A man says he is lucky to be alive after he was mauled by two pit bulls in Elsies River on Wednesday.
Messages went viral on social media, claiming the dogs had ripped off the man’s toes and that they were “lying in the road”.
Philipo Voisin was attacked at a house in 25th Avenue in Norwood just after 7.30am.
Philipo suffered injuries to his thighs, lower legs, left foot, hip and buttocks and says all his toes are intact.
Speaking to the Daily Voice on Wednesday, the traumatised man said the dogs “came out of nowhere”.
“I am new to the area and have never been that side. I was walking past the house and the gate was open. The next moment two dogs attacked me,” he says.
VISIBLE: Philipo showing his injuries. Photo: Jack Lestrade
However, the dogs’ owner, Maria Swanepoel, 76, claims Philipo, who works with one of her boarders, was shouting at the gate.
“He was here before looking for a place to stay. So when he shouted, I went out and let him in,” she says.
“The dogs were smelling him and jumping lightly on him when he started panicking and moving around me trying to get away from them.
“He was running around in circles and pushing me around,” Maria explains.
She says they moved to the road, where Philipo pushed her towards her dogs and she fell.
“That’s when they attacked him. They were biting him on his legs. He did not lose any toes.”
SCENE: Elsies River house where the dog attack happened. Photo: Jack Lestrade
She says neighbours came running and hit the dogs with sticks and stones to get them off of Philipo.
“This has never happened before. I asked my boarder to accompany him to the hospital.
“My children got me calming pills, but I’m still reeling in shock and disbelief,” Maria adds.
The pensioner says she’s had four-year-old Trouble, with the brown coat, and three-year-old Lady, with a brown and white coat, since they were three weeks old.
When the Daily Voice visited the house, the dogs were locked up in the backyard.
ANGRY: Imraahn Mukaddam of the Elsies CPF. Photo: Jack Lestrade
The deputy chairperson for the area’s Community Policing Forum (CPF), Imraahn Mukaddam, says he arrived on the scene and went with Philipo to the Elsies River Day Hospital for treatment.
Mukaddam says they then went to open a case with the police, but was advised to file charges with Law Enforcement instead as it is a by-law issue.
“We expect the police to also open a criminal case (in such matters),” an angry Mukaddam said.
“That’s why these dog owners are getting away with murder.
“Neighbours told me this is not the first time these dogs attacked someone.”