Charity vet steps in to help
Like many small towns around South Africa, Prince Albert in the Karoo has no resident vet so when two dogs from underprivileged homes suffered severe limb injuries after car accidents, EberVet’s Dr Hilldidge Beer offered to help. Prince Albert Animal Welfare volunteers organised lifts to Somerset West for the dogs where Dr Beer and her colleagues x-rayed, assessed and operated. First up was Steenbokkie, a lively, bright-eyed pooch much loved by his owners. Fortunately, his hind leg healed on its own after a good week’s rest, good food and plenty of love and attention from Dr Beer and clinic staff. Next up was Spotty whose front leg was badly mauled when he was driven over while chasing a water truck. Knowing they had no access to a vet, Spotty’s owners tried everything to fix the wound themselves but when it wouldn’t heal they called animal welfare for help and Spotty was soon on his way to Dr Beer. Sadly, his injury was so severe his limb had to be amputated but five days later a healed and happy Spotty clambered back into a car headed home to the Karoo. Helping animals like these is why Dr Beer established EberVet Community Veterinary Care (CVC) which also focuses heavily on providing animal sterilisation in towns where there are no vets.
