UPDATE: Owner devastated by the murder of his beloved dog Polly

Valerio Maphosa (20), the owner of a female Africanis that was brutally stabbed and dumped in a sewerage stream by a neighbour in Gabon, Daveyton, on May 19, says he doesn’t understand why his neighbour did this to his beloved pet.

The body of the dog, named Polly, was recovered by Benoni SPCA inspector Thomas Mohlake and his colleague, field officer Emmanuel Leutle, from the stream after the family alerted the Benoni SPCA.

Also Read: GRAPHIC CONTENT: Dog brutally stabbed and dumped in sewer

Mohlake said that when they arrived at the scene, they found the dog’s partially submerged body floating in the stream.

Swift action by neighbours helped track down the suspect, who fled when SPCA officials arrived.

The man was arrested and appeared in the Daveyton Magistrate’s Court on May 22, facing charges of animal cruelty.

A visibly shaken Maphosa described Polly as more than just a pet.

“She was the sweetest, friendliest companion who loved people. I had bonded so much with her. She used to accompany me around the informal settlement at night. She was loyal, she protected me and now I’ll never see her again. It breaks my heart.”

Recounting the events of that afternoon, Maphosa said he received a call while at work at around 13:00 informing him that Polly had been killed.

“When I got home, I saw blood behind the suspect’s shack, but Polly was nowhere to be found. My friends and I followed a trail of blood and it led us to the stream,” he said.

His friend, Sthembiso Zitha, said the entire community had lost a dog that was both protective and playful, as she used to accompany people to the taxis in the morning and return on her own.

Zitha said he heard rumours that the neighbour killed Polly because she ate his spinach.
He also claimed that the suspect’s friends told him the suspect had previously made threats to kill the dog.

Maphosa said he now lives in fear after learning that the suspect is out of jail.

He shared that the SPCA removed Polly’s five puppies from his home.

“They took my puppies. I don’t know why. I want them back; they’re all I have left,” he said.

Mohlake said they confiscated the two-week-old puppies out of concern that they could die without being breastfed by their mother.

Daveyton SAPS said a case was opened on May 20 and the suspect was released due to insufficient evidence.

Also Read: Dog killed with spade for attacking chickens