The pedestrians of Soweto are faced with yet another challenge where they are forced to share the pavement with fierce looking dogs like pit bulls. This is a serious challenge for pedestrians with a bad history with dogs.
The dogs are usually walked by their owners at any time during the day. Some pit bull owners walk their dogs on peak hours when most pedestrians are walking on the pavements. It became more challenging for pedestrians if children are the ones responsible for walking dangerous breeds like boerboels. In some instances the dog owners walk their vicious pets without putting them on leash.
Protea Glen extension resident Sizakele Grace Tshabalala was once mauled by a pit bull and a Chinese dog a few years ago. Speaking to Soweto Observer she stressed the difficulty she goes through every time she is forced to share a pavement with a dog. “I suffer an emotional breakdown every time I see a pit bull it gets worse if I have to share the pavement with a pit bull.” She said. She urged dog owners to put their dogs on a leash whenever they walk their pets.
Protea Glen dog owner Theo Siwela says he prefers walking his dog after 5pm when the streets are less busy. “I double check the leash every time I walk Bourne (dog name). Bourne is well disciplined but I still take an extra precaution of putting her in a leash, in case she loses control” added Siwela. He says he believes that even dogs like boerboels need to be taken for walks but not at the cost of pedestrians safety.
The dangerous dog’s act 1991 clearly state that if a dog is clearly out of control in a public space, the owner or the person in charge of the dog at the time is liable for committing a criminal offense. The criminal offense is punishable by fine or imprisonment.
