The Pit Bull Federation of SA recently said in a statement that the owners of pit bulls which attacked or killed people should be charged with culpable homicide.
GO! & Express asked East London residents their thoughts on this.
Abulele Mgidi, Greenfields
I definitely support it — the rate of humans being mauled by pit bulls is increasing. There needs to be accountability. It can’t be excused because it’s a dog. Clearly, something sets off this breed and it’s not safe to have them in our communities. It’s not fair for families to lose their loved ones and nothing happens to the owner of the dog.
Akwasi Ampong, Amalinda
The same should be said of owners who own medium to large breeds. It’s truly tragic that pit bulls have been cast in the light that they have because their owners didn’t take the time to educate themselves about this breed or spend time and resources to have their dogs socialized. Everyone wants the prestige of owning a pit bull but lacks the strong personality traits required to own and raise a breed that is considered volatile. I have read articles that show most unprovoked dog attacks are by breeds such as rottweilers and pit bull terriers, of which it is a completely different breed to that of a red or blue nose pit bull (Staffordshire breeds) and a handful of other breeds; which, believe it or not, include golden retrievers. Do you hear a cry for those breeds to be regulated or that their owners to be held accountable? No, you don’t. Society is running away from the main issue, which is [some owners] lack the strong character needed to own big breeds that were initially bred for high work outputs. Such breeds require a lot of stimulation as part of their daily regimen but do not get it. Does that mean all dog breeds should be banned in SA because humans do not know how to conduct themselves with dogs in general?”
Sinazo Mfikili, Mdantsane
If your dog attacks me in any way or form without provocation, you as the owner are going to jail for it.
Tando Qomfo, Mdantsane
I confidently stand with the charges of culpable homicide. A mental health patient is taken away from their family when they’re deemed a danger to society and themselves. The same principle should be applied when it comes to pit bulls. They are a danger because they’re unpredictable. You literally just never know when they’ll jump you. Even the owner is not safe, so I don’t get why one should hold on to such an unpredictable pet that might just wake up one day and rip you to pieces.
Agcobile Ben, Scenery Park
Good. These dogs are dangerous, wild dogs. They should not be allowed to live among people. They cannot be truly domesticated.
Mziwoxolo Mtola, Haven Hills
I agree 100% that owners must be held accountable because they often don’t even try securing their gates or making sure their dog is properly fed or taken care of. Unfortunately, it’s mainly black people that don’t even try to do basic stuff to insure people are not harmed by their dogs. In my area alone, there are probably five or six children who love walking their huge pit bulls, but they have no business even doing that because they can’t control them and their parents don’t care either.
Aya Rala, Southernwood
The owners should take responsibility for the actions of their pit bulls. They often blame other people and still don’t want their pit bulls to be put down. For example, the owner of the pit bull that killed a toddler in Gonubie blamed the neighbours for not having proper fencing, yet the dog had killed other dogs before killing the baby. And she still said her pitbull could only be put down if another incident occurred. Sickening!
Lizo Magxabhela, Parkside
The owners of pit bulls should be held responsible as these dogs have been attacking and killing people for years. But owners are still careless in keeping their dogs in their yards. If these owners can’t take past incidents as warnings, then they deserve to be held accountable for their pit bull’s actions.
