KNYSNA NEWS - Knysna Animal Welfare Society has welcomed a new member to its dynamic team for the year that lies ahead. Dr Chris Lewis joins Kaws' ranks as the organisation's community service vet.

Kaws has a fully-fledged clinic that provides primary healthcare services (vaccinations, consultations and sterilisations) as well as minor surgeries to members of the public from Sedgefield to Harkerville, who are unable to afford a private vet. 

The clinic runs six days per week.

Kaws has now been lucky enough to be allocated a compulsory community Service (CCS) vet for 2024 in the form of Dr Chris Lewis who has joined the Kaws clinical team. 

He will be working full-time under the guidance of Dr Anesca Loots until the end of December 2024. He is a recent graduate of University of Pretoria (Onderstepoort) and Knysna was his first choice when it came to placement selection for his CCS tenure. 

Dr Lewis spent a week with Kaws in September 2023 to learn the ropes, spend time with the clinical team, and become comfortable in a welfare environment.

He also managed to assist with some consultations and sterilisations during that week. "We knew from that short time that he would fit in perfectly with our very competent clinical team," said Kaws kennel manager Belinda Speed.

"As he is now full-time at KAWS, he is aiming to master his skills in sterilisations, surgery and diagnostics. He has a special interest in outreach and is looking forward to working with the Kaws Outreach Team in the greater Knysna communities."

He hails from The Strand, but has already started enjoying some of the gems that Knysna has to offer. 

Now that he has a bit more free time, he is hoping to concentrate on some of his hobbies which include gardening (especially growing his own vegetables) as well as creating living artworks.

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