Animal Welfare Uganda Project #25743

Help Us Transform Uganda SPCA Haven Animal Shelter

by Animal-Kind International

Help Us Transform Uganda SPCA Haven Animal Shelter

Project Report | Nov 5, 2019
Uganda SPCA: A Service to the Community

By Karen Menczer | Executive Director, Animal-Kind International

Kids bring their puppies to The Haven for vet care

Many people think of animal welfare organizations as primarily serving animals. While that's why most of us get involved in animal welfare-to help animals--once we're involved, it becomes apparent that we're providing a community service, and along with the animals, we serve their caretakers and the wider community.

IMAGINE.... a larger shelter, one that would better accomodate visitors, school groups, community members.

IMAGINE....how many more animals would be helped, how many more Ugandan animal welfare advocates would be groomed to take on future challenges.

IMAGINE.....the community resource that The Haven could be.

It's not difficult to imagine because already the USPCA gives so much to the community. For example:

In September, several boys who live near The Haven brought their puppies to the shelter for vaccinations, de-worming, and flea/tick treatment (see pictures). Every week, children visit The Haven to get help for their pets. (Haven Manager Alex always asks them to bring the mama dogs to be spayed, and usually they do).

As always, The Haven is full to the brim. In September 55 new animals arrived at the shelter. These included several mother dogs with litters of puppies, orphaned puppies and kittens, as well as juvenile and adult dogs and cats. The vast majority of the animals arriving at the shelter are under 1 year of age. The number of new arrivals was thankfully lower than previous months as the shelter is very full- August saw 69 new arrivals, 99 in July and 93 in June-the number of adoptions never exceeds the number of new arrivals. By the end of September, The Haven was home to 254 animals, up from 231 in August (see pictures of some of these lovely cats and dogs). Of course, if these animals weren't at The Haven, they would be roaming the streets endangering people and certainly the cats' and dogs' lives would be at risk-versus being safe, well-fed, and well-loved at The Haven.

As usual, The Haven welcomed many visiting groups, mainly school groups, but also community groups. This is yet another community resource that the USPCA provides (see pictures). One of the most important community services is free community spay/neuter clinics, which the USPCA holds, approximately once a month, funds allowing.

The overwhelming number of dogs at the shelter means that if they don't have a way to deplete their energy and places to hide and feel comfortable, fights will break out. Wooden boxes are placed in each dog kennel so that shy dogs can get away from the crowds, dogs can have extra play space, and everyone can have a bit of quiet time when needed. The USPCA can use AKI's funds for their prioirty needs (except under this GlobalGiving project, for which donations are set aside to purchase land), and in October, the USPCA had 3 wooden boxes built (see picture) with a portion of the most recent AKI disbursement. While we always keep in mind that we are serving the human community, we never forget that our #1 service is to the animals, the unwanted, the battered, the hungry--the animals with no place else to turn but the USPCA. We're dedicated to making their lives happier, healthier, and more fulfilling.

Thank you so much for your support of the USPCA. We won't give up until we raise enough funds so that the USPCA can grow to be the resource we know it can and should be.

Neighborhood kids visit The Haven

Kids bring their puppies for shots & other care

One of many Haven cats waiting for a 4ever home

One of many Haven dogs waiting for a 4ever home

2 Haven dogs waiting for their 4ever homes

Primary school students enjoy visiting The Haven

Learning about puppies

USPCA had these boxes made for the dogs' kennels

Links:

Permalink

Aug 9, 2019
Lots of adoptions, but more & more puppies

By Karen Menczer | Executive Director, Animal-Kind International

One of 46 puppies at The Haven awaiting adoption

This is how every moonth goes at the Uganda SPCA Haven. Lots of adoptions every month, for which we are eternally grateful, but more animals come in -every single month-than go to their 4ever homes. HOW LONG CAN THIS LAST? At some point, The Haven will be full. I hope when that time comes, we will be ready to purchase a plot of land and move to a spacious location.

In total, AKI has raised about US$16,000 and USPCA has raised, in-country, about US$9,000. That's about 1/4 of the way to where we need to be to buy a plot of land. Katia and I put a cost proposal together to approach some landowners who are friendly to the USPCA and we're hoping we can reach a deal--but 1st they have to decide to part with a piece of their land. I'll keep you posted!

For now, USPCA is taking care of 46 puppies, most of them ready to say goodbye to their friends at The Haven and go off to their 4ever homes, if only they could find one! (See pictures of 2 of the pups).

On the happy side, in July, 22 animals were adopted from The Haven. I'll post some of the pictures with their new families.

The USPCA has a new vet, Dr. Singh. The previous vet left The Haven to pursue her education. Dr. Singh has been very busy with communtiy spay/neuter work (see pictures). You can imagine though, I'm sure, no matter how many community dogs (and cats) are sterilized, in Kampala and Entebbe and in between, it will take years to reach equilibrium in population growth. And that's one of the main reasons we so desperately need that spacious piece of land -- the need for the USPCA's work is certainly not slowing down!!!! (see Dr. Singh spaying a cat in the picture below).

