Staffie returned to owner traumatised and injured

A Bloubosrand resident believes her American Staffordshire Terrier was stolen and used for dog fighting.

Irma du Plooy’s dog Xara went missing at about 5.30pm on 25 October. “I heard her barking before, but she always does that when people make deliveries so I did not pay too much attention to it,” she said. “I then saw a man on the pavement walking away.”

Du Plooy became concerned when Xara did not come for food. She then discovered the house’s gate was open. “I ran up and down the street, but there was not even barking.”

Du Plooy offered a reward and Xara was returned five days later, timid and afraid. “She has become very sensitive to strangers. One evening my husband arrived home in a different car, and she hid under our other car,” Du Plooy explained. “She also doesn’t go near the gate anymore. Xara returned home with injuries which could be from fighting.”

Dog fighting is defined as a blood sport, involving the pitting of two dogs against each other for the entertainment of spectators. The fight ends when one dog dies or is so badly injured it cannot continue to fight.

Last month 18 people involved in a dog fighting syndicate were arrested. A total of 14 dogs were rescued, some of them so badly injured that the SPCA were forced to euthanize them. It appears Staffordshire terriers are a popular dog fighting breed and are reported missing regularly.

“American staffies are very popular because they look like pit bulls, and pit bulls are very good fighters. They even use small dogs as bait dogs,” said Kelly Watts of the Randburg SPCA.

Watts reported that while dog fighting was a serious problem, no recent cases have been reported to them.

Details: Randburg SPCA 011 462 2659