A nine-year-old was attacked by a pit-bull dog on Saturday last week in Whitecliffe, Harare and later succumbed to her injuries.
Police said the girl, who was attacked by the dog at a house, died on admission at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals. Police said:
<blockquote>
The ZRP is investigating a sad incident where a 9-year-old female juvenile died on admission at Parirenyatwa Hospital after being attacked by a pit-bull dog at a house in Whitecliffe, Harare, on 25/03/23.
</blockquote>
In February this year, Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi told <a href="https://www.sundaymail.co.zw/murder-charges-for-killer-dog-owners">The Sunday Mail</a> that dog attacks have become a “serious matter”, with some owners of killer dogs having been charged with culpable homicide.
He said that residents are now breeding dangerous dogs, and in some cases, the pets are left unattended.
According to <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/new-updates/things-to-know-about-pit-bulls-as-third-attack-leaves-woman-fighting-for-her-life/articleshow/93539412.cms?from=mdr">the Economist Times</a>, most pit bulls are considered too ferocious and dangerous to be kept as house pets, especially by untrained people.
Pit bulls are well known for their killing instinct and its equally if not more dangerous bite force.
Pit bulls are famously one of the most dangerous dog breeds, which have been banned in 30 countries, including the UK, France, Australia, and New Zealand.
More: <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200009522/ed-demands-re-run-in-violence-hotspots">Pindula News</a>

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Pitbull Dog Kills Girl (9) In Harare

The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has said dog attacks have become a “serious matter”, with some owners of killer dogs having been charged with culpable homicide.
Police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi told <a href="https://www.sundaymail.co.zw/murder-charges-for-killer-dog-owners">The Sunday Mail</a> that some residents are now breeding dangerous dogs, and in some cases, the pets are left unattended. He said:
<blockquote>
Some of the dog owners have been charged with culpable homicide.
This has become a serious matter. People are breeding dangerous dogs and instead of exercising maximum caution, they actually leave these dogs unattended, while others do not have the security needed for one to have dogs on their premises.
</blockquote>
It is now common for households to own breeds such as the pitbull, boerboel, doberman, bullmastiff, rottweiler and German shepherd.
A community in Southview Park, Harare, is now living in fear of vicious dogs belonging to a family that recently moved into the neighbourhood.
One of the residents claimed they now spend most of the day in their houses for fear of the dogs. Said the resident:
<blockquote>
They (the new family) have two big dogs and several puppies, which are making them even more aggressive. The dogs have attacked us on several occasions.
Talking to the owners is not helping, as they have only encouraged us to befriend the dogs to avoid being attacked.
We now spend most of the day in the house, while getting home late at night is now risky.
There is a real possibility of being mauled to death.
</blockquote>
Dr. Regis Murwira, a general practitioner, said that there has been an increase in the number of patients being treated for dog bites. He said:
<blockquote>
In the past, we would attend to an average of two or three cases per month, but in the last half of 2022, cases spiked to at least seven.
To attend to dog attack cases, the patient should have a police report. We administer rabies injections before attending to the wounds.
For a rabies jab, one should part with at least US$25, excluding the consultation fee.
</blockquote>
In 2022, a six-year-old girl was killed by two vicious boerboel dogs while playing in Goromonzi.
Before that, a 70-year-old man died after being severely attacked by stray dogs in Ardbennie, Harare, on his way home.
In 2021, a Grade Five learner died in Chegutu after she was mauled by three dogs on her way to school.

Culpable Homicide Charges For Killer Dog Owners

The Limpopo woman who was mauled by two Pitbulls in Senwabarwana has died in hospital a development that has led to the arrest of the owner of the dogs over culpable homicide.
Melitta Sekole (43) was reportedly walking from a residential area in the Mara policing precinct towards Vivo on Friday at about 5 am when she was attacked by the dogs, which ripped her clothes and bit her. <a href="https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south-africa/2023-01-01-woman-dies-after-being-mauled-by-two-pit-bulls-in-limpopo/">TimesLive</a> quotes police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba as saying:
<blockquote>
She was rescued by community members and taken to hospital in a critical condition.
</blockquote>
Sekole was later transferred to the provincial hospital in Polokwane where she succumbed to the injuries on Friday.
Ledwaba said the dogs’ owner, Nchabeleng Charles Masebe (62) was arrested and a case of culpable homicide was opened.
He appeared in the Senwabarwana magistrate’s court and was remanded until Thursday. 
In November 2022, <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/south-africa-pitbull-owners-commended-for-surrendering-their-pets/">South Africa urged owners of Pitbulls to surrender their pets to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA)</a> following a spate of cases in which they were killing people. 
The South African Pitbull Federation said the pets were now becoming a danger to society especially in cases where there were limited resources to take care of them.
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South Africa: Pitbulls Owner Charged With Culpable Homicide After The Dogs Killed A Woman

The South African Pitbull Federation has commended pet owners who have surrendered their Pitbulls to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA).
This comes after a pitbull attacked an eight-year-old boy to death in Bloemfontein’s Vista Park last week, <a href="https://ewn.co.za/2022/11/16/pitbull-owners-commended-for-surrendering-their-dogs-to-spca">EWN News</a> reported.
The South African Pitbull Federation’s Lins Rautenbach said it was time some owners realised that they had bitten off more than they could chew. Rautenbach said:
<blockquote>
It’s very sad that the SPCA is always left cleaning up the mess, but this mess is all of our mess because lives are being lost. 
We do not have the manpower and resources to police this on top of by-laws being enforced. We need the SAPS and the Metros to step up and open up cases in terms of the Animals Matter Amendment Act.
</blockquote>
The eight-year-old boy who was killed was the second child to be attacked by the dog breed in two months.
In the Eastern Cape, a 10-year-old was also killed by his two pet Pitbulls.
There have also been cases of Pitbulls biting or killing people in Zimbabwe.
A Goromonzi man was arrested and charged with culpable homicide in October after his two Boer dogs killed a six-year-old girl while playing with her friends.
The Police shot and killed the dogs.
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