A cop is under investigation for animal cruelty after allegedly shooting a Scottsdene family’s dog at point-blank range.
The Cape of Good Hope SPCA is assisting the family in lodging a complaint.
SAPS’ FC van Wyk, confirmed that a case in terms of the Animal Protection Act was registered for investigation, and “the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) was informed of the incident”.
SPCA spokesperson, Belinda Abraham, said they only know the family was trying to “put the dog away where it would not pose a threat”.
“The matter is still being investigated, but the dog was allegedly shot in spite of the family’s request for time to remove it,” she says.
“The remains have been taken to the state vet for a post-mortem.”
According to a family friend, Leandi Everts, the dog was “clearly” shot between the eyes, reports the Cape Times.
“An attacking dog would have been shot elsewhere.”
Everts said the cop wanted access to the property.
“The owner came out as soon as the dog started barking and the officer wanted to open the gate and the owner said ‘let me put it away’, and he said ‘no, I will shoot the dog’.
“Then he told the dog to sit and it sat down, and that is when the cop shot it. Afterwards, he picked up the casing, got in his vehicle and drove off. The other officers there refused to give the name of the officer,” Everts said.
Ipid spokesperson, Moses Dlamini, however, said it was not an Ipid matter.