SAVA Community Veterinary Clinics

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SAVA Community Veterinary Clinics www.savacvc.co.za | SAVA-CVC supports responsible pet ownership and support vets providing services to animals from lower income communities.

Professional vets provide vaccinations, deworming and tick & flea treatments as well as sterilizations. In South Africa there are unfortunately no state run veterinary hospitals or clinics. The South African Veterinary Association (SAVA) supports responsible pet ownership and understands the importance of the human animal bond. The SAVA therefore established Community Veterinary Clinics (CVC) to assist disadvantaged pet owners with basic animal health care. The South African Veterinary Association Community Veterinary Clinics (SAVA CVC) is a project where private veterinarians donate their time and skills to render primary veterinary services to disadvantaged communities or those who have no access to veterinary services. Our main activity is primary health care: vaccinations, parasite control and sterilisations. We also put a lot of emphasis on educating pet owners about basic care of their pets: general health, prevention of dog bites, nutrition, training, etc. Our booklet "Your best Friend" is available in 7 official languages (English, Afrikaans, Sesotho, isiZulu, Setswana, Xhosa and Tsonga). These booklets are distributed countrywide, as we hope to reach as many people as possible. CVC involvement is intended to address needs expressed by the community. We are not in favour of going into communities and insisting on performing procedures and treatments on peoples' pets regardless of whether the owners agrees with what needs to be done, or has given consent for the procedures. This is not SAVA CVC's mandate or policy. The CVC clinics must take a long term, sustainable approach, ensuring the community's understanding, acceptance and co-operation care. Seldom is there immediate co-operation on all aspects. However, with time and patience, most communities come to value our services, and will accept all aspects, including sterilisation. All CVC workers assist at the clinics on a voluntary basis. We try to involve the community as much as possible and to establish partners instead of charities within communities. We believe in the importance of growing and sustaining partnerships with communities. The SAVA CVC plays a vital role in community development. To be relevant in a country with such overwhelming human need, animal welfare should have a humanitarian impact. It is a long-established fact that there is a direct relationship between animal cruelty and violence within communities. Access to basic veterinary services and humane education of children creates empathy for others, through the fostering of respect for life, creating a culture of caring and empathy for all beings. This is a vital ingredient in the building of a nation.

17/10/2026
🐾 Supporting the Next Generation of Veterinarians! 🐾SAVA-CVC was proud to support veterinary students for World Rabies D...
17/10/2026

🐾 Supporting the Next Generation of Veterinarians! 🐾

SAVA-CVC was proud to support veterinary students for World Rabies Day 2026 by sponsoring rabies vaccines, educational books, posters and vaccination cards.

The event was organised by the students themselves, giving them valuable experience in event planning and coordination, hands-on vaccination skills and educating pet owners about responsible pet care and rabies prevention.

👏 A fantastic 140 cats and dogs were vaccinated!

By supporting initiatives like these, SAVA-CVC is investing in the growth of the next generation of veterinarians while making a meaningful difference in communities and the fight against rabies.

Together, we are building skills, saving lives and creating a rabies-free future!

13/10/2026
Cluny Animal Trust CVC vaccinated 144 dogs against rabies in Kgubetswana, Clarens, Free State on Monday! 🐕💉Every dog own...
30/09/2026

Cluny Animal Trust CVC vaccinated 144 dogs against rabies in Kgubetswana, Clarens, Free State on Monday! 🐕💉

Every dog owner received a vaccination certificate as proof that their dog has been vaccinated against rabies.

Did you know that rabies vaccination is legally required for dogs and cats in South Africa?

Rabies is 100% preventable through vaccination. By keeping our pets vaccinated, we protect not only our animals, but also our families and our communities. ❤️

A big thank you to the Cluny Animal Trust CVC team and all the responsible pet owners who brought their dogs to be vaccinated!

SAVA-CVC is sponsored by

Battersea has been helping dogs and cats for over 160 years and has a long-term commitment to increase its impact for animals, not just at its rescue centres but across the UK and around the world. To achieve this Battersea works with other animal welfare organisations, delivering training through the Battersea Academy and providing funding through grants programme to help millions of dogs and cats.

Monday was World Rabies Day, and we have received so many wonderful photographs of our veterinarians working to protect ...
30/09/2026

Monday was World Rabies Day, and we have received so many wonderful photographs of our veterinarians working to protect animals and communities across South Africa.

