Dangerous Dogs Culled After Deadly Mauling in Hara...

Dangerous Dogs Culled After Deadly Mauling in Harare

Zim Now Writer

The Zimbabwe National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ZNSPCA) has confirmed that it has euthanized four dogs belonging to a Harare resident after a fatal attack by one of the animals claimed the life of a 39-year-old man on Sunday.

The victim, who has not yet been named by police, was reportedly mauled to death by a cross-breed pit bull owned by Mike Mupinga. In the wake of the incident, ZNSPCA took swift action to put down all four dogs on the property: two pit bulls, a Rottweiler, and an Angarian mastiff.

In an official statement, ZNSPCA said there was clear evidence of animal neglect, confinement, and poor socialization, which contributed to the dogs’ dangerous behavior.

“There were serious welfare violations. These dogs were kept in conditions that deprived them of essential freedoms. Once an animal is deprived of any of these freedoms, it may not behave in a predictable manner,” said Inspector Kudzanayi Chatikobo of the ZNSPCA.

The organization emphasized that the decision to euthanize the dogs was made in the interest of public safety and animal welfare.

“We carried out a full welfare assessment and concluded that these dogs posed a continued risk to human life,” the statement read.

ZNSPCA also issued a strong warning against the unregulated breeding of aggressive dog breeds, particularly through backyard operations.

“What is happening is people are being sold self-made breeds as pit bulls,” Chatikobo explained. “Backyard breeders never tell buyers about the animal’s behavior. They just overplay its physical attributes.”

The fatal attack has sparked renewed calls for tighter regulation around dog ownership and breeding practices in Zimbabwe. The ZNSPCA urged citizens to report any cases of animal cruelty or illegal breeding to the authorities.

Police investigations into the incident are ongoing.