WHY THE BIG FIX MATTERS

Most of us can’t begin to

imagine what the people and

animals of Northern Uganda

went through during 20 years of

war. The chaos and trauma of

war resulted in extreme poverty

and suffering, and a daily life

that is difficult beyond our

comprehension.

Throughout all of this, dogs

have done what they do

everywhere: love people

unconditionally. In a chaotic

life, dogs have a way of making

things better. That’s true whether you are in Beverly Hills or Gulu, Uganda.

The BIG FIX operates the ONLY veterinary hospital in Northern Uganda, a region home

to more than 2 million people and tens of thousands of dogs. We are here to help these

best friends 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

Can you imagine living in a place where there was no veterinary hospital and no help for

our beloved dogs when they were sick, injured, or suffering? We can’t either. That’s

why we work hard every day to serve the animals of Northern Uganda and the people

who love them.

Thank you for being part of this mission. It matters.

www.TheBigFixUganda.org

Our Work:

Operation of Northern Uganda’s only Veterinary Hospital

Animal Rescue, Rehabilitation, and Re-Homing

Animal Welfare Education

Animal Kindness Clubs

Dog Companionship Program for War Trauma Survivors

JUST ONE STORY

This is Lamaro Hope and his 6 week old

puppy, Silver. This little boy loves Silver

with all his heart so when Hope found a

worm crawling out of his puppy’s flesh, he

ran to The Big Fix Dog Hospital and asked

for help.

Upon examination, Silver was found to have

numerous mango fly larvae on different

parts of his body, especially on the ears and

legs. Like most puppies in Uganda, Silver

was also not in great condition.

Our vet team extracted the mango fly

larvae, administered de-worming and other

medications, and gave Hope instructions for

keeping Silver happy and healthy. Now

Silver and Hope have a great chance at a

happy future, as they deserve.

SIX YEARS: MORE THAN 60,000 ANIMALS SERVED!

Since August 2012, The BIG FIX Uganda has held 363 village field clinics,

treated 61,235 animals, and performed 5,875 surgeries. We have visited

more than 150 schools and reached well over 100,000 students and

teachers with our animal welfare education programs.

SOME HOSPITAL PATIENTS

(Left) This is Akello Vicky and her 6 month old

female dog “Priscak”. Vicky says Priscak is very

loving and a “good leader”. She brought Priscak

to The Big Fix to get her spayed. The Big Fix

gave Priscak a rabies vaccination, de-wormed

her, gave her flea/tick treatment, spayed her,

and gave her a dog collar. Vicky paid what she

could afford, 5,000 shillings (about $1.40), and

our generous donors covered the balance of the

cost of providing this care to Priscak. Vicky was

very grateful!

(Right) Meet beautiful “Maxis”, a 1 year old male cat cared for

by the Olara family. Mrs. Olara requested that The Big Fix

neuter Maxis. They praised Maxis for being “very

aggressive” toward wild animals, an important quality for a

cat who has the job of guarding the family’s food storage!

We neutered, vaccinated, de-wormed, and treated Maxis for

fleas and ticks, all for what the Olara family could afford to

pay, which was about 60 cents.

Community members know

that all animals are welcome

at The BIG FIX Dog Hospital.

We routinely see and help

cats, goats (see left), chickens, cows, and even the

occasional monkey!

HELPING ANIMALS IN THE VILLAGES

Since our last UPDATE, during June and July,The BIG FIX Uganda worked in very

remote areas of Northern Uganda: Atanga Sub county in Pader District and Koch Goma

and Lii Sub counties in Nwoya Districts. Most of these areas have never had veterinary

services offered. With our dedicated field team led by Dr. Bernard Agwai (Professor of

Makerere University Vet School), we served 1,384 companion animals and their

guardians, offering rabies vaccinations, de-worming, flea/tick treatment, treatment of

wounds and injuries, and grooming/washing instruction and demonstration by our field

educators. 247 spay/neuter and 2 other surgeries were performed.

Our Field Educators helped to wash and groom 572

dogs and exchanged 438 unsafe neck restraints

(wire, chains, etc.) for rope. Our Field Educator

Supervisor commented that the number of ropes

given was lower than other areas and explained

“because dogs in these areas are used for hunting,

most dogs didn’t need any restraint and stayed

close by their guardians.”

People walked for miles to bring their animals and

to receive The BIG FIX services. Dogs were carried in baskets, sacks, wheelbarrows,

and in people’s arms.

The kind man shown (right) wrapped his

beautiful blue-eyed cat in a sack and

carried him for the multiple-hours-long walk

to our clinic site.

THE BIG FIX RECEIVES GRANT FROM

ALBERT SCHWEITZER ANIMAL WELFARE FUND

The BIG FIX is deeply honored to report that our animal welfare education program has

received a grant from the Albert Schweitzer Animal Welfare Fund.

The grant in the amount of $3,000 will be used to assist us in reaching students,

teachers, and parents through our school outreach. Our education program includes

teaching The Five Animal Freedoms, and empowering students to advocate for animal

rights through debate, art, and dramatic performances, and demonstrating positive

human-dog interactions.

Born in 1875, Albert Schweitzer was sensitive to the suffering of all living things even as a child. At age 21, after

receiving doctorates in music, theology, and philosophy, he declared he would live for science and art until age

30, and then he would devote the rest of his life to serving humanity.

True to his word, he worked tirelessly to promote his mission and in 1913, established a missionary hospital at

Lambaréné, Gabon (then French Equatorial Africa). Dr. Schweitzer was recognized with a Nobel Peace Prize in

1952. Schweitzer died at Lambaréné in 1965 at the age of 90. From www.SchweitzerFund.org

The BIG FIX Uganda’s education program

uses many different methods to

communicate the importance of caring for

our animals well. To the left is part of one

of our many murals re-enforcing the

knowledge that dogs need rabies

vaccinations to stay healthy.

IMPROVING HOSPITAL STANDARDS –

AND CREATING OPPORTUNITIES

During June, Dr. Benard Agwai (Senior Veterinary Doctor/Trustee) spent a full week

training our hospital and field teams to ensure that The BIG FIX Uganda’s Standard

Operating Procedures (SOPs) were being carried out well. This training included

everything from proper hand washing and drying (as shown below) to vet nurse duties fo

during surgical procedures and recordkeeping. The BIG FIX veterinary service SOPs

are 93 pages long and all staff working on the team must demonstrate knowledge and

competence before they are permitted to provide service to the animals.

Our Field Educators are all war trauma survivors who have graduated from The Comfort

Dog Project and shown exceptional devotion to and interest in helping animals in their

communities. By working at our field clinics, as mentors, as dog trainers, and

educators, these men and women have a chance to earn a small income to help support

themselves and their families. It is a win-win situation!

WHAT IS “THE COMFORT DOG PROJECT”?

In an area of extreme poverty and suffering, some people might wonder why The BIG

FIX Uganda is giving dogs to war trauma survivors and teaching them how to groom

and wash their dogs, and practice sit, stay, down, and come.

Based on the science proving the transformative power of the human-dog bond, The

Comfort Dog Project uses dog companionship as a key part of psycho-social

rehabilitation for people whose lives have been plagued by the disabling symptoms of

post-traumatic stress. Program participants have faced various horrific life experiences,

ranging from being abducted as a child, raped for years, forced to serve as a soldier, or

witnessing massacres of family members. Returning to “normal” after such experiences

is a difficult battle, even after the war has ended. Unfortunately, mental health services

are painfully lacking in this region, where professionals have estimated that up to 70% of

the population suffers from some type of trauma-related symptoms. These symptoms

(including nightmares, hypervigilance, anger, inability to trust others, flashbacks, and

efforts to escape through alcohol or drugs) prevent war trauma survivors from

functioning in society. Suicide rates in the region are high.

Individuals selected to become Comfort Dog guardians have already demonstrated

commitment to healing through attendance at our group counseling sessions for war

trauma survivors. Prospective Comfort Dog guardians must complete a dog guardian

education class, undergo home visits and family interviews, and sign a lifetime

commitment to a dog. Placement of the Comfort Dogs – themselves rescued from

difficult circumstances and rehabilitated to begin a new life – is enveloped with

mentorship and kinship from previous program graduates. A guardian coordinator

makes regular visits to the homes of each new guardian, ensuring that the dogs and

guardians are meshing well. At Saturday training classes, the new dog-guardian teams

learn to achieve all sorts of amazing things – walking well on a loose leash, sit, stay,

down, come – and work toward advanced maneuvers such as shaking hands, catching

a Frisbee, walking on a bench, or rolling over. Every week, there are lectures about dog

health and wellness, learning to advocate for animals, giving dog first aid, and

opportunities to groom, wash, trim toenails, and, most importantly, for the guardians to

sit quietly and pet their dogs. Individual and group counseling is offered by the project

manager, a community psychologist.

Over the course of 20 weeks, the dog-guardian teams not only are able to pass their

certification test, something more miraculous happens: their PTSD symptoms start to

disappear.

The 2018 class, graduating in September, will be the fifth to complete this program. The

past 4 classes have had 100% of participants graduate. Pre- and post-graduation

assessments of PTSD symptoms demonstrate that working with the dogs has a direct

impact on the severity of symptoms experienced by the guardians. Most of our 2015

graduates now have no symptoms of PTSD and are able to do something quite

unexpected: smile again. That’s dog love in action.

UPDATE FROM THE COMFORT DