Lede

A 28-year-old woman was killed in a brutal pit bull attack in Montclair, Durban, on Thursday night. The woman was attacked by three pit bulls while walking back from a nearby store. Her scream for help alerted residents, who tried to chase the dogs away.

### Investigation

Police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda confirmed that the woman was found dead on the side of the road at the corner of Atherstone and Norwich Crescent. According to police reports, the victim was attacked by the dogs and later succumbed to the injuries sustained. Montclair police have opened an inquest docket for investigation.

### SPCA Involvement

Caroline Smith, general manager of the Durban and Coast SPCA, stated that the dogs were initially at large or loose on the street and not confined to their property. An SPCA Inspector, Sabelo Ngcobo, was called to the scene during the early hours of Friday. Upon arrival, the woman was already deceased, and one pit bull had been shot by a security guard. The shot was not fatal, and the dog was transported back to the SPCA for humane euthanasia.

### Owners' Responsibility

The owners of the three pit bulls handed over the second dog to the SPCA, and the third dog is still at large. Caroline Smith noted that the responsibility of owning a pit bull comes with huge responsibility, and owning more than one pit bull comes with even more responsibility. The SPCA Inspector, Sabelo Ngcobo, will investigate further to determine the circumstances surrounding the attack.

### Community Reaction

Norman Gilbert, eThekwini Ward 64 DA councillor, expressed his sadness over the tragic incident and stated that it could have been averted if the animal municipal by-laws 2022 were enforced. He plans to take up the issue at council meetings and push for stricter enforcement of the laws. Tony Govender, eThekwini Ward 70 councillor, pointed out that some pet owners believe they are above the law and allow their 'monster' pets to roam the streets.

### ## Key Facts

  • The victim was a 28-year-old woman.
  • The attack occurred in Montclair, Durban, on Thursday night.
  • Three pit bulls were involved in the attack.
  • The dogs were initially loose on the street and not confined to their property.
  • The owners of the dogs handed over two dogs to the SPCA, while the third is still at large.
  • An inquest docket has been opened by Montclair police for investigation.
  • The animal municipal by-laws 2022 will be revisited to ensure stricter enforcement.

### ## SPCA's stance on pit bull ownership

The Durban and Coast SPCA has raised concerns about the irresponsible ownership of pit bulls in the area. Caroline Smith stated that owning a pit bull comes with huge responsibility, and owning more than one pit bull comes with even more responsibility. The SPCA will continue to push for stricter enforcement of animal laws and regulations to prevent such incidents in the future.

### Image Query

A photo of a woman walking back from a nearby store in the same area, with a sense of tension and fear surrounding her.