Warning: not for sensitive readers.
A 27-year-old man has been arrested following the Cape of Good Hope SPCA being informed that the accused was stabbing a dog to death with a man-made sword in an informal settlement in Lwandle near Strand.
The Citizen reported that the incident occurred in a fit of drunken rage, where Scubie the dog stood no chance against the attack. The scene unfolded in the Simanyene informal settlement in Lwandle a week ago.
According to News24, Belinda Abraham, a spokesperson for the SPCA, said that they received a call for help from the Helderberg Animal Welfare Society (AWS) in Gordon’s Bay.
Mark Syce responded to the “horrific” scene.
“A home-made sword, fashioned from a flat metal bar, 18mm wide and roughly one metre in length, sharpened on one side and at the tip, was his assailant’s weapon of choice. On the opposite end of the ‘blade’, was a grip made from cloth and tape,” Abraham added.
As per reports from the SPCA, the man-made sword was shoved through the flesh of Scubie’s tongue and driven through his neck, severing the soft tissue, muscle and blood vessels in its path until it exited at the base of his head.
“Scubie, a cross-breed, was at peace and free of pain but the sword penetrating his mouth and exiting his neck remained intact. Scubie was silenced but he did not die immediately. He was left like that, impaled by the sword, blood dripping from his mouth,” Abraham said.
Later, Scubie was taken from the site of his death to Gordon’s Bay and then to a veterinarian in Stellenbosch, where a post-mortem was conducted immediately.
According to Abraham, the dog‘s owner had advised the SPCA that his family had obtained a restraining order against the 27-year-old. He is said to have a history of alcohol abuse and violent episodes.
“He had paid their home a visit, likely with murder on his mind, and Scubie was simply an easy target,” she added.
A case of animal cruelty was opened and a man apprehended on Thursday, said Police spokesperson FC van Wyk.
“It is alleged that the suspect argued with the complainant, who is the owner of the dog, about the dog that was making a noise. Both parties went inside their house. After a while, the owner heard a dog crying very loudly and he went to check and then found the dog with stab wounds,” Van Wyk added.
Police said the alleged perpetrator opened a case of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm against the owner of the dog on Monday, 14 June.
The accused is due to appear in the Strand Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 21 June. The owner of the dog had not been arrested.
The SPCA has urged residents to report animal cruelty to their number 083 326 1604.
Picture: Unsplash