The SAVF runs a successful Pet Memorial fund and to a lesser extent Equine Memorial fund. These funds ask vets to make a donation to the SAVF when pets/horses are put to sleep or die, especially if they have been loyal clients for a long time.

Veterinary practitioners, as well as veterinary service providers (e.g. Clinical Pathology laboratories, Pathology or Imaging consultants), can now donate a percentage of income or professional fees on a monthly basis to the SAVF Veterinary Practitioners Research Fund. These donations are stated at the bottom of the invoice or account statement generated letting the client or customer see your contributions to improve the welfare of animals. You can state to which species the funds must go and donors will be acknowledged on the SAVF website. The SAVF will use the funds to sponsor research projects in the various species and donors are encouraged to suggest specific research topics in their field of interest. The SAVF will annually also approach the various groups asking for suggestions regarding research topics.

Examples include

  • Veterinary practices (any species bias) make a donation to the above fund on a monthly basis for example
    • Make a donation of 1% of the income from any patient undergoing medical/surgical treatment where the bill is >R10k  i.e. >R100 and the patient goes home after the treatment
    • or makes a donation of 1% of all professional fees generated by a practice
    • The following is then added as a footnote of an invoice presented to a client:

A percentage of the income received for the treatment of your animal/dog/cat/horse is donated to the South African Veterinary Foundation Veterinary Practitioners Research Fund to enable research into diseases and conditions commonly affecting our animals. Go to www.savf.org.za  

  • This can be built into the accounting software
  • This creates a lot of goodwill for the practice and helps to “soften the blow” of a (high) medical bill and ensures the client will return to the practice
  • Should the pet die after treatment related to the original problem no Pet Memorial contribution is made. If the pet dies during treatment a normal Pet/Equine Memorial contribution is made
  • The donations make up part of Club Tanzanite contributions (clubtanzanite.co.za).
  • Specialist veterinarians providing a consultation service make a donation to the above fund on a monthly basis for example
    • Make a donation of 1% of the income from any report
    • The following is then added as a footnote on the report presented to the referring vet:

Vet Speciality will donate a percentage of the income of this report to the South African Veterinary Foundation’s Veterinary Practitioner’s Research Fund to enable research into diseases and conditions commonly affecting our animals. Go to www.savf.org.za  

  • This creates a lot of goodwill for the specialist practice as it is donating to the fund that will help private practitioners to give a better professional service.
  • The donations make up part of Club Tanzanite contributions (clubtanzanite.co.za).
  • Laboratories providing a service to veterinarians make a donation to the above fund on a monthly basis as for example
    • Makes a donation of 1% of the income from any report
    • The following is then added as a footnote on a bill presented to a client:

CLIN PATH LABS will donate a percentage of the income of this report to the South African Veterinary Foundation’s Veterinary Practitioner’s Research Fund to enable research into diseases and conditions commonly affecting our animals. Go to www.savf.org.za

  • This creates a lot of goodwill for the laboratory as it is donating to the fund that will help private practitioners

The above percentages are purely guidelines and will vary from donor to donor. However, in order to add the SAVF donation footnote to the invoice, a regular monthly payment must be made to the SAVF.  It is difficult to be prescriptive about this but a minimum donation of R500 per month would be expected from a one-man practice or per veterinarian in the practice. The veterinary or specialist practice or Laboratory Company gets a SARS 18A certificate for tax deduction

Should you wish to discuss how you can make a contribution please feel free to contact the undersigned. Alternatively, if you want to start donating please contact Debbie at the SAVA offices (Tel 012 – 346 1150 or e-mail: debbie@sava.co.za)

Dr Joubert Viljoen
082 443 7242
jviljoen@worldonline.co.za

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