‘I am really not a bad person,’ says owner after dog attack

“IT was a mistake; I did not see that my dog was following me from behind.”

This was the response from the owner of the dog which viciously attacked an ice-cream vendor on Bloekomdraai Street in Terenure on March 6.

Meisie du Plessis (58) contacted EXRESS after reading the article about her dog that pounced on and injured Moses Ramoshaba (38).

“Those things they said about me are lies. I would never set my dog on anyone,” Du Plessis said.

Previous article:

• Ice-cream man attacked by dog in Terenure

“The ice-cream man came past on the day and my two grandchildren asked for ice-cream. I told my grandson to stop him while I went inside to fetch money,” she explained.

“When I came back, I did not realise my dog had followed me out of the gate. And that’s when it came out of the yard and bit him.”

Du Plessis said contrary to the statement given by Ramoshaba, she in fact did go out and help him. She said she managed to get her dog off him and locked it up in the yard.

“I went outside again and told him to sit down. A neighbour and I then called for an ambulance.”

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• Dog attacks: how to protect yourself

In the meantime, other people had made their way to the scene to try help. Paramedics arrived and treated him.

“I stood there crying the whole time because I felt sorry and so bad for what happened to him.”

They exchanged numbers. Du Plessis called him the next day to find out if he was still in hospital.

“He told me he had been discharged from hospital and was on his way to her house. I informed him I was not home at the time.”

Nonetheless, Ramoshaba went to her house and left a doctor’s letter with the helper.

“He later called me and asked for money to help cover the medical bills. I told him I could give him R100 at the time as it’s all I had, then at a later stage I would give him more. He said this was too little and he would need more to cover his medical bill and his transport costs to get to the hospital.”

Du Plessis said Ramoshaba’s wife also sent a message threatening to take her to the police. A case was opened by Ramoshaba and police came and took a statement from Du Plessis.

“I am really sorry about what happened; I am not a bad person. I would never set a dog on someone.”