What We do
To see what we accomplished during 2022, please
Read our 2022 Annual Report
Read our 2022 Annual Report
We are the only organization offering animal welfare education and veterinary services in Northern Uganda, and operate the only veterinary hospital in a region that is home to more than 7 million people.
We administer programs in animal birth control, rabies prevention and response, animal health and wellness, humane education, anti-cruelty investigation, and animal assisted intervention.
Will you join The BIG FIX Uganda team by becoming a supporter? How you can help...
We administer programs in animal birth control, rabies prevention and response, animal health and wellness, humane education, anti-cruelty investigation, and animal assisted intervention.
Will you join The BIG FIX Uganda team by becoming a supporter? How you can help...
Animal Birth Control
Achieving a sustainable population of dogs and cats in Uganda is essential to the health and welfare of individual animals and to control the spread of diseases.
Rabies, transmissible venereal tumors, tick-borne diseases, and other deadly conditions are widespread.
Rabies, transmissible venereal tumors, tick-borne diseases, and other deadly conditions are widespread.
We carry out targeted spay-neuter, focus on particular areas until a sustainable population are reached. Studies show surgical sterilization performed in a geographically haphazard manner doesn't effectively control dog and cat populations so we work closely with community leaders and have historically focused on Gulu District. Since October 2012 there is evidence of a decrease in litters of puppies, cases of dog bites, and reported cases of rabid dogs in these areas.
Our mobilization efforts have successfully educated the public about the need to spay and neuter animal companions. We routinely have long lines of people with their dogs waiting for us on surgical field clinic days.
Our mobilization efforts have successfully educated the public about the need to spay and neuter animal companions. We routinely have long lines of people with their dogs waiting for us on surgical field clinic days.
Animal Health and Wellness
There is a great deal of suffering caused by diseases such as rabies, parvovirus, parasite infestation, transmissible venereal tumors (TVTs), mange, tick borne illnesses, and yet to be diagnosed maladies. Many animals suffer from injuries which require veterinary care, such as severe bite wounds, loss of partial limbs due to snare traps, and traumas to the eyes. We also see chronic cases such as liver and heart disease and cancer which require long term management. Prior to The Big Fix Uganda, there was no relief for the misery caused by these conditions.
Our mission of helping to alleviate the suffering of animals is accomplished by providing free comprehensive veterinary care for the animals of Uganda’s impoverished villages. This care includes surgical sterilization as well as:
Our mission of helping to alleviate the suffering of animals is accomplished by providing free comprehensive veterinary care for the animals of Uganda’s impoverished villages. This care includes surgical sterilization as well as:
- Rabies vaccination. In addition to preventing this devastating disease, a rabies vaccination allows dog guardians to circumvent mob murder of a dog who bites. Without a vaccination certificate and due to the fear of rabies, dogs who bite are routinely killed without investigation. Read more...
- Parvovirus vaccination of puppies. It is estimated that 80% of puppies in Northern Uganda die due to parvovirus. The loss of a beloved puppy is a tragic and unnecessary occurrence.
- De-worming. Parasite infestation is not only devastating to the health of the dog but also to the health of the family living with the dog. We provide ongoing care for extreme cases of parasite load.
- Treatment of Ectoparasites. Ticks, fleas, and mites infest nearly all dogs in Northern Uganda and cause many tick-borne diseases.
- Treatment of TVTs. Cancerous transmissible venereal tumors are widespread in Uganda. A dog with a visible TVT is susceptible to being killed because people fear the spread of TVTs. We use surgery and chemotherapy to treat dogs with TVT.
- Treatment of wounds and injuries. Injuries from dog fights and dog confrontations with wild animals are common and can be serious. Wounds often become severely infected and cause extreme suffering if treatment is not provided.
- Chronic cases requiring ongoing care. Dogs with severe conditions can receive free emergency treatment and hospitalization at the BIG FIX UGANDA Dog hospital, where we also provide dog lodging.
Humane Education
The Big Fix Uganda team educates and engages the Ugandan people through school outreach, radio broadcasts, publications, education classes, and animal kindness clubs.
- School Outreach. Focusing on primary schools, our team visits selected schools and presents our education program. Students, teachers, and parents are taught about the sentience of animals, The Five Freedoms, how to be a responsible animal guardian, and how to prevent and treat diseases. All students from the schools visited have the opportunity to enter a drawing and essay contest. Prizes are awarded to the top entries.
- Radio Broadcasts. In cooperation with Mega FM and Favor FM, The Big Fix Uganda team produces and broadcasts radio talk shows about animal welfare and disease prevention. The shows include answering questions from callers. The broadcasts are heard throughout Northern Uganda, Southern Sudan, and the Eastern portion of DRC.
- Art for Animals. We engage and empower young people through education and artistic expression to advocate for animals using drawing, painting, singing, dancing, drama, and poetry. During 2020-21, we are painting murals in highly visible locations within the Gulu Municipal Area to show the positive benefits of living in harmony with animals.
- Field Educators. Graduates of our Comfort Dog Project, who have personally transformed their lives through developing strong bonds with their companion dogs, are trained and given opportunities to work as field educators. Field Educators work in their villages and at our community veterinary clinics to teach people to groom and care for their animals, to treat animals with respect and kindness, and to communicate with their animals. This critical work results in a happier/healthier life for the animals and the resulting human-animal bond has proven healing benefits for the animal guardians. Our Field Educators are very passionate about their work!
- Great Dog Guardian Program. Our 2020 work plan includes a Great Dog Guardian program for children and their animals, with the goal of making every dog a "comfort dog". This is a Saturday program in which children are invited to bring their dogs and participate in a number of workshops and educational/interactive sessions is aimed at creating positive bonds between children and their family dogs, and empowering them with knowledge so that they become advocates within their families and communities.
The Comfort Dog Project
The Comfort Dog Project is our Animal Assisted Intervention program which integrates psycho-social counseling with dog companionship to help people suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.
20 years of insurgency in Northern Uganda has left many people suffering from severe psychological injuries including PTSD and depression. Read more about the Comfort Dog Project...
20 years of insurgency in Northern Uganda has left many people suffering from severe psychological injuries including PTSD and depression. Read more about the Comfort Dog Project...
Animal Rescue and Interventions
Animals trapped in pits, caught in snares, or otherwise in need of rescue are aided by The BIG FIX's rescue team. Our Field Educators also work in the village to help people take better care of their animals and to stop practices which cause suffering. Often, animals suffer because of a lack of education. Our team can often greatly improve the life of an animal just by talking to the animal's guardian and providing information and follow up.
We also produce radio talk shows regularly on Mega FM and Favour FM. These programs regularly include police representatives and provide information about animal cruelty and neglect.
We also produce radio talk shows regularly on Mega FM and Favour FM. These programs regularly include police representatives and provide information about animal cruelty and neglect.
Help People and Animals Now