NIEU-BETHESDA NEWS - EberVet Community Veterinary Care (CVC) kicked off their five-day sterilisation drive in Nieu-Bethesda on Monday 5 August.
EberVet CVC is the community veterinary care division of the EberVet Petcare Group.
The group comprises two veterinary clinics and seven vet shops in the Helderberg and Overstrand areas of the Western Cape, as well as EberVet CVC and the EberVet Academy, which offers primary healthcare training to animal welfare volunteers in areas where there is little or no veterinary support.
Community Veterinary Care is practised under the auspices of the South African Veterinary Association that encourages all veterinarians to devote some of their time to outreach work, particularly in rural areas where veterinary services are non-existent. To this end, EberVet CVC conducts outreach sterilisations in rural villages and impoverished communities in Helderberg, Overberg and Karoo.
Nieu Bethesda
A chance meeting between veterinary surgeon and EberVet CEO, Dr Hilldidge Beer, and Nieu Bethesda animal welfare volunteer, Victoria Nance, led to the EberVet team's first visit to Nieu Bethesda in March 2022 to sterilise cats and dogs in Pienaarsig, the local township.
During this outreach, more than 80 dogs and cats were sterilised and the team also spent several hours walking door to door through Pienaarsig, identifying sick and injured animals and treating them.
In addition, the academy's trainer and veterinary nurse, Sr Hilda Mills, trained seven Pienaarsig residents in primary pet health care.
"In the wake of the visit, three trainees have become invaluable resources for pet owners in Pienaarsig, vaccinating against rabies, treating wounds, and identifying serious diseases that needed follow-up veterinary intervention. Yet the need in Pienaarsig is great and we returned to sterilise more pets, offer medical care and take the trainees through a refresher course so they can continue to be of service to local pet owners. We are also bringing a large animal vet to sterilise donkeys and horses," says Toni Younghusband, marketing manager of the EberVet Petcare Group.
The team, who are currently visiting Nieu Bethesda, is headed by Dr Beer, accompanied by Sr Mills, veterinary assistants and volunteers.
They are supported in their work by Nance and her team. The veterinary team works at welfare rates and funds for the outreach are raised via donations through EberVet CVC and local animal welfare.
'Ons bring jou die nuutste Nieu-Bethesda, Karoo nuus'
