INSIDE THE QUIRKY WORLD OF POTCHVET

Mhlengi Khumalo 

@into.mbiyakwakhumalo

 

Walking into PotchVet Care at 5 Palmiet Street, you might expect the standard clinical silence. Instead, you are greeted by the lively spirit of Dr. Lisel van Wyk and her dedicated team.

 

Since opening, the clinic has become a staple for Potchefstroom’s furry citizens. The unofficial queen of the practice is Roxi, a young Jack Russell who doesn’t just ask for attention — she demands it. The moment anyone approaches, she flops onto her back, expecting a belly rub as if it were a legal requirement for entry.

 

 

 

While the team deals with serious medical needs, they’ve seen their fair share of “how did that happen?” moments. Take Stella, a Chinchilla Persian cat who apparently has a taste for action movies, having been brought in multiple times after snacking on Nerf gun bullets.

 

If Dr. Van Wyk could have a 30-second chat with any patient, she’d choose Finley, a Golden Retriever puppy, just to ask what makes bugs so delicious that he can’t stop eating them. This curiosity is mirrored in the owners, too; one client famously justified feeding their dog sickness-inducing table scraps because “he can’t say when he’s hungry.”

 

The clinic’s internal dynamics are just as colorful as their patients. If the staff were a pack of dogs, Dr. Van Wyk would be the energetic Jack Russell running the show, while Duncan (the Frenchie) and Gerhard (the Basset) keep things interesting with their unique medical quirks and laid-back attitudes. Jolene brings Golden Retriever warmth to reception, balanced by Wanda’s calm Boerboel presence.

 

Behind the scenes, the team is fueled by endless cups of coffee and a “pet-whispering” toolkit made of patience, soft voices, and the occasional well-timed treat. Their advice for Potch locals? Don’t always believe your pets — as their dream billboard would say: “Our diagnosis is good… but your dog is lying about what he ate.”

 

 

Edited by Simoné de Witt