Below is Del Jones (AWA) vaccinating dogs against rabies on behalf of John Moore CVC in a community outside Robertson in the Western Cape.

Every vaccination helps protect an animal, a family and a community from this deadly but entirely preventable disease. 🐕💉

SAVA-CVC is sponsored by

Battersea has been helping dogs and cats for over 160 years and has a long-term commitment to increase its impact for animals, not just at its rescue centres but across the UK and around the world. To achieve this Battersea works with other animal welfare organisations, delivering training through the Battersea Academy and providing funding through grants programme to help millions of dogs and cats.

Were your cats and dogs vaccinated against rabies in the last year?Post a picture of your pet’s paw in your hand, and he...
28/09/2026

Were your cats and dogs vaccinated against rabies in the last year?
Post a picture of your pet’s paw in your hand, and help raise awareness 😸🦊

and tag

28/09/2026

We’re proud to share that Dr Renee van Rheede has been shortlisted for GARC’s Rabies Rewards! 🐾

Chosen from nominations around the world, Renee is one of five finalists, alongside candidates from the US, Vietnam, India and Kenya.

Since 2022, Renee has worked tirelessly to fight rabies in the Eastern Cape. Over the past three years, she has managed seven vehicles and 14 animal health technicians, tracked outbreaks, organised vaccination campaigns, and trained state officials and private animal health workers. She has also campaigned for better access to post-exposure vaccination for people bitten by dogs.

Please help us recognise Renee’s dedication by voting for her here: https://rabiesalliance.org/world-rabies-day/awards/shortlist

28 Sep 202612:00 Where does rabies occur in South Africa?Animal rabies occurs in all nine provinces, with dog rabies cyc...
28/09/2026

28 Sep 2026
12:00 Where does rabies occur in South Africa?

Animal rabies occurs in all nine provinces, with dog rabies cycles mainly concentrated in the eastern parts of the country (Limpopo, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape provinces and the eastern Free State border with Lesotho). Dogs and cats are often moved between provinces by travellers, workers, or holiday-goers, which can easily cause a spillover of rabies to any area if these animals are unvaccinated or inadequately vaccinated and incubating the disease.

Remember that any mammal can become infected with rabies – this includes pets, wildlife, livestock and humans. Wildlife species that can host rabies include jackals, foxes, mongooses, aardwolf and Cape fur seals.

If your dogs and cats are vaccinated against rabies, they form a protective barrier for your family and protect you and your beloved pets. The same is true if everyone in your community ensures that their dogs and cats are vaccinated.

and tag Where does rabies occur in South Africa?

Rabies is present in all SA provinces - especially in the east (KZN, Limpopo, ECP, MP, Free State).

It can affect any mammal, including pets, wildlife & people. Vaccinate your pets to protect your family.



Image credit: Epidemiology sub-directorate, DOA

It is the 20th ! This year is about realising we are in the fight against rabies. Are you and your community playing ...
28/09/2026

It is the 20th !
This year is about realising we are in the fight against rabies. Are you and your community playing your part in eradicating rabies?

You can contribute to by having your dogs and cats vaccinated and sharing rabies information with those you love.

Comment with your thoughts on 😊

and tag

25 Sep 2026 What must I do if a person was exposed to a rabid animal?Rabies is a deadly disease with no cure once sympto...
25/09/2026

25 Sep 2026 What must I do if a person was exposed to a rabid animal?

Rabies is a deadly disease with no cure once symptoms are seen. This virus can be transmitted to people by an infected animal’s bite, scratch, or lick.

If a person is bitten, scratched or licked by an animal suspected to have rabies (an unvaccinated or inadequately vaccinated animal showing odd behaviour or neurological symptoms), the person needs to wash the wound thoroughly with soap and running water for 10-15 minutes and seek medical attention immediately.

Post-exposure prophylaxis treatment will involve a series of rabies vaccinations, and if necessary rabies immunoglobulin being injected into the wound if the skin has been broken.

While rabies is 99,9% fatal once a person or animal shows clinical signs, it is also 100% preventable.

and tag
What must I do if a person was exposed to a rabid animal?

Wash the wound with soap & water immediately and get medical help. Rabies is deadly but 100% preventable if treated ASAP.



Image credit: NICD

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