A “wall of remembrance” has been created in memory of the pit bull who mauled an alleged thief to death in Lotus River.
Paco and his brother Rocco attacked Wayne “Wayntjie” Kayster, 35, after he allegedly jumped over their fence and stole a Weber braai on March 28.
An eight-minute video clip shows the dogs mauling Kayster, while residents, hearing his cries for help, pelt the dogs with stones.
Paco was killed after a policeman shot him twice, in order to get him off Kayster, who died later in hospital.
The dogs’ owners Anthony and Janine Du Plessis told the Daily Voice that Kayster was an intruder and that their dogs had only been trying to protect his property.
On Saturday, scores of people pledged their support to the Du Plessis family and erected a wall of remembrance for Paco, who they say was killed in a “senseless” act.
The wall in front of the Du Plessis home on the corner of First Avenue and Old Strandfontein Road in Lotus River, has a large poster of Paco, as well as those of other dogs from across South Africa who have lost their lives “in the in the line of duty”.
Paco was buried in the backyard where he was killed, and Anthony says Rocco often cries at the grave.
Anthony, 38, says he was deeply moved by support he received from “total strangers”.
“Paco was not just a dog, he was a member of my family and he protected us. We loved him and we will always remember him. My son still looks for him,” he says.
Dog activists, friends and relatives of the Du Plessis family paid homage to Paco and other heroes like him.
Most mense wore black T-shirts with a picture of Paco on the front, and “Justice for Paco” printed on the back.
The group, including children, then marched to the Grassy Park Police station demanding that the officer who shot Paco “admit that what he did was wrong”.
However, police spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Andrè Traut says: “The police officer concerned is not being investigated for his action.”