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Not
the average Quack
Vic
Epstein - Head Veterinarian Falkland Islands
My
name is Vic Epstein, and I am the senior (by age and rank)
veterinary surgeon for the Falkland Islands Government with
the Department of Agriculture. The veterinary section consists
of two vets and ancillary staff (secretary and laboratory
technician). So duties vary over the spectrum from speying
a cat to ensuring veterinary certification for meat exports
to the European Union are completed satisfactorily.
At school, I was just your average student,
but played lots of sport, tennis and soccer and squash sometimes-
but didn't know how to play squash very well. First time I
played, I was wondering how 4 people could get on the court
at once.
I decided to be a vet when I was in final year at school-
In those days, it was a bit easier to get into vet
faculty as girls hadn't discovered
it, and large animals were still the emphasis.
There were only about 5 girls in our class of about 100 -
now it is the reverse, and everyone loves dogs and cats and
hamsters and rats and mice. I thought being a vet would be
something interesting, and we had a pet duck. Spent every
holiday after that in the country and in fact have never really
been back working in the city.
So to April 12th (according to my diary- from which I consistently
seem to omit certain sections of information).
Discussed collection of faecal samples from dogs on an island
from where a sheep has been slaughtered and Post Mortem inspection
has revealed hydatids. Hydatids in itself in the world is
not uncommon but when the Falkland Islands government has
been running a campaign to rid the country of hydatids for
20 years and the odd positive still appears there
is something amiss. I’m working on a plan
to investigate the problem.
Investigated an update in the EU (European Union) legislation
that changed the wording on the health certificate allowing
Falkland Island meat access to Europe. The wording was changed
in February and we missed it. Now there is a container of
meat sitting on the docks in the UK which won’t be released
until a new (original) health certificate with the amended
wording is received. With planes only leaving once
a week the meat will be
stuck on the dock for some time- customers
not happy! NB (Europe does not just accept meat from
any country, it must be inspected for bacteria and diseases
before it is allowed in the countries)
Cup of tea
Sorted out a job description for an advertisement to appoint
a replacement vet for the one just leaving and liaise with
HR management
Meet with newly employed fisheries officer to discuss aquaculture
in the Falklands and possible integration of abattoir offal
disposal and aquaculture. There seems possibilities but who
will follow them through?
Work on the animal welfare legislation on the Falkland Islands
to ensure compliance with EU requirements. I could be still
working on this if I have to report on what I did on April
12 2007!!
Reporter: AJ Epstein |
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