By Karen Menczer | Executive Directive. Animal-Kind International
It wasn't supposed to be like this. By now, we thought we'd be fully shifted from the old Haven into the new USPCA shelter. We thought the old shelter would be closed down by now, we'd have no more rent payments, no double utility bills.
But up until about 10 months ago, we didn't know that Uganda's National Environmental Management Authority had new rules that allowed up to only 50 dogs at a site without submitting an environmental review and getting a NEMA permit (of course the USPCA has more than 300 cats and dogs, close to 300 dogs, about 50 cats). We didn't know that the USPCA would have to re-register as a trust to own property, a recent change to Uganda's legal framework governing land ownership (the re-registation was completed).
We didn't know we'd be paying rent for more than a full year beyond what we had planned for.....rent that would have almost covered one year of food for the dogs and cats at the two shelters.
All of these extra costs have taken a toll on the USPCA's budget.
And then there's the unprecedented number of rescues that the USPCA has made this year, especially during these last 6 or so months with many mama dogs and cats and their large litters (it seems street dogs and cats ALWAYS have large litters!).
In response to this, Animal-Kind International has created a USPCA Pet Food Fund to raise money to ensure the shelters' dogs and cats get the food they need to thrive. This is a separate effort, apart from this GlobalGiving project, but an important one to help ensure the USPCA can continue to operate at the two locations until approvals are obtained to fully occupy the new space. And this will allow the USPCA to continue their lifesaving rescue work. For example.......
On November 28, Shelter Manager, Alex Ochieng, rescued a kitten from a pit latrine that he had fallen into 3 days earlier! After a good bath and food, a de-wormer too, he is recovering at the old Haven. (See photos of when the kitty was rescued, when bathed, and when on the comfort of Alex's lap)
Assistant Shelter Manager, Jackie, was on a boda boda when she saw a puppy in the middle of the road. She jumped off, telling the boda drive to wait for her, grabbed the puppy, put her in her hand bag, and headed back to the shelter. This cute puppy was quickly adopted by a family who loves her. (See photos of when Jackie grabbed the pup off the road and her new forever family)
A mama and her 4 puppies, living in a culvert during a heavy rain, were reported to the USPCA. The caller was concerned that the culvert would be over-run with water and the puppies would drown. The USPCA team rushed to the site in Bugolobi, got on their bellies to scoot into the culvert to get to the puppies, as mama looked on. They were able to rescue all 4 puppies and mama joined her family at the USPCA Haven.
This is just a tiny snippet of the rescues that USPCA has undertaken in the last few months. We hope to bring you a Progress Report full of positive news in 2024. Meanwhile, thank you for standing with us and the USPCA.
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