Great Brak River police spokesperson, sergeant Chantel Marais, confirmed that a police member shot the dog during a follow up on information regarding cultivation of dagga, saying he had no choice but to shoot the dog in self-defense. Police went to the farm, outside Great Brak River on the R328, after receiving a tip off.
"Upon arrival on the farm, the members got out of their vehicles with no dog in sight," explains sergeant Marais.
"A young male residing at the farm went into the house and a few moments later a very aggressive brown and white dog came running out of the house in the direction of the police members.
"Some of the members managed to get back into their vehicles, while one police officer could not manage to get to safety. To avoid an imminent attack, the police officer shot the dog.
"The dog was very aggressive and did not listen to his owner when the owner called the dog." The owner of the dog, who later handed herself over at the Great Brak River Police Station, Sharon Price, appeared in the Great Brak River Court today on a charge of the possession and cultivation of dagga. Price, who claims to be a registered medical practitioner – a registered nyanga or herbalist - told the Mossel Bay Advertiser on Saturday that as a nyanga she uses hemp oil to treat cancer patients.
“I have a few very small hemp plants on my property. I use it to treat cancer patients and I have seen it work miracles,” says Price. Today, an emotional Price was released on a warning after her court appearance. The case was postponed to 5 April. Price told the Mossel Bay Advertiser that her whole family is going through trauma.
“Today the George SPCA dug up Izra’s body in order to conduct the autopsy.
"I am overwhelmed and am taking a break for the rest of the day. I am definitely laying charges against the police for shooting and killing my dog,” said Price. She said that it didn’t have to be like this and that police need training on how to handle situations like the one with Izra.
“We are definitely not going to leave this as we believe that it was not necessary to shot Izra. I am planning on laying a few charges and will do so tomorrow.”
The results of the autopsy was not yet available.
Watch a video interview with Sharon Price below.
Read more in Thursday's George Herald, and online.
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