Source: Western Cape Provincial Government
Title: Dowry: Answers to questions in Western Cape Legislature
Dowry: Q & A in legislature - Veterinary services for animals of people who cannot afford fees?
Questions for oral reply
17. Ms NP Magwaza to ask Mr JJ Dowry, Minister of Agriculture:
What assistance is his department rendering to the animals of people who cannot afford veterinary fees?
The Minister of Agriculture:
The primary responsibility of the Directorate Veterinary Services of my Department is to prevent and control economic important and trade sensitive animal diseases. The Western Cape Province is amply supplied with private veterinarians and my Department therefore does not in general provide for free clinical services to livestock or pet owners. We are, however, well aware that an urgent need for the delivery for primary animal healthcare services do exist in certain resource-poor communities and therefore do supply such services at no or minimal cost. A total amount of R227 160 has already been spent this year for the delivery of free clinical services such as:
* Support to emerging farmers in the Malmesbury area for the administration of trace elements to about 550 livestock at a cost of R5 000.
* The erection of handling facilities for livestock at Goedgedacht for R30 000.
* Free vaccination of dogs and cats against rabies. A total of 28 000 pets at a cost of R50 400 have already been vaccinated against rabies in resource-poor communities during this year.
* A total of 16 000 dogs have been treated free of charge for worm infestations at a cost of R112 000.
* A total of 197 cart horses in the Cape Flats have been dewormed free of charge at a cost of R19 700.
* A total of 251 of these cart horses in the Cape Flats have been supplied free of charge with an electronic microchip for identification purposes at a cost of R15 060.
* In the Beaufort West state veterinary area where there is no private veterinarian, an amount of R25 000 has already been spent this year to provide medicine to pet owners in resource-poor communities.
* In all of the 6 state veterinary areas (Boland, Malmesbury, Vredendal, Swellendam, George and Beaufort West), advice is given on an ongoing frequency to livestock and pet owners on the care and handling of their animals. Several training programmes on the handling and care of animals were given to farm workers and stock owners in resource-poor communities.
Issued by: Department of Agriculture, Western Cape Provincial Government
15 November 2005
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