VN April 2021

Vetnuus | April 2021 2 A matter of significant concern for vets is the report of a new corona virus strain that appears to affect cardiac function in domestic pets, particularly dogs andcats. Wehavecompleted thedraft termsof referenceof our proposedMinisterial VeterinaryAdvisoryCommittee(MVAC).Wearejustawaitingfinalinputfrom theCVOandarethenduetosubmitourTORtotheExecutiveoftheDALRRD for their consideration. The Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Mike Modisane has confirmed that veterinarians are gazetted as essential workers, and that our absence fromPhase2of theCOVID-19vaccine roll-out plan seems tobe an accidentalomission.Wearestillawaitingofficialconfirmationofrectification of thisomission fromthe JointDirectors-General Cluster. SAVA has submitted a reply to the letter from the DALRRD regarding the protocol for testing of controlled diseases at non-accredited laboratories and/or by using non-validated tests, following receipt of legal opinion on this document.We have pointed out our concerns with certain legalities in the section 20 permit provisions to the Directorate of Animal Health, while offeringconstructivesolutions to remedy thesituation. The continued high veterinary suicide rate has led to the #NotOneMoreVet campaignonsocialmedia.Iwasabletoraiseawarenessofthementalhealth crisis in our profession by contributing to an article in Pet Prints Magazine, with valuable input from Prof Ken Pettey, as well as Dr Tod Collins, of our SAVAcrisis counsellinghotline. An unusual turn of events was developing concern about the disposal of pet carcasses in theWestern Cape. It started with members of the public discoveringthatpetremainswerebeingdumpedonlandfillsites,ratherthan beingburied,astheirbereavedownerswereledtobelievebytheirveterinary clinic.Manyownersandveterinariansareobviouslyuncomfortablewiththis notion. The legislation relating to the disposal of carcasses is complex and confusing, as I discoveredwhen I sought legal adviceon thismatter. Over ten national acts relate to waste disposal, with differing provincial regulations and municipal by-laws coming into play. What is important to note is that animal remains may not be buried underground in an urban or suburban area. Cremation or incineration is therefore a popular option. WhatappearstohavehappenedintheWesternCape,isthattheincinerator of amajor CapeTownpet carcass disposal companybroke, leavingdisposal on landfill as their main option, as repairs were conducted. Originally the National Environmental Management: Waste Act 59 of 2008 (NEMWA) distinguishedbetween infectious andnon-infectious animal carcasseswith the former being classified as hazardous waste and the latter as general waste. Amendments to NEMWA however removed this distinction with all animal remains now classified as hazardous. Hazardous wastemay only be disposed of at a Class A Landfill site, which is generally rather costly. Some colleagues have expressedanopinion that veterinarians are responsible for the handling of animal and veterinarywaste fromcreation to final disposal, the“cradletograveconcept”asisthecaseintheUSA.Thisishowevernotthe case inSouthAfrica. Once you have handed over your waste, including animal remains, to a waste disposal contractor, it becomes their responsibility. With the current increaseinpublicandmediaawarenessofanimalcarcassdisposalpractices, it would however probably be advisable for vets to check with their waste disposal contractor as to their carcass disposal methods, so that they can honestly inform their clients should they enquire as to the final destination of their pet`s remains. A recent development in this field is the composting of animal remains. Some waste disposal practitioners utilise an open methodwheretheremainsarecoveredandcomposted.Therearenowalso sealable composting tanks available, which are obviouslymore secure and preferable, especially in the case of infectious waste.The compost can then beused toplant a tree inmemoryof thepet if theowner sodesires. We had a busy March with SAVA FinCo and ExCo meetings as well as a fruitfulmeetingwiththeDeputyDeanTeachingandLearningoftheFaculty, Prof Dietmar Holm, regarding the BVSc student selection criteria on the 3rd ofMarch, followedby our autumnBoDmeetingon the 26th andFedCoon the27th.Dietmarwasabletoclarifysomequeriesthatwehadreceivedfrom members, while we were able to provide input on the process. Promising futuredevelopments are the inclusionofmental health criteria tohopefully select more resilient students, as well as the possibility of a SAVA member observing theactivitiesof theselectioncommittee. Thank you to all our members for your support and valued input into our association, profession and animals, as well as, public health in our beloved country. May our ever faithful Lord continue to bless, protect, provide and guide us through thesechallenging times. v Leon From the President Dear Colleagues Leon de Bruyn We are already in autumn 2021 and we seem to be through the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. There are still however many concerns and uncertainties, with the onslaught of the third wave imminent and the emergence of new, more virulent strains, as well as doubts about the efficacy and safety of various vaccines.