Rumours of illegal dogfighting taking place on an open field next to Orleansvale Primary in Chicago, Paarl East cannot be confirmed through an investigation by Paarl SPCA.
Inspector Neil Visser, from Paarl SPCA, said he had visited the site and completed his investigation into the matter.
“I have observed only one carcass of a medium-sized dog that appeared to have been there for a considerable amount of time. I have also been to Orleansvale school and spoken to the caretaker. He indicated that to his knowledge there was no dogfighting taking place as indicated. He does, however, state that the residents do dump their dead animals in the open space that is municipal ground. It would appear the residents do not know what to do with their dead animals and use the space. I have reported the matter to the [Drakenstein] municipality about the dumping of dead animals next to the school.”
Bonita Denton, from the animal welfare organisation Paarl Rescue Obsessed, on the other hand said they had spoken to a number of residents in the area who personally confirmed the illegal dogfighting. The resident spoke anonymously for fear of their safety.
“The residents say it happens there on an open field, and when they call the police for help they don’t come at all, or they come too late when the people have left already. The entire field looks like a cemetery with animals that have died from bite wounds and been torn apart.
Some dogs have black bags around their heads because they did not perform properly. The scene is akin to that of a horror movie, and it’s quite near the school. The worst is that teenage boys are encouraged to form part of the illegal dog fighting for pocket money.”
Denton further added: “The worst part is that it is more about money for the people who sell pitbull puppies than about where the dogs end up. Most of the dogs are rescued when they are still under a year old with severe problems as a result of fights.”
This year Paarl Rescue Obsessed rescued at least 20 pitbulls from dire circumstances, according to Lianne Goodman-Nel, a member of the organisation.
With the stigma attached to owning a pitbull in South Africa on the rise, she said, so has the topic of using these animals for fighting purposes as a sport and a way of making money. She emphasised this was a serious problem in many communities.
“These dear animals are encouraged to fight each other for spectator value, sometimes until their death. Sweet natured and loving family dogs are stolen or some are specifically made to breed and forced either into a life of a bait dog (making other dogs aggressive to the point of attack) or placed in a fighting ring to win or lose.
“Once a dog is no longer of use or has died it is just dumped and forgotten about. If not already dead, it stands a chance of dying from its injuries or from neglect and starvation.
“It is very rare for a pitbull that has been used for fighting to be rehabilitated to the point of being successfully homed. There is, and always will be, a huge trigger for these dogs after the life they’ve had to endure at the hands of human predators.”
Visser further pleaded with the community to contact Paarl SPCA directly if they had information about illegal dog fighting.
“If any member of the public can provide us with accurate information and evidence of dogfighting then we can act. They will be anonymous. We cannot act on hearsay.”
Contact the Paarl SPCA on 021 863 2720.
