Neighbour 'sells woman's pitbull puppy'

A Cape Town woman is fuming after spotting her missing pitbull puppy for sale on advertising website Gumtree.

The sale is apparently being organised by her neighbour.

This has again shone the spotlight on dog theft in the city.

Western Cape police spokesman Captain Frederick van Wyk said the woman came to the Goodwood police station on Sunday night "asking for advice".

Van Wyk would not reveal the woman's name.

"According to her, her pitbull puppy went missing on Saturday. She then saw an advert on Gumtree and believed the puppy being advertised for sale was hers.

"The [police] captain on duty then called the person who placed the advert. [The captain] was informed that the puppy was picked up, advertised and sold."

Van Wyk said the dog's owner did not press charges. The puppy was said to have been bought by someone living in Kraaifontein.

Last year the City of Cape Town reminded its residents to register their pets on its database

The city's by-law of 2010 requires that residents register their pets within four months of their birth, or within 30 days of acquiring them, and to record their death. Failure to comply could result in a fine or the animal being confiscated.

Moyo Ndukwana, manager of the Cape of Good Hope SPCA inspectorate, said he received up to three reports of missing dogs a day.

"There are no safe areas," said Ndukwana.

He urged pet owners to have their dogs injected with an identifying microchip that could not easily be removed.