The Big Fix

Operation of The BIG FIX Uganda veterinary hospital (the only animal hospital in Northern Uganda) which was open 365 days during 2023, admission of 709 patients to our veterinary hospital for care, providing free rabies vaccinations and deworming to 10,841 dogs and cats, operation Northern Uganda's only veterinary laboratory which performed 408 tests during 2023, providing free veterinary services in 46 villages; spaying/neutering 350 dogs and cats, exchanging 5,266 unsafe neck restraints on dogs for rope, assisting 3,060 dog guardians to wash and groom their dogs, providing emergency rabies responses to 4 rabies outbreaks

Our school education team included our education manager, the Principle Education Officer for Gulu City, the Lead Canine Officer with Gulu Police Department and three dogs and guardians from The Comfort Dog Project. The education team visited 28 schools, reaching 13,757 students and their teachers and provided information about The Five Animal Freedoms, animal health, rabies prevention, Uganda's anti-cruelty laws, how to communicate with and train dogs, and the health benefits of having dogs as friends. 12,669 copies of "The Great Dog Guardian Book" were distributed. With a talented local artist, our Art for Animals program created 16 school murals depicting positive interactions between children and dogs. We produced 62 radio talk shows on MEGA FM and Favour FM about animal health and welfare, laws protecting animals, rabies, the healing power of human-animal bonds, and other timely veterinary issues.

The Comfort Dog Project provided ongoing supportive services to over 100 dogs and guardians in the program; paired 12 new rescue dogs with war trauma survivors and graduated 100% from the 20-week long dog training and bonding program; held "The Great Dog Guardian Games" which showcased dog training and positive human-animal interactions; held 47 meetings for program guardians which included group counseling and vet checks for project dogs; provided 109 individual counseling sessions for program guardians, provided free veterinary services for all project dogs, including hospitalization of 35 dogs; made 549 phone calls and 107 home checks to follow up on project participants; provided 70 grief counseling sessions to members of the public; held 60 group counseling sessions for war trauma survivors which were each attended by an average of 19 people. The Comfort Dog Project graduates also entirely staffed The BIG FIX Uganda's Animal Welfare Team, which: responded to 52 community calls for dogs in need of rescue, transported 77 rescue dogs to the hospital; placed 33 dogs and 4 cats into new adoptive homes after conducting home checks; followed up in adoptions with 279 phone calls and 109 home visits; cared for a total of 439 dogs during the year; maintained permanent foster homes for 2 paralyzed dogs; provided 8,744 dog walks, and bathed 267 dogs at the hospital.