VN July 2023

Vetnews | Julie 2023 15 “TheSouthAfricanVeterinaryAssociationaims to serve itsmembers and to further thestatus and imageof theveterinarian. Wearecommitted toupholding thehighest professional andscientific standardsbyutilising theprofessional knowledge, skill and resources of ourmembers, to foster close tieswith the communityand thuspromote thehealthand welfareof animals andmankind”. MISSION STATEMENT SAVA-CVCsupportsvets thatprovideprimary animalhealthcare(vaccinations,dewormingas well as tickandfleatreatments, sterilisations) Servicing and enhancing the veterinary community since 1920! Tel: 012 346 1150 E-mail: vethouse@sava.co.za www.sava.co.za I did my first canine amputation, for example, with the help of a good friend. I was at first very hesitant to perform the surgery on a 12-week- old puppy. I phoned him, and he explained every single step to me and gave me his advice before the surgery. If it wasn’t for his motivation and trust that I could do the surgery, I would have most likely euthanised the puppy. The surgery was a major success in the end, and Hazel is now happily rehomed on a farm close to Tzaneen. Support and motivate each other! My year of Commserv had its challenges, with mistakes and failures, but these were outweighed by all the good it has given me. I experienced a different culture and part of the country that I would not have been able to experience if it was not for a year of community service. I was exposed to a vast majority of production animal cases, had the opportunity to perform surgeries that very few other people got to do, saw diseases that one would probably not see in commercial farms, and, most importantly, I enjoyed every single moment that I was given to make a difference. Commserv, a year filled with an abundance of opportunities, make the most of every single opportunity that comes your way. v Article