SWAKOPMUND – Animal rights activists in Swakopmund are demanding justice following a spate of dog thefts in the town. 

In the latest case, four suspects, including a minor, were arrested and charged with theft and money laundering. 

They were also charged under the Animal Protection Act for causing suffering to an animal. 

This follows the alleged theft of a Rottweiler which was later sold to a woman who sells Kapana in the DRC informal settlement in Swakopmund.

The suspects, Seth Skrywer, Laurens Nanub and Marrando Bloodstaan, made their first appearance in the Swakopmund Magistrate’s Court this week and were granted bail of N$3 000 each, following their arrest over the weekend.

Chief Inspector Ileni Shapumba said, the suspects allegedly stole two Rottweilers, aged between two and three years, from owner Catherine Titus’ home while she was inside the house.

“She noticed the dogs were not in the yard when she went to feed them. Upon inspection, she discovered a hole had been dug under the fence. During the search, she found that four young men had stolen them. One of the dogs was later discovered at a house in the DRC location,” Shapumba stated.

He says the male dog was allegedly killed with an axe, and both dogs were sold to a local kapana trader for N$200. The buyer then slaughtered and sold the dog as kapana. The two dogs were valued at N$5 000 each.

Melanie Brandt, who originally owned one of the dogs, described the emotional bond she had with it.

“I bought him when he was four weeks old. He was my baby in the house when I was pregnant with my firstborn. He slept in our bed, and he was there when my baby was born. Rottweilers are not just pets; they protect children and their home. He was part of our family before my child was even born.”

She later gave Ragnar to her friend Lenny Hoffman, who also struggled to hold back tears as she described the impact of the loss.

“My baby grew up with him. This is not just about a dog – it’s about a member of our family. How do I even tell my kids he is never coming home? The cruelty with which he was killed – beaten with an axe multiple times – is inhuman. Anyone who has ever loved a pet knows how much pain they can feel. I can’t comprehend how someone could do this,” she said.

Titus, the last owner of the dog, also expressed her devastation.

“This is not just about a dog. They are companions. No one could even touch me or my kids because he would stand guard. Rottweilers provide protection and comfort. I gave my male Rottweiler to my friend last year so he could have a playmate and more space to run around. I never imagined something like this would happen. We need to make a change to stop this from happening again.”

Titus told New Era that she had decided to open a case against the suspects to raise awareness about pet theft and animal cruelty.

“People need to realise that a dog is a man’s best friend. Ragnar was part of three families who are now left heartbroken and in pieces,” Titus said.

-edeklerk@nepc.com