Fake vets are operating in Cape Town, offering cheap services and nogal making house calls.
Animal rights organisations believe they use stolen drugs and dodgy vaccines, which have allegedly caused illness and death in at least three puppies.
The Animal Welfare Society of South Africa will be laying charges against two alleged fake vets who recently caused severe sickness in two pitbull puppies and one German Shepherd cross puppy, resulting in their death.
The chief executive of the AWS, Dr John McMullen, said these were not isolated incidents.
“There are people, particularly on the Cape Flats, going around and doing house visits with drugs that are stolen from somewhere, vaccinating and maltreating animals.
“We’ve seen lots of people with certificates of vaccinations that are not veterinary certificates at all,” he said.
PROBE: Belinda Abraham. Photo: SUPPLIED
McMullen said he had caught a past employee stealing drugs.
“He was using it to run his own private practice in Delft,” he said. “I had to send a private detective to his home, undercover with a dog, to catch him handing over the drugs on video.”
Late last year, Sharmel Cleinwerck had to euthanise both of her dogs, after getting medication from a fake vet from the Grassy Park SPCA.
Grassy Park SPCA spokeswoman, Belinda Abraham, confirmed that the suspect had been employed there as a ward orderly and is being investigated.
Meanwhile, Delft resident Mervyn Onrust lost his puppy Max because of a man operating as a vet in the area. If you suspect a fake vet is operating in your area, please report it to the Animal Welfare Society on 021 692 2626.