A family in Waterloo is reeling after their pet dog, Tonic, a two-year-old Africanis, died following repeated sexual abuse by a male family friend.

Tonic suffered fatal injuries from the abuse, which the family claims occurred multiple times.

On Sunday night, Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) responded to a call from a woman reporting harassment by the suspect, who had been troubling five women, including the caller’s 79-year-old grandmother.

The caller alleged that the man, who lives nearby, had also attempted to break into their home by throwing a frozen bottle at their glass door.

According to the family, their relationship with the man changed when they caught him assaulting Tonic early one morning.

Despite confronting him, the abuse reportedly continued, ultimately leading to Tonic’s death.

After the dog died, family members barred the man from their property and confronted him.

The family stated that no criminal charges had been filed against the suspect for the abuse.

Mpho Lebethe from the NSPCA has reached out to RUSA and will be conducting an investigation into the case to seek justice for Tonic.