The Sizwe Kupelo Foundation calling for the ban on pit bulls as domestic pets is continuing to engage with the government.
THE FOUNDATION calling for the ban on pit bulls as domestic pets is continuing to engage with the government.
The Sizwe Kupelo Foundation (SKF) said Monday’s engagements were underway with the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD), and they were awaiting a date to present their online petition to the government.
The online petition has gained over 133,000 signatures.
Dr Sizwe Kupelo, from SKF, said: “We gained a lot of traction with (about) 133 000 signatures. We are engaging with the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, they have promised to give us a date before December 15 for delivery of the petition. We are gravely concerned by the weekly killings by pit bulls.”
National Council of SPCA (NSPCA) spokesperson, Keshvi Nair, said they had also written to DALRRD for stricter regulations for all power breed dogs instead of banning the breed.
Nair said the NSPCA supported the call by SKF to “protect the vulnerable”.
“When this flared up in the media six weeks ago, we didn’t just stand idly by and do nothing. We took active measures to bring some sort of rationality and stability to these calls.
“When we met with Kupelo, who is spearheading a campaign to ban the pit bull breed, we discussed the call for stronger regulation and control with regard to the keeping and breeding of not only pit bulls but power breed animals...to clarify, the NSPCA does not support the call to ban pit bulls or any other breed of dog or animal.
What we do support is the call for stronger regulation and control with regard to the breeding and keeping of aggressive animals,” said Nair.
Nair said while they have not received a formal response from DALRRD, they continued to engage.
DALRRD responded that they could only assist with a response in 48 hours.
Kupelo said: “We cannot continue losing young people like Storm Nuku to these vicious dogs that have shown time and again that they should not be kept as pets.”
Cape Times