South Africa: Attorney who let her pit bull attack up to 15 dogs in the last year hands the vicious over to a rescue (so it can attack again)

SOUTH AFRICA -- A pit bull which attacked a number of smaller dogs on beaches and parks along the Atlantic Seaboard has been removed from its owner, Francoise Lempereur.

It has reportedly been taken by an organisation which works with pit bulls and other fighter breeds and will undergo rehabilitation.

NIMBY = "not in my backyard". When courts hand over vicious dogs to rescues or banishing them from town, rather than euthanizing them. 

Lempereur, an advocate (lawyer) in Cape Town, has been accused of allowing her unleashed dog to attack up to 15 dogs over the past year without showing remorse or taking action to avert further incidents.

Ward councillor Dave Bryant confirmed the dog had been removed from Lempereur.

Bryant said if found guilty, Lempereur could face a fine.


Atlantic Seaboard residents claim that the pit bull owner, Francoise Lempereur has refused to take any responsibility or contribute towards hefty vets bills resulting from the attacks by her dog and that law enforcement has taken no action despite being repeatedly notified of the incidents.

Lempereur did not respond to a message on Tuesday, but earlier told the Cape Argus she was very sorry about the attacks and should have had her dog on a lead.

“He does need to be on a lead. It’s my fault and I accept it.”

EXCUSES, EXCUSES
Lempereur said her two year-old pit bull was not an aggressive dog but did sometimes “react to small dogs”.

She added that she would do whatever was necessary in terms of restitution.

“But putting my dog down is not the solution,” she said, adding that he had also been injured in the latest altercation.

“People put things up his bum and in his eyes. I had to take him to the vet for treatment.”

But owners of dogs who have been on the receiving end of attacks claim Lempereur seemed unperturbed following the incidents.

Rowan Katzew, whose dog Django, a Jack Russell cross, was attacked twice within two weeks by the pit bull said when he shouted at Lempereur to stop, she turned and screamed back “f*** you” with a smile on her face and walked away.

Shaun Hoddy, whose French bulldog puppy Pablo and Boston Terrier Peggy were both attacked on the Sea Point Promenade earlier this month, also said Lempereur had refused to stop afterwards.

Francoise Lempereur

“Two concerned residents went after her and asked her to stop but she refused.”

He said Lempereur had since threatened to charge him with crimen injuria.

But Hoddy denied intimidating her.

“I did call her a f**king bitch and said I would put it on Facebook but I never threatened her in any other way.”

(IOL - Nov 16, 2016)