DOG ATTACKS MDANTSANE BOY

Pit bull debate rages on

Gcobani Ndzongana is an admirer of pit bulls. The Land Party leader from Dimbaza, Qonce, has owned pit bulls since high school days.

“I have two pit bulls. I have never kept more than two at once,” said Ndzongana.

“The most important thing is to understand your dog, same as you do with your Rottweiler or any other dog. You must also do research on the origin of your dog.

“By nature, a pit bull was never meant to be a pet.”

Ndzongana said it was an unpredictable dog. “You must always monitor it and read its body language and behaviour every day.

“Pit bulls need care. It is a unique dog breed.”

He disagrees with calls to ban pit bulls. “People must be responsible. That’s like owning a gun. You cannot say people must not own guns simply because people are killed by guns. It is not the dog that has the problem but the owner of the dog,” he said.

Genetically, Ndzongana said, pit bulls were attackers but with care they could behave well.

He said pit bulls were not child friendly. “Pit bulls are not nanny dogs, they are not herding dogs, they were bred to fight. So when you own one, it is your responsibility to keep others safe,” he said.

He called on pit bull owners to be responsible at all times.

“Don’t see it as funny when your pit bull shows signs of attacking. Do not beat the pit bull because if you do, it will hold a grudge and attack you.

“Feed your pit bull regularly. If you feed it at 8am, feed it at that time, to minimise aggression.” Retired professional nurse Ntombenceba Phandle, from Butterworth, said pit bulls were not as vicious as people portrayed them.

“We have owned a pit bull for quite a while. She is not even chained. When I bought her several years ago, I wanted to remove the teeth. I took it to a veterinarian who advised me to train the dog instead.

“We did that and it turned out to be very friendly. But I can tell you that a pit bull does not forget.

“I remember one dog from the neighbourhood that attacked our pit bull. What a fierce fight and our pit bull nearly killed that dog. Up to this day our pit bull gets angry every time that dog passes by.”

Phandle said the best way to stop a pit bull when it attacked was to pour water over it.

East London pit bull breeder Buntu Noninzi owns two purebred pit bulls. He has had the dogs for seven years and says they have never been aggressive towards him or anyone.

“I have a male and female and I breed the dogs. I have never had any incidents where someone was attacked.

“I think it depends on how the owner takes care of the animal. There are people who are aggressive towards the animal, so it defends itself.”

Police spokesperson Colonel Priscilla Naidu said people were allowed to open a case against the owner if a dog attacked them in the street or open area.

“Also, as an owner, if you host visitors or you know of a visitor coming into your house it is your responsibility to keep visitors safe from your dogs,” said Naidu.