VN March 2023

Vetnuus | Maart 2023 30 He enjoyed travelling around South Africa with his caravan when he wasn’t in the fields or his surgery looking after animals. A dirty and disgusting job that he absolutely loved. It kept him fit, healthy and strong. Of course, all Vets have a wonderful way with animals, but Alan was intuitive and knew when something didn’t look or feel right. He brought the most sorrowfully looking animals home as pets and would not hold back when someone’s stupidity was the reason their animal was circling the drain. He has left a huge hole in the community and his family’s lives. Rest In Peace. v Susan Fouché (daughter) ALAN FAIR My 2 cents worth is the remarkable two months I spent driving with Alan in the Bethlehem- Clarens district as a part of my BVSc training. I learned so much – one image on a farm in Clarens comes to mind of a cow with milk fever – the remarkable recovery after Ca -administration. And then the famous “shirking” (Alan’s term for “jerking” and “shaking”) to deliver a dystocia calf. And then his stories…. truly, the following urban legend of “umbrella disease” started with Alan (as he told me on one of our drives) when he saw a cow chewing on an umbrella. A few days later, he was called to the same farm and recognised the cow as the same cow now bloated and off her food. He took one look at her, told the farmer it was a typical case of “umbrella disease”, and summarily removed said umbrella during the rumenotomy – he had a client for life! My first spay with him… turned out to be a male dog after a fruitless few minutes searching for the ovaries – all special memories… During our discussions, he often remarked on “experts” being “retired drips”…. and I could go on. Alan, you were a special person in my life, touched many peoples’ lives, and were a veterinarian extraordinaire! The profession will miss you! v Ann Carstens (colleague and friend) In Memoriam