Update :: Dog Fighting Case

A case of dog fighting that occured in May 2011 has finally had a day in court. 

In May 2011, police and animal welfare groups raided a smallholding in Ladywood.  The police and SPCA officials made the horrific discovery of two pitbull terriers fighting in a cage in the centre of the living room where another 6 pitbulls were chained waiting to fight.  The welfare workers were horrified at the extent of the injuries of the dogs.  The two dogs were so badly injured that they had to be rushed away for treatment. 
Police arrested 10 people and confiscated a substantial amount of restricted veterinary drugs, allegedly used to treat dogs severely injured in fights, or even to put down pitbulls which were unlikely to survive the ordeal.  Upon further investigation it emerged that the drugs were supplied by a government official also arrested at the fight.  In Feb 2012 IOL reported that Ferdinand Endemann had been dismissed as an employee at the Western Cape Agriculture Department, and criminally charges were brought against him.   Billy Marais, a chef at a top local restaurant, and owner of the property, was also amongst those arrested.  He was known to own about 6 American pitbull terriers and claimed that he was rehabilitating these rescues.
An SPCA source, who did not want to be named because he feared for his and his family’s safety, said some of the men arrested were believed to be involved in professionally organised fighting bouts and were key players in the underworld of organised fighting. 


Source :: Cape Times 08 Oct 2013 - John Harvey