The Uganda SPCA has been an AKI Partner Organization since our very beginning, July 2007. From the start, donations to Animal-Kind International have contributed to the Haven's running costs and in the last several years have covered anywhere from 1/3 to 1/2 of the costs of the USPCA shelter: shelter rent, staff salaries, cat and dog food, transport for rescues and pre- and post-adoption home visits, vet and shelter supplies, and shelter utilities.
Most of these are items that typical grant-making organizations won't cover. But AKI is different: our Partner Organizations can use AKI funds for their priority needs, whatever they may be as long as they support animal welfare. And that's because we don't "police" our Partner Organizations, we know all of them well enough so that we can place the trust and responsibility in them (of course with the due diligence/oversight as you'd expect of any accountable non-profit organization).
This type of funding-not tied to a specific project and outcome-is so important for organizations that struggle to raise money just to keep the basics up and running. Because your donations provide this type of support, these rescues and adoptions, from the last few months, have been possible.
This is our Valentine's Day puppy, found on February 14 in Nsambya on the side of the road.
When the USPCA received a call that a puppy needed help, they rushed to Nsambya, where they were told that a speeding lorry knocked the tiny pup. Strangely though, she had a horrible open gash on her tummy (won't show you that photo) that didn't seem like it could happen from a collision with a truck. But there was no time to ask more questions, they rushed her to the Haven, where she was cleaned up, sewn up, and recovered quickly, becoming a very happy, healthy, and sweet adolescent.
These are a few USPCA rescues from January:
These two dogs were abandoned outside the Haven gate, whoever left them didn't make themselves known:
These two dogs also came to the Haven in February after the USPCA was informed that they had been left behind when the owners shifted from Bugolobi, left them behind, and no one knew where the owners went. Both were so malnourished, one had a bad case of mange that was treated at the shelter.
Far too many people seem to feel it's ok to just leave a dog (or cat) behind without making plans for the animal, thinking this will become someone else's responsibility (or worse). The USPCA was informed about this dog at the Kakira Sugar Company compound, his owner left him chained to a tree! The poor thing was screaming, which prompted a concerned neighbor to call the USPCA for help. The dog had been left like that for a while and had become aggressive - of course!
Several people came to his aid and donated to the USPCA to transport him from the Kakira Sugar Company and to get him the care he needed back at the Haven.
In April, the USPCA staff found this poor dog tied to the fence at the new USPCA location. Someone abandoned him there during the night. What a scary thing to happen, left alone in a new place, unable to move, not knowing what the next day will bring.
Once at the Haven, the shelter team can do wonders for cats and dogs. For example, Mzee and his son were rescued in Kiwatule 2 years ago. Son of Mzee was adopted by Mr. Waiswa, a teacher at the International School of Uganda. Mzee has been at the Haven ever since he was rescued. He's 9 or 10 years old, a big boy and very gentle:
Mzee can live his life at the Haven if not adopted-he seems to be very happy there.
Last December, AKI donors once again showed their generosity and sent donations so that the USPCA could s/n the backlog of cats and dogs who had entered the shelter and hadn't yet been s/n'd. In March, these volunteer vets, along with new shelter vet Dr Kassim, sterilized another 18 dogs and three cats, bringing the total to 56.
Good news always comes in the form of adoptions. In March, Dima and family adopted this beautiful boy:
Also in March, this sweet dog found her forever home:
But as has been the case over the years, the USPCA rescues so many more than they adopt out. April brought an overload of puppies:
And kittens:
And so far in May, the USPCA has dealt with two large groups of dogs in need of rescue. These eight dogs (below) were abandoned in a compound in Makindye, yet another case of owners shifting, leaving their dogs behind. A pet lover contacted the USPCA about the situation. The dogs were in desperate shape, needing food and medical care. Currently the USPCA is providing their needs in the compound where they were found because the shelter is so full.
Also in May, these dogs (below) were rescued so full of fleas and ticks. They were brought to the Haven-they had to get out of these filthy conditions and need major rehabilitation. At least they are still young and will be able to recover and put this behind them:
Which brings us to some of the most important work that USPCA does: educating the young generation. Alex and Assistant Manager Jackie are using some new Humane Ed material made available to Animal-Kind International thanks to Lakes Animal Friendship Society. Alex wrote, "Thank you so much AKI for providing us with hard copy of the education materials, also thank you to Uniquely Paws limited for printing the material for education and thank you to Dr. Kassim for his time of translating all words into Luganda. Let's keep on spreading animal welfare education."
This is a really sad situation and with dogs getting more and more popular in Uganda, we are finding more and more breeders using really unacceptable practices. These poor dogs were reported to the USPCA by many people. They were for sale along Entebbe road, a busy route between Kampala and Entebbe. When the USPCA visited, they found a young boy with the dogs. Alex tried to reach the owner but couldn't get through. The USPCA and USPCA friends are following up with local authorities.
Along with organizations and individuals who falsely claim to be rescuing and sheltering dogs, the number of breeders has skyrocketed. We are hoping that officials take action against those using inhumane, cruel practices, manipulating the public, and causing so much suffering.