An East London man, who trained dogs in the army, is suing his girlfriend’s daughter after her dog mauled his ear off.
Brian Trollip is suing Sheridene Watrus for R1.3-million following the April 2014 incident.
Trollip had visited Watrus’s home with his girlfriend, where he offered to train the aggressive boerboel, which had been difficult to train.
Trollip took the dog collar and chain to walk the dog around the yard.
After a while, he called Watrus to look at the dog listening to commands.
According to him, while he still had the chain in his hand, the dog was triggered by a neighbour’s dog barking and tried to run towards the wall dividing the two properties.
However, the dog turned and bit Trollip. He suffered injuries to his head and neck and had his left ear amputated.
Trollip testified in the East London High Court that he had interacted with the dog before and he would often pat it.
Watrus said because of the dog’s history of aggression, she warned Trollip not to go to it in the backyard.
The court heard that the dog had attacked her personally, and Watrus feared for people’s safety at her house, as well as the safety of her children.
She wanted the dog to be put down but her husband refused.
She told him that the dog did not like being put on a leash, and had attacked and bitten her on the arm when she took it to dog training school.
Two days before it turned on Trollip, it managed to get out of the yard and attacked and killed a neighbour’s poodle.
Watrus told the court she had warned Trollip not to go to the dog because she was “uncomfortable” with that. She said it turned on him when he tried to remove its collar.
Trollip’s legal representative Advocate Fanus Louw, instructed by Niehaus McMahon Attorneys, asked Watrus why she did not use stronger language to deter him from going outside to the dog.
“I did not think a person would go to a dog enclosed behind a gate against the owner’s wishes,” Watrus replied.
Advocate JC Pieterse, instructed by Smith Tabata Attorneys, on Watrus’s behalf, said Trollip was negligent.
“This incident, sad as it is, was caused by your actions.
“There is nothing could have done to prevent it,” he said to Trollip.
Judgment was reserved. — siyab@dispatch.co.za
Dog attack: owner sued
Brian Trollip is suing Sheridene Watrus for R1.3-million following the April 2014 incident.
Trollip had visited Watrus’s home with his girlfriend, where he offered to train the aggressive boerboel, which had been difficult to train.
Trollip took the dog collar and chain to walk the dog around the yard.
After a while, he called Watrus to look at the dog listening to commands.
According to him, while he still had the chain in his hand, the dog was triggered by a neighbour’s dog barking and tried to run towards the wall dividing the two properties.
However, the dog turned and bit Trollip. He suffered injuries to his head and neck and had his left ear amputated.
Trollip testified in the East London High Court that he had interacted with the dog before and he would often pat it.
Watrus said because of the dog’s history of aggression, she warned Trollip not to go to it in the backyard.
The court heard that the dog had attacked her personally, and Watrus feared for people’s safety at her house, as well as the safety of her children.
She wanted the dog to be put down but her husband refused.
She told him that the dog did not like being put on a leash, and had attacked and bitten her on the arm when she took it to dog training school.
Two days before it turned on Trollip, it managed to get out of the yard and attacked and killed a neighbour’s poodle.
Watrus told the court she had warned Trollip not to go to the dog because she was “uncomfortable” with that. She said it turned on him when he tried to remove its collar.
Trollip’s legal representative Advocate Fanus Louw, instructed by Niehaus McMahon Attorneys, asked Watrus why she did not use stronger language to deter him from going outside to the dog.
“I did not think a person would go to a dog enclosed behind a gate against the owner’s wishes,” Watrus replied.
Advocate JC Pieterse, instructed by Smith Tabata Attorneys, on Watrus’s behalf, said Trollip was negligent.
“This incident, sad as it is, was caused by your actions.
“There is nothing could have done to prevent it,” he said to Trollip.
Judgment was reserved. — siyab@dispatch.co.za
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos