Animal Health & Rabies Prevention
Our Animal Health work includes:
Operation of the region’s only veterinary hospital and veterinary laboratory
Intensive care and surgery for seriously ill and injured animals
Spay/neuter of dogs and cats
Providing free rabies vaccinations and deworming in remote villages
The BIG FIX Uganda Dog Hospital
In the vast region of Northern Uganda, The BIG FIX operates the ONLY veterinary hospital. Our hospital has been open 365 days a year since first opening in September 2016. We receive emergency cases 24 hours a day and have three resident veterinary doctors. The hospital provides routine care, vaccinations, spay/neuter, and admits patients for treatment of serious injuries and illnesses. We have an isolation treatment unit for parvo virus patients, a basic veterinary laboratory, and two patient housing buildings.
Community members who bring their companion animals to us are asked to contribute whatever they can afford toward the cost of care. Free services are available for those who cannot afford to contribute anything. We do not turn away any animal who needs care.
Animal care and welfare is our top priority. The animal care team cooks nutritious food daily for our patients and rescues and each dog is given daily exercise and enrichment. The kennels are monitored daily by our Animal Welfare Team.
Rabies Education and Prevention
Rabies is a very real and deadly threat in Northern Uganda. Though there are no reliable statistics on the number of people killed each year by rabies, most people know someone who has died from this completely preventable disease. Most of the victims are children attacked by unvaccinated dogs.
The BIG FIX Uganda utilizes a Rabies Tracker App which was gifted to us by Global Alliance for Rabies Control (GARC). Since February 2022, all vaccinations and rabies outbreaks have been documented with GPS coordinates on the Rabies Tracker, enabling us to better respond to outbreaks. We work very closely with the local governments to protect people and animals when suspected rabies cases are reported. The BIG FIX Emergency Rabies Response Team dispatches to and investigates rabies reports and works to ensure that any exposed animals and people receive post-exposure treatment and vaccinations.
The BIG FIX team is serious about Zero by 30, a global movement which aims to eliminate human deaths caused by rabies by 2030. 22 members of our team have completed two courses of study with GARC and have received the Bronze Dog Health Champion Certificate.
The BIG FIX Uganda is a recipient of the WORLD RABIES DAY AWARD FOR SUB-SAHARA AFRICA. The World Rabies Day awards are given by a committee including individuals from the World Health Organization (WHO), Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), Center for Disease Control, MSD Animal Health, and the Global Alliance for Rabies Control. BIG FIX is also a member of the United Against Rabies Forum, an inclusive network of public and private sector organizations, experts, and partners committed to working together to end human deaths from dog-mediated rabies.
Some of THE BIG FIX Uganda’s Bronze Dog Health Champions
The BIG FIX Uganda has been given the prestigious recognition as a a Rabies Center of Excellence by Global Alliance for Rabies Control as part of the Communities Against Rabies Initiative.
We are also a member of the United Against Rabies Forum, an inclusive network of public and private sector organizations, experts, development partners and civil society, committed to working together to end human deaths from dog-mediated rabies.
“This outstanding organization is making a real impact in Northern Uganda, working tirelessly in high rabies-risk areas to provide free rabies vaccinations and empower communities through education. Their efforts are creating safer, healthier lives for both animals and people. ”
Our Work in the Villages
Every year, we work in 40 or more of the highest rabies risk areas to provide free rabies vaccinations and deworming. Veterinary services would otherwise not be available to the animals in these villages. An average of 185 animals are treated at each of these village clinics. Animals in need of more intensive care are transported to our hospital for admission.
Our Field Educators are on site to check neck restraints, and provide education about fear free handling, feeding, and care. They also help guardians to wash and groom their dogs.
In remote areas, we provide spay/neuter surgeries in the village. In locations within one hour of our hospital, we make appointments for animals to be picked up at their homes and transported to our hospital, where we can provide better conditions for surgery and recovery.
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JUNE 2026
13th: Oyam District at Kamdini Town Council and at Myene Sub-County HQ
20th: Amuru District at Parabongo Centre
27th Amuru District at at Guruguru Center (with spay/neuter surgeries)
JULY 2026
4th: Nwoya District at Anaka (with spay/neuter surgeries)
18th: Oyam District at Aber Centre (with spay/neuter surgeries)
25th: (Tentative) Gulu District at Omel/Apem Centre (with spay/neuter surgeries)
AUGUST 2026
1ST: (Tentative) Gulu District at Awach Town Council and at Paibona/Custom Corner
SEPTEMBER 2026
5TH Amuru District at Pabbo/Pokure Centre
26th: WORLD RABIES DAY: 3 sites in Amuru District: Pabbo Town Council (with spay/neuter surgeries), Jan-Gari, and Labala
OCTOBER 2026
10th: Pader District at Pader Town Council (with spay/neuter surgeries)
17th: Pader District at Mission A (with spay/neuter surgeries)
31st: Omoro District at Onyango/Anyango Peya (with spay/neuter surgeries)
NOVEMBER 2026
7th: Omoro District at Opit Town Council (with spay/neuter surgeries)
14th: Amuru District at Atiak Town Council (with spay/neuter surgeries)
21st: (Tentative) Gulu District at Palaro Centre (with spay/neuter surgeries)
DECEMBER 2026
5th: Pader District at Lunyiri/Lagile Centre (with spay/neuter surgeries)
10th: Omoro District at Odek/Te Olam Centre
12th: Amuru District at Otwee Town Council (with spay/neuter surgeries) and at Lakang Centre
Animal Rescue, Rehabilitation,
and Re-Homing
While The BIG FIX Uganda does not embrace sheltering as a solution to dog overpopulation, we do rescue, rehabilitate, and re-home many animals each year. These dogs and cats are brought in by our rescue officers or abandoned at our hospital. They often need intensive treatment and rehabilitation. Many never knew kindness from humans and need time to learn to trust. Fortunately, our Animal Welfare Team is comprised of patient and compassionate Comfort Dog Project graduates who manage all animal care on the premises, our foster care program, adoptions, and home checks.
To apply to adopt a dog or cat from us, please contact our Animal Welfare Team.
