 2.
A pre-cast concrete wall divides the neighbouring yards, but a backyard tree’s roots have created gaps in it.
Ms Carter has opened a case with the City after disagreements with the neighbour over who should pay the vet bill.
City Law Enforcement spokesman Wayne Dyason confirmed the department’s officials were dealing with the matter.
Ms Carter said: “Had I not been in the yard and fought the pit bull, I think that my dog would not have fared so well.
“A few years ago, my nephew warned the owner's son-in-law that if the dog came into our yard again and tried to attack one of us then he would kill the dog.”
She said the pit bull had charged her 11-year-old son in their front yard in 2019, and, in separate incidents, had chased her 78-year-old mother and Ms Carter’s niece, who is now 20, in their backyard in 2020.
“We are prisoners in our home at the moment,” Ms Carter said.
“Law Enforcement Animal unit was here yesterday (Wednesday August 3) because the neighbour refused to pay for the pup to go to the vet,” Ms Carter said.
“The whole neighbourhood could testify to the temperament of our pup, which walks along when I take my kids to school and back every day.”
The incident had cost her R541, including a R489 consultation fee and transport costs, she said. The neighbour had given her R100 for a new leash as the old one was damaged in the attack.
Leonie Veldsman, the daughter of the pit bull owner, said the pit bull had attacked the dog but not family members.
Roots from a tree in the Carters’ yard had damaged the wall and created access for their dog, she said.
Ms Veldsman said her mother had previously asked the Carters to remove the tree and she would cover the costs of the wall as they had built it.
“The dog only needed the antibiotics, which I wanted to go buy,” she said.
Ms Veldsman said children from the Carters often visited their household without supervision and in the presence of the pit bull.
Mr Dyason said their investigation would have to establish whether there was a prima facie contravention of the Animal Keeping By-law.
This process includes obtaining affidavits from Ms Carter and witnesses; completing a checklist of the premises where the dog is kept; obtaining photographs and medical records of any injuries sustained; and collecting any other evidence.