South African courts have punished a violent dog attacker with a R10,000 fine, setting a precedent for future cases.
Cape Town, South Africa (01 July 2022) – A brave homeless man stood up against a dog attacker and helped the courts send out a strong message that violence against animals is unacceptable.
Following the brutal stabbing of a dog in late 2020 and subsequent criminal charges brought against the perpetrator by the Cape of Good Hope SPCA, the Wynberg Magistrates Court sentenced a Lansdowne man, Vicky Solomons, to R10,000 or ten months imprisonment suspended for three years.
The dog – who had to be humanely euthanased because of the severity of her injuries – had belonged to a homeless man.
According to SPCA Inspector Jeffrey Mfini, the dog’s owner was distraught at the time.
“It was the first time I had seen an old man crying like that. The dog, Meira, had been his loyal companion – she was everything to him. I want to say thank you to the Wynberg Court for giving this man a sense of justice.”
Meira, a collie crossbreed, had been sitting with her owner under the Imam Haroon Road bridge when the pair was approached by Solomons.
“Apparently, Solomons had been involved in a fight elsewhere and took out his anger and frustration on the dog. He kicked and stabbed Meira – and even though the knife got stuck in her back, he still forcefully removed it, lifting her right off the ground,” said Inspector Mfini.
SPCA Chief Inspector Jaco Pieterse added that the animal welfare organisation was grateful to the Lansdowne SAPS for working with the SPCA on this case.
“Despite being homeless and vulnerable, Meira’s owner took a brave stand against their attacker by testifying in court. The sentence sends out a strong message that violence against animals is as unacceptable as it is against people.”
*The dog owner wishes to remain anonymous.
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