MyPE

Community Business Directory, Event Listings, News and Views from Gqeberha, Nelson Mandela Bay

Dog owners should take responsibility

By

Dear Editor,

I am angry. I am very angry, because of inconsiderate dog owners who take no responsibility for their dog’s actions.

On the 18th of November 2011, on my way from one job to another, I was attacked by one of four dogs owned by a woman by the name of Brigitte Hills, who showed no sympathy after seeing what her dog did to me.

This incident happened at Westbourne road, while I was walking down towards Russell College and the woman walking up towards me from Russell College, when one of her four dogs decided to have a quick nibble on my leg. After inspecting and finding two teeth marks on my leg, I called out to Ms Hills; who at this time had carried on walking and told her that her dog bit me. Now instead of trying to find out how bad the damage was and at least apologizing, she replied by saying “Ah that’s nothing man”, and again said; in a aggravated tone, after I had repeated myself that her dog bit me, she said, “What should I do about that?” and carried on walking.

I’m not worried about the dog bite, but it’s Ms Brigitte Hills’ sick, crappy and inconsiderate attitude that left me angry, because I had to follow her around Richmond Hill to try and get her details and then walk all the way back to the police station, were I was given improper information, which made me walk from one hospital to another in the pouring rain to get a Tetanus injection, which I finally got at Livingston Hospital. I have two jobs and studies and on top of that now I have to visit the hospital every week, to get my weekly injections, an inconvenience caused by a pet of an owner without regard for others.

After the incident, I noticed how inconsiderate some dog owners can be; I don’t think they understand the seriousness and the affect of being attacked by a dog. Dog owners, especially big ones, you have to understand that your “little” pet “Butch” or “Bobby”, is a vicious animal to another person who feels threatened by it, not everyone understands dog language and when a dog barks ferociously at you looking like it’s going to attack you, that could eventually have an emotional and even a physical scare on that person, the least you can do Is apologize or show some kind of sympathy, If a person would do the same thing as the dog, wouldn’t you feel threatened?

This incident took me back to the bad old days of Apartheid where dogs were set on people to harm them. It shouldn’t be like that. A little understanding and sympathy would have been fine, but now I’m also laying a charge against this woman.

Yours Sincerely
Wonga Mabizela

The following two tabs change content below.

Port Elizabethan

This author is a 'catch-all' for occasional articles and letters written to MyPE. The Author of each article can be found in the signature at the bottom of each individual article.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Hi Wonga, As long as you got a case number (if not get one- open a case)your next stop is at the attorneys. That is assault – yes her dog, her responsibility. Take it to Carte Blanche in need, wherever. You have the medical records now to prove the bodily harm.
    If she had had the decency to show concern and offer to pay for your inconvenience then surely you would react differently. Under the circumstances she must now pay for all your pain and suffering and emotional disress.

  2. I’m with you on that one Wonga.  Her attitude was a disgrace and if you can’t keep your dogs restrained you should not be taking them for walks.  I always keep my dog on a leash no matter how “friendly” he is.  People today just don’t seem to take responsibility for their actions anymore.  It’s sad 🙁