Dog-fighting gangs attack Phoenix cats
Pets said to be hunted and killed for food
A DISABLED woman could only watch helplessly as her pet cat was “shaken like a rag” and snatched by members of a suspected dog-fighting syndicate.
Three-year-old Stompie was the third of the woman’s cats to be taken from her Clayfield, Phoenix, home.
This week, the Phoenix Animal Care and Treatment group called for the public to assist in the matter.
PACT member Neeri Naidoo said the group had discovered that a dogfighting syndicate was operating in a nearby township.
On Friday last week, a cat owner from Westham, Phoenix, witnessed her cat, Sweetie, being attacked by six dogs belonging to a group of young boys who appeared to be between the ages of nine and 12.
A neighbour, who had alerted her to the incident, said the cat had been tethered by a chain and hit with a brick.
“These six dogs were just pouncing on this cat, biting at it. We ran up to stop them and the boys ran off. The cat was so scared that he, too, ran off. She [the owner] spent about four days searching for Sweetie.”
Naidoo said PACT was tipped off when the boys later returned and Sweetie’s owner confronted them.
“She cornered the boys, who confessed to coming into the Phoenix area to kill cats, take them home, boil them and feed them to their dogs.
“They teach their dogs to hunt the cats. If the cats are still alive, they tie them up, take them home and stab them to death.
“They confessed to having 10 dead cats at their premises waiting to be fed to the dogs.”
Sweetie returned home, badly injured, on Tuesday this week. The cat was taken to a vet and discharged on Friday.
The owner’s neighbour said despite Sweetie’s return, the woman was still on edge.
“She is still very stressed out. She is very attached to the cat, who sleeps in the same bed as her.
“What’s worrying us now is what if these people have other cats who have been captured and are being tortured?” she asked.
The owner has opened a case at the Phoenix police station.
The Clayfield woman also laid a complaint with PACT. “I am actually still emotional and depressed about the whole thing. I am sensitive to the needs of animals and it’s like I am being haunted by what happened to Stompie. I don’t know how she must have suffered,” said the woman.
Naidoo said the public needed to be aware of the dangers so that they could better protect their pets.
“The boys have said they go into different areas in Phoenix every day. If someone sees them, they should call the police and take photos that can be used as evidence, which, sadly, is the only way any justice is going to be served,” said Naidoo.
Anyone with information can contact Neeri Naidoo on 073-005-4275 or Lynette Naidoo on 084-609-3962.