While a pit bull whose ears were mutilated in Mitchells Plain has found a new home, a third suspect has been nabbed after allegedly confessing that he was the one who “acted like a vet” when he cut off the dog’s ears.
One-year-old Cooper was admitted to the Animal Welfare Society last month after two teenagers allegedly confessed that they severed his ears with scissors before sewing them back on.
The two had written a confession in which they allegedly said they wanted a “vicious looking” dog.
But last week the two retracted their statement, leading AWS inspectors to the residence of a third person who allegedly operates as a “vet” in Mitchells Plain.
Allan Perrins of AWS says the case took a dramatic turn when the third suspect admitted he had performed the “surgery”.
“The two Mitchells Plain youths who initially confessed that they had mutilated Cooper by cruelly cutting off his ears with a pair of domestic scissors for sadistic aesthetic reasons have both recanted their affidavits in full and led the Investigating Officer and AWS SA Senior Inspector Mark Levendal to the home of a third suspect who they now claim performed the botched surgery on Cooper.
“According to the pair, the alleged real culprit is a well-known quack who offers a wide range of veterinary services.
“The fact that they now claim innocence by no means implies that they are off the hook,” says Perrins, adding that they could face charges including perjury.