Two-year-old Cayce will remember his loving protector and best friend only from photographs. He will know only that Diesel (4) was obsessed with golf balls because his father, Christo Gerber, told him so.
A year from now he will probably not remember loving to throw the mid-sized dog golf balls to fetch, because last Thursday (5 October) Diesel was attacked and killed in his own yard by two roaming neighbourhood dogs.
According to Gerber, they used to live near the Shelley Point Golf Course, and in Diesel’s first two years of life he became obsessed with the small round balls.
“He would collect them for me, and I would end up selling them, leaving some for him to play with, of course.”
The family relocated to Vasco da Gama Street in Britannica Heights after Cayce was born, where they live now. “Diesel and Cayce formed an instant bond and Diesel became my son’s protector. We were extremely close to Diesel, so this tragedy has hit us quite hard.”
Law-enforcement officers responded to a neighbour, Mike Hartley’s call about the incident. Hartley did not want to elaborate about Diesel’s death because he agreed to testify if needed and did not want to compromise the case.
Law enforcement officers told Gerber they could only issue a fine to the dogs’ owner, but could do no more than contact the Swartland and West Coast Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) about the matter. Gerber never heard back from either law enforcement or the SPCA before contacting Weslander.
He said these two dogs are always roaming the area and have been on his property numerous times. The place where the dogs killed his dog is the same place Cayce loves playing.
Ethne Lawrence, spokesperson for the Saldanha Bay Municipality (SBM), confirmed the incident and said it was recorded in their occurrence book, with the number 153/05/10/2023.
She reiterated SMB’s mandate is to act on stray animals. According to the By-law Relating to Prevention of Public Nuisances and the Keeping of Animals, 2022 SBM may, subject to the provision of its Pounds By-law, order the euthanising or destruction of an animal or pet found in or on a public street or public place, and which is dangerous or ferocious to the extent that a person’s life or property is endangered.
Lawrence said the two dogs in the photograph were not impounded in this case because on arrival the officers did not find the dogs straying or wandering the streets. She said the SPCA manages the animal pound on behalf of SBM and does not deal directly with the impoundment of stray animals.
Lawrence emphasised that in terms of the Pounds By-law, 2022 the owner of land on which an animal is found trespassing may seize the animal for impounding, but it may not be removed to a pound unless notice in writing is given to the owner at least 48 hours before.
Louise van Zyl, manager of the Swartland and West Coast SPCA, said it is very sad Diesel got attacked and killed. She explained SPCA inspectors can only enforce the Animals Protection Act and SBM is responsible for complaints regarding stray animals, which includes animals attacking people and other animals.
She advised that dog owners could, besides laying a charge with law enforcement officers, lay a criminal charge of injury to property to be investigated by the police.
The third option is to start a civil case.
