Calls to ban pit bulls garner support in South Africa

By Hassan Isilow

JOHANNESBURG (AA) - Thousands of South Africans have signed an online petition calling for a ban on pit bulls as domestic pets, saying they are dangerous.

The Sizwe Kupelo Foundation, which started the petition, said many vicious attacks by the dog breed have been reported across the country.

On Sunday, police in Free State province shot dead a pit bull after it mauled an eight-year-old boy to death at his home in Vista Park, Bloemfontein, according to a report in the local Times newspaper.

Last month, a 10-year-old boy was also mauled to death by a pit bull owned by his family. Many people have reportedly been maimed by the dogs during vicious attacks.

More than 50,000 people have signed the online petition calling for a ban on the animals.

The Sizwe Kupelo Foundation wants the South African government to emulate countries like the UK, Russia and Portugal, which have either banned or imposed restrictions on ownership of the breed.

“A pit bull attacked my dad and his dog. The same dog bit my great-nephew. Given the many reports, I don't think they are dogs that should be kept in households as pets, unfortunately,” Angela Muller wrote on the petition page supporting the ban.

- Accountability needed

Lins Rautenbach, a spokesperson at the Pit Bull Federation of South Africa (PBFSA), told Anadolu Agency that individual dog owners should be held accountable for the actions of their dogs.

“We agree that mauling should stop,” she said in a brief phone interview, but insisted that banning dog breeds does not stop mauling because some people will move to other breeds which might even be more dangerous.

Rautenbach said the federation wants the government to be tough on those whose dogs maul people.

“They should be arrested, prosecuted and sentenced. Then people will become more responsible with their dogs.”