GEORGE NEWS - A Loerie Park man is heartbroken after his beloved Staffordshire bull terrier, Datie, was shot and killed in what he believes was an act of cruelty involving a high-velocity air rifle.
Johan van der Merwe says he returned to his house in Mann Street after work just before 17:00 on Friday 29 May to discover that his dog had been shot dead in the backyard.
Datie sustained one bullet wound to her head. Van der Merwe believes a high-velocity air rifle was used, a type of weapon that does not require a licence.
He says he has no idea who could be responsible, as his dog had never bothered anyone, and he never received any complaints from neighbours about any excessive barking.
"I can only think it was maybe a bored child who has a rifle like this, or an adult who is simply spiteful," he said.
Van der Merwe has reported the matter to the Garden Route SPCA and the police. A post-mortem will be conducted to confirm the exact cause of death, after which Van der Merwe plans to open a case with the police.
According to him, his domestic worker was at the house on the day of the incident. She left at about 16:00 and, as usual, let the dogs out on the front yard and closed the gates. However, due to some damage from the recent storms, there is a gap in the fence leading to the back of the property, which allowed the dogs access to the backyard.
Van der Merwe said the only time he recalls any complaint about barking was over the Easter Weekend, when the family had gone camping and hired a sleep-in pet sitter. He says he contacted the sitter at the time, and the matter was resolved.
"I'm quite perturbed about this. Who would do something like this? I'm angry and sad, but I don't know who to be angry at."
A reward of R1 000 is being offered for any information that could lead to prosecution. Anyone with any information is asked to contact Van der Merwe on 071 390 0584.
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