The Animal Protection Forum stands for transparency and accountability. It is important to hold those who work with animals accountable! You can report any veterinary misconduct to the SAVC. Lodging a complaint against a veterinarian or other veterinary professional will not cost you money, but the process, unfortunately, takes time. Stay on their case, follow up weekly to create a paper trail, and contact the Registrar directly if you do not get a response. Below will give you an idea of the process and what to expect.
You can lodge a complaint at the SA Veterinary Council to investigate.
- You first have to do an affidavit (template) – Write your story in chronological order with detail, and then have it signed by a Commissioner of Oaths. (Police, Church office, Lawyer, Funeral home, etc.). If you are not sure whether you want to take it further, still write it down while it is fresh in your memory.
- You then have to prove that all of your accounts with this Veterinarian have been paid (copies of your receipts will work). Always ask for a receipt, especially those that ask you to pay cash. If they do not want to give you a statement from your account, then request one by email and give them the date by which you need it. If not received after that date, send an email again, saying you did not receive it. Then attach the email proof to your complaint.
- If you had to take your pet to another Veterinarian afterwards to fix the problem possibly caused by your Veterinarian, you need to provide that information too.
- Then the last thing is a form that you need to complete. It can be found on the SAVC website.
- Once you have everything ready, you can send it to complaints@savc.org.za
As soon as the complaint has been processed by SAVC, you will receive an email with a case number. The complaint will be forwarded to the veterinarian in question, and they usually have 30 days for an answering affidavit, which will be sent to you as well. You will then have the opportunity for a replying affidavit.
The Investigation Committee (IC) will make a decision based on all the evidence before them, which consists of the complaint affidavit, answering affidavit, replying affidavit, and the clinical records of all veterinarians involved.
The IC may make one of the following decisions:
i) To refer the matter back to the Administration to obtain further information;
ii) Dismiss the matter as there are no grounds to pursue the matter and/or there is insufficient evidence on which to base a decision and/or there is insufficient evidence to support a finding of guilty on a balance of probabilities, should the matter be referred to an inquiry (hearing);
iii) To issue an informal warning to the respondent in terms of rule 40 (9), if the complaint is not very serious;
iv) To refer the complaint for mediation; and/or
v) To refer the complaint of unprofessional conduct to an inquiry (hearing) before an independent Inquiry Body.
THE VETERINARY DEFENCE ASSOCIATION (VDA)
Don’t get a fright if you receive an email from the VDA. Most vets belong to some sort of association that protects the legal interests of Veterinarians. The Vet may contact them in advance to contact you. Our understanding is that they want to prevent the complaint from getting to the SAVC. They will suggest an Alternative Dispute Resolution or ADR with owners and compensation for owners when the veterinarian fails to meet the minimum required professional standards. However, for us, it should not be about money, but about animal protection. You can decide to use this method, or you can continue through the SAVC. They can’t force you through this method, and we will consider it when the SAVC advises it.
ADDITIONAL OPTIONS
1. An additional option is to take them to the Small Claims Court for your cost. You do not need a lawyer for this, nor is it an expensive process.
2. You HAVE TO also report any suspected cruelty to the local SPCA or on www.nspca.co.za
3. You can leave a Google review on their business, as they can’t just remove that like reviews or comments on their social media pages. This will also help others make a decision in the future. Make sure you stay objective and calm when you post something.
Never just let it go! You need to be the voice for the animals. We are here to help if you are unsure and to guide you. It is not just about your case, but about animal welfare in general!
Note: it is your right to go for a second opinion if you feel the treatment was not on par or the behaviour is unprofessional, or you are worried about your pet. We would suggest that you inform the second veterinarian that you are lodging a complaint at the council, so they can make their notes accordingly, which can help a lot.
You might think your case is small, but in the larger picture, you could save many lives and animals from suffering by doing the right thing!
It is the SAVC’s duty to protect the public, the animals, and the profession! If the SAVC is not doing its job, then you can lodge a report with us as well as the Department of Agriculture, which they report to.
SAVC Mission
Through the Act, their mission is to protect the interests of those dependent on animals by
- Safeguarding the health and welfare of all animals and the environment
- Assuring veterinary public health
- Regulating the educational, ethical, and clinical standards of the veterinary and para-veterinary professions.