Alleged dog killer 'needed N$200 transport money'

A Swakopmund family is demanding justice after their two-year-old Rottweiler, Ragnir, was allegedly stolen, brutally killed with an axe, and sold as meat over the past weekend by a woman who claims she needed N$200 to travel out of town.



The shocking act has sparked outrage in the coastal community, with distressing photos and a video circulating on social media showing the devastated owner breaking down in tears upon hearing the news.



A Heartbreaking Discovery

The ordeal began on Saturday when Ragnir’s owner, Catherine Titus, returned to her home in Matutura to feed her dogs. She discovered a hole in the fence and immediately realized that her two dogs were missing.



After a frantic search around the neighborhood, a domestic worker informed her that the dogs had been seen in the DRC informal settlement, being led away by a group of men.



Titus and her family spent the entire weekend searching. By Sunday, they managed to locate one of their dogs, Venus, tied up in a yard and allegedly about to be sold. They rescued her, but Ragnir was nowhere to be found.





On Monday, more chilling information surfaced. A woman in the DRC settlement allegedly admitted to buying Ragnir for N$200. She claimed she needed money to travel to the north and decided to sell the dog’s meat for kapana.



Witnesses reported that the sellers insisted the dog was theirs and personally slaughtered Ragnir in front of the woman—who allegedly photographed the act.



Arrests and community outrage

Three suspects, aged between 18 and 20, were arrested on Monday. They were initially found walking with a window screen, which led to further questioning. When confronted about the stolen dog, they allegedly confessed to their involvement in the crime.



“This was a beautiful, loving, and protective family dog. He was playful and adored even by our baby daughter. We are devastated and at a loss for words,” Titus said, adding that she couldn’t understand how strangers managed to take the dog, as it was not friendly towards unfamiliar people.



Titus also expressed skepticism over the kapana seller’s claim that this was the first dog she had sold for meat.



Animal rights activists react

Animal rights activists are furious over what they perceive as weak enforcement of animal protection laws.



Charne Wasserfall of the Civilian Animal Protection Unit (CAPU) expressed frustration with the authorities.



“The justice system fails when it comes to animal cruelty. There is never any real accountability,” she said.



CAPU has since rallied the community to oppose bail for the suspects, stating: “The Animal Protection Act clearly prohibits the killing of dogs for commercial purposes. People can't just steal your dog, abuse it, kill it, and sell it because they have ‘rights.’ What about the rights of the owner and the dog?”



Social media has been flooded with outrage, with many calling for harsher penalties for such acts.



Erongo Police spokesperson, Chief Inspector Ileni Shapumba, confirmed the arrests.



“Yes, we are aware of the case of theft, which we are considering changing to cruelty to animals once evidence is consolidated. We have suspects in custody, and they will appear in the Swakopmund Magistrate’s Court tomorrow (Wednesday),” he stated.