Cape Town - A resident is demanding justice for his pitbull after the pet was shot in the eye during a police raid.
The shooting in Peta Court on Friday saw angry residents shout at heavily armed officers as they questioned why the pitbull pup was shot.
Owner, Abdul Smith, 34, was visiting his in-laws on the day of the shooting with his three pitbulls as they had planned on bathing the animals.
“The police came into the court and arrested someone at another flat and they came into my mother-in-law’s house to search as well.
“The other dogs were already inside the room and the young one, NayNay, who is only 18 months old, ran towards the gate.”
Smith said a relative ran after the animal when they heard a shot going off.
“They just shot my dog through the gate and the bullet could have hit the woman. The people were angry because what if they had shot a child?
“We went to the station to make a case against them but we were turned away. I rushed my dog to the Animal Welfare [Animal Welfare of Society SA] in Philippi and they helped me. I was told my puppy will lose her eye and will join for an operation.”
AWS SA spokesperson, Allan Perrins, confirmed the animal is in their care.
“We can confirm that the dog who is in severe pain and shock has been hospitalised and will be operated on as soon as it is safe to proceed.
“In the meantime, we have successfully removed what appears to be a rubber bullet from her right eye socket and administered pain relief. We have also agreed to provide the owner with a detailed vets report.”
Police spokesperson, Joseph Swartbooi, said officers took action after three pitbulls were unleashed on them.
“Police members deployed in the Manenberg policing precinct were following up on information of dealing in drugs on Friday December 27.
“Upon arrival in Peta Court, an unidentified person set three dogs on the officers who took action. The dogs ran away. The members, however, continued with the business they were attending to and entered the premises, searched the occupants and recovered 39 sachets filled with methamphetamine. They detained a 28-year-old man for possession of drugs.”
Smith, however, claims the police are covering their tracks.
“The person they arrested was not at my family’s house. They must tell the truth, that man was arrested at another flat. The dogs were not let loose on them. Two pitbulls were in the room and the small one was behind a gate.”