Until the late 1970s, PDSA operated in eight countries in Africa and the Middle East with PDSA veterinary officers from the UK posted to run the local clinics. Over the years, these were gradually closed, with the focus of work shifting to the UK. However, PDSA South Africa and PDSA Cairo decided to continue independently and registered as PDSAs under their respective country’s charity legislation.
Tourists and ex-pats might rightly be confused into thinking that these former outposts of PDSA’s empire are still accountable to the parent charity in the UK. However, for many years PDSA UK has provided neither staff nor funding for their operations; consequently, we have neither control nor influence over the services they provide.
Whilst we enjoy cordial relations with both organisations and share a common past, it is important to emphasise that the three PDSAs are separate legal and operational entities.
