Weskus Veeartseny Ing.

29/12/2025

★★★★★

29/12/2025

Media Statement
Seal Incident – Central Beach, Plettenberg Bay
Date: 27 December 2025

On the morning of 27 December 2025, Bitou Beach Control observed a seal at the Central Beach launch site displaying erratic behavior. In line with established rabies protocols, Plettenberg Bay shark spotters and Central Beach lifeguards were immediately alerted. As a precaution, lifeguards cleared swimmers from the water when the animal moved closer to the bathing area.

The seal subsequently came ashore near members of the public, and lifeguards continued crowd control to ensure safety. Video footage of the animal was shared with the Garden Route Rabies Response (GRR) group, which includes leading marine and veterinary experts such as Dr Greg Hofmeyer and Dr Gwen Penry.

After reviewing the initial footage, the GRR requested further videos to assess the animal’s condition.

Additional footage confirmed abnormal behavior consistent with rabies symptoms. On expert recommendation, the decision was taken to euthanize the animal to protect public safety and allow for rabies testing.

NSRI STATCOM Jaco Kruger and SAPS Officer Anton Mostert, both members of the GRR response team, attended the scene. After careful observation, and in consultation with GRR, the seal was humanely euthanized approximately 200m off Hobie Beach.

The carcass was retrieved to the Central Beach launch site, where lifeguards maintained crowd control.

The animal was packaged for laboratory testing to confirm rabies. Officer Mostert has submitted a formal statement to SAPS, and the matter is being handled in accordance with national rabies response protocols.

Expert Comment was sought from
Dr Greg Hofmeyer, marine mammal specialist and GRR member.
"The decision to euthanize was not taken lightly. The animal’s behavior was highly abnormal and consistent with rabies, a fatal disease that poses serious risks to both humans and other animals. Removing the seal was the safest course of action to protect the public and to allow for diagnostic testing. This ensures we can respond appropriately and transparently to any confirmed rabies cases in the region." He said.

The Municipality thanks the lifeguards, NSRI, SAPS, and the GRR experts for their swift and coordinated response. Public safety remains our highest priority, and further updates will be shared once test results are available.

Issued by:
Bitou Municipality Corporate Communications
Contact Mr Andile Namntu on 0445013006, Cell 0767348483 (WhatsApp) or send email to [email protected]

27/12/2025

Afterhours contact number 0631128693

23/12/2025

🐾 Festive Season Pet Tips 🐾

The holidays are here – full of joy, family gatherings, travel, loud music, and fireworks/crackers! 🎉🧨 While we're all celebrating and stepping out of our usual routines, our furry friends might feel a bit worried or stressed by the changes and noise.

If your pet seems anxious this season – whether from travel, visitors, or those booming crackers – don't worry, we're here to help!

Come chat with our vets about safe calming options to keep your pet relaxed and happy. 😺🐶

22/12/2025

🐾 Important Notice 🐾

On 26 December 2025 (Boxing Day), both Vredenburg Animal Hospital and Langebaan Animal Hospital will be open ONLY for emergencies between 09:00 and 10:00.

Please note that an after-hours fee will apply for any consultations during this time.

For non-emergencies, we will be back to our normal hours on the next working day.

Thank you for your understanding, and we wish you and your furry friends a safe and happy festive season! ❤️

20/12/2025

Why Veterinary Assistants Are So Important – Shoutout to Our Amazing Langebaan Team working with Dr Lucinda Cowan and Dr Marnus Janse van Rensburg 🐶🐱❤️

Ever wonder what makes a vet clinic run like a well-oiled machine? It's not just the vets – it's our incredible veterinary assistants who are the true heroes behind the scenes!

Vet assistants are the backbone of any animal hospital. They handle everything from feeding and bathing our furry patients, monitoring their health, assisting during exams and surgeries, cleaning and sterilizing equipment, to comforting scared pets (and sometimes worried owners too!). Without them, vets couldn't focus on diagnoses and treatments – these amazing people keep things smooth, compassionate, and efficient every single day.

Here at our Langebaan veterinary hospital (serving the beautiful West Coast with love for pets big and small), our assistants go above and beyond with their passion, patience, and expertise. They're the ones giving extra cuddles, spotting little details that matter, and making sure every animal feels safe and cared for.

You guys are simply amazing – thank you for your hard work and big hearts! 💕
If your pet needs care, come visit us in Langebaan – our whole team is here for you!

19/12/2025

A Day in a Vet’s Shoes 🐾💔

We start the morning cuddling the fluffiest, squeakiest puppies you’ve ever seen—tiny hearts racing with excitement for their first check-up, tails wagging like helicopter blades. Pure joy.

By afternoon, we’re sitting on the floor with an old friend whose body has finally said “enough.” We hold them gently, whisper how loved they are, and help them cross the bridge peacefully… even though our own hearts are shattering.

Minutes later, we wipe our faces, take a deep breath, and walk into the next room smiling—because a family has just brought home their new puppy and they’re bursting with happiness.

We wish we could save every single one. Every. Single. One.
People always ask: “How do you do it? How do you euthanize a pet and then act like everything’s fine for the next client?”

We don’t shed a tear in front of you. We stay strong for you. But behind closed doors? The tears fall. Every time.

Thank you for trusting us with your best friends. We carry every one of them in our hearts, forever. ❤️

16/12/2025

12/12/2025

A huge, heartfelt THANK YOU to this incredible community!
Every single cat and kitten who was abandoned at our clinic has now found their loving forever home. From the scared, hissing ones to the big mammas… they all made it because of YOU.
Thank you for opening your hearts and your homes.
Thank you for every adoption, every share, every like, and every kind message that kept us going.
Because of you, those “dumped” kitties are now spoiled house panthers who sleep on pillows and get endless head scratches and love. They went from having no one to having everything, and that’s because this community showed up with so much love.
We can’t say it enough: YOU are the reason these stories have happy endings.
From the bottom of our hearts (and from every purring kitty who finally knows what a real home feels like), thank you. 🐾❤️
— The whole team at Weskus Veeartseny