Angry Phomolong residents in Free State killed a neighbour’s pit bull using spades and stones before setting the dog alight.
The attack on Sunday morning, which took place in Henneman, came days after a similar dog attack happened elsewhere in the province.
Free State police spokesperson, Captain Stephen Thakeng, confirmed the incident and said the toddler was playing with other children when the dogs pounced on him. “Two pit bull dogs attacked a three-year-old and mauled him to death. At this stage, we are investigating,” said Thakeng.
The police took the owner of the animals to safety after the angry residents also wanted to attack him. “The community wanted to attack the owner, as well as his dogs. One dog was burnt to death by angry residents and another one was taken to the SPCA,” said Thakeng.
The three-year-old boy’s death comes less than a week after an eight-year-old boy was mauled to death by a pit bull at his Vista Park home, also in Free State.
In a separate incident in Athlone, Cape Town, three pit bulls were stabbed and set alight by the community after they attacked a young girl. The girl is recovering in hospital.
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