We are so grateful for your support. Please spread the word about USPCA's amazing work and our goal of raising money to purchase land to create a true HAVEN for Uganda's cats and dogs.

Another of the 46 puppies currently at The Haven

This kitty was adopted from The Haven in July

Another kitty went to a 4ever home in July!

One of the dogs adopted from The Haven-July

Another one of the lucky adoptees in July

Dr. Singh spaying a community cat

Links:

Uganda SPCA's page on the AKI website

Permalink

May 13, 2019
My Visit to the Uganda SPCA Haven

By Karen Menczer | Executive Director, Animal-Kind International

USPCA staff-except for 3- & me

During March and April, I spent 3 weeks in Uganda (for my job with US Agency for International Development) and I spent all 3 weekends, both Saturday and Sunday, at The Haven. What better place to be when in Kampala?!

Currently, there are about 230 dogs and cats at The Haven. I remember when the number first went above 200 animals, around 5 years ago. And since then, it's never dropped below 200. Although that's far more than was ever intended (in 2006, we thought 80 dogs and 20 cats was reasonable), the new pens-and more pens--don't make it feel quite so crowded.

It's only when you try to walk dogs or maneuver from pen to pen (for feeding time or petting time), you realize that for such a small space, there are far too many dogs. Or to put it another way, all these dogs need to be in the safe environment that The Haven offers, but the space is far too small to hold all the dogs in need of shelter. The cats do much better, with 1 large cattery (donated by a generous AKI donor), a converted garage, and a pen (in the office) for very small kitties.

Since I was last in Uganda (about 2 1/2 years ago), The Haven has added more staff, which is great news. In the group picture attached, you can see: Jackie (vet assistant), Moses, Alex (shelter manager), Fred, Irene, and Lydia. Not in the group picture, but shown separately, there's Dominic, Mary, and Vincent. Josephine (see picture at community vet clinic) is the USPCA vet, new since last I visited.

Even in the short time I was in Uganda, the number of dogs at The Haven increased. Two mama dogs with puppies were rescued in Lubowa; I participated in one rescue of a young male dog, who was saved by a kind neighbor who chased away some kids who were throwing stones at the dog and then called the USPCA (pictured with Dominic); additionally, 4 adult dogs were either brought to or rescued by the USPCA, as were numerous puppies (without moms)--probably an average of about 1 dog/day over the 3 weeks I was in Uganda. A few cats were rescued and brought to The Haven during those 3 weeks.

How many dogs and cats were adopted in that timespan? Four dogs (2 of them puppies) and 2 cats. So much for balance!

So you can see that the numbers are only going to increase. I think this is not necessarily because there's more cruelty, but because more people know about The Haven and because cruelty has become less acceptable. Most of the people who report dogs and cats in need of rescue, most of the people who actually rescue animals and bring them to The Haven, and most adopters are Ugandans. About 50% of the people who came to volunteer while I was volunteering were Ugandan. The Haven is Uganda's animal shelter, Uganda's animal welfare organization.

I was shocked by the new construction next to and across from The Haven (see picture)--Kampala is booming. I bet it won't be long before people begin to complain about the noise of the dogs barking and even the smell (I think The Haven is kept very clean, but I'm sure people will complain!).

While I was in Uganda, we looked at a few plots of land, but none were suitable-too expensive, too inaccessible, too small. This remains a priority for the USPCA-two board members with good connections are now tasked with identifying land within USPCA's budget, possibly owned by someone who would be willing to consider a partial donation (land between Kampala and Entebbe has become so expensive, and with some big land owners, we are hoping to find a generous soul to donate a portion of a plot).

Alex, Haven Shelter Manager, presented a certificate (pictured) to me/AKI, but it is for all of you who have donated, who stick with us, and who are committed to seeing the USPCA Haven on a new, spacious plot of land. I am 100% sure that we will get there, it might take longer than we'd like, but it will happen!

Dominic w/dog rescued from kids throwing stones

USPCA's Mary in a puppy pen

USPCA's Vincent, 1 of the new staff

Dr. Josephine-USPCA Community Clinic in Kawempe

Across from The Haven-new construction

USPCA certificate presented to AKI donors

Links:

Uganda SPCA's page on the AKI website

Permalink

‹ 1 ... 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 ›

About Project Reports

Project reports on GlobalGiving are posted directly to globalgiving.org by Project Leaders as they are completed, generally every 3-4 months. To protect the integrity of these documents, GlobalGiving does not alter them; therefore you may find some language or formatting issues.

If you donate to this project or have donated to this project, you can receive an email when this project posts a report. You can also subscribe for reports without donating.