Dogs maul owner to death in backyard, drag corpse around before being shot dead
Two dogs reportedly mauled their owner to death and then dragged his corpse around his own garden before they were both finally shot dead. The victim, 20-year-old Ruan Van Staden, suffered from severe wounds to his head and throat in the horrific attack that took place at his home in Ermelo, South Africa, on April 4. Emergency responders immediately rushed to the scene when they were called but they were not able to get to Staden because they were afraid of being attacked by the dogs.
Mirror Online reported that there were two armed security guards who were finally able to chase the dogs away after they fired their weapons at them. The determined dogs, however, came back almost immediately and carried on with their attack.
Bester Maree from ACSU Security told News 24 that when he finally arrived at the scene, the vicious dogs had their jaws locked around Van Staden's neck and head. He also said that the dogs were dragging their owner's corpse around the garden by the time he got there and that all his clothes had been torn off.
He said: "It was one of the most gruesome sights I have ever seen. There was blood all over the yard and he was lying in a pool of blood." Maree also said that it still remains unclear why the dogs had suddenly turned on their owner.
Family and friends of the trailer builder have posted tributes on Facebook. Lize Mrais, his aunt, wrote: "Van Staden R.I.P. son... dear mercy my heart is broken it's extremely... heartfelt condolences to your dad Lourens Sous VanStaden and mother and sister and to all your loved ones... what do one say to the parents? It's so heartbreaking. You were a good boy who always greeted me so beautiful."
Nedbank Namibia, a company which sponsors cycling events that Van Staden had competed in, wrote: "Nedbank Namibia is saddened by the news of the untimely passing of young Namibian cyclist, Ruan van Staden. Ruan was an avid cyclist who competed in a number of Nedbank cycling events. Many would agree that the Namibian cycling community has suffered a great loss with his passing. We extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends as well as his teammates on the KIA cycling team."