MOSSEL BAY NEWS - The Da Gamskop Police Station and the Garden Route SPCA Mossel Bay branch are investigating an incident where two dogs were shot on a farm in Brandwag earlier this week.
The dogs, an adult female boerbull named Cloey and a juvenile cross-breed named Wiesit, belonged to 53-year-old Margaret October Benjamin, who lives on a farm in Brandwag.
It is alleged that the owner of the farm next to October Benjamin shot her two dogs while they were on his property on the morning of 24 March.
It has been reported that a case of malicious damage to property has been opened by October Benjamin, with Da Gamaskop Police.
The SPCA said in a statement on its Facebook page yesterday, 26 March, that they are investigating both the owner of the dogs and the man who allegedly shot the dogs.
Speaking to Mossel Bay Advertiser October Benjamin's son Helwin October said that his mother stays on a communal farm that is separated by a fence from the other farm.
Helwin said his mother had found out from a member of the community that her dogs had been shot at about 10:00.
Margaret said Cloey and Wiesit had been more than just dogs to her.
"They were my children," she said.
Margaret said there had been no issues between her and the farmer, nor her two dogs, prior to Cloey and Wiesit being shot. She claimed that Monday was the first time her dogs had walked onto the farmer's property.
She said when she was first informed of their death, she hadn't believed the news and walked around the farm where she stays calling for them.
She said she later went close to the fence separating the two farms and saw Cloey lying dead on a gravel road and Wiesit was lying in the long grass on the farmer's property. She said she was scared to go onto the farmer's property to fetch Cloey's body.
Margaret said she wants to know why her dogs were shot, stating that the two had been neighbours for years and asked why the farmer did not warn her or members of the community instead of shooting her dogs.
"He was born and raised here. We know him. He must ask for forgiveness," she said.
Helwin added that there had been some witnesses to the matter and someone had allegedly captured video footage of the incident.
The Advertiser has seen the footage where a white bakkie can be seen in the distance as well as a black dog running. Towards the end of the video, shots can be heard.
Helwin alleged the dogs were not near the farmer's animals at the time the incident occurred.
The Advertiser also spoke with the farmer, who cannot be named as there is a case opened against him in this matter and he has not yet appeared in court.
The farmer said he had shot the dogs, and did feel remorse over the incident, stating he had done so to protect the animals on his farm but had not taken the decision to do so lightly.
He said dogs had been on his farm two months ago and attacked several of his sheep, leading to the death of eight of them.
The farmer added that dogs from the neighbouring farms coming onto his property were a frequent occurrence.
He said he had received a call from his daughter just before 09:30 that there were two dogs on his property that were inside his sheep encampment, but had then run away. He said that within 30 minutes, the dogs had come back and that is when he went to fetch his firearm. He said when he came back, the dogs were troubling his sheep and, and he said in order to prevent harm to his sheep, he shot the dogs.
"It is a terrible thing to shoot an animal. It was very heartsore for me. I did it to protect my animals," he said.
He added that he was very sorry for their loss, and added that he had done his best to secure his property and keep dogs out but that they still found a way in. He said the dogs did not have any collars so he did not know who they belonged to.
"I felt I did not have a choice," he said.
The SPCA said in their statement it understands the anger and distress the situation has caused and it is actively investigating the matter.
"Our role is to establish the facts. We determine whether any animal has suffered, how it occurred, and who is accountable. We are investigating the actions of both the dog owner and the farmer," it said.
"A post-mortem examination will be conducted by our veterinarian to determine the cause of death and whether the dogs suffered. If evidence confirms this, the SPCA will take legal action in terms of the Animals Protection Act.
"If the findings show that the dogs did not experience suffering, the SPCA’s mandate under the Animals Protection Act is limited, and the matter then becomes a legal dispute between the dog owner and the farmer. In those cases, SAPS may investigate it as malicious damage to property, and a court will determine whether the farmer acted within his rights."
It said the organisation will work with the police.
It added that its investigation will look at:
• Whether the dogs were under proper control and identifiable
• How the dogs entered the farm
• The welfare of the dogs prior to the incident
• The measures in place to protect livestock, including the use of deterrents
• The manner of the shooting and whether it was proportionate to the threat
• Any history of previous livestock attacks
It also urged anyone with information relating to this incident or who witnessed what occurred to contact Inspector Mariaan Wentzel on 076 507 8997.
An official statement from the police is yet to be received but will be added to the article as soon as it is received by the Advertiser.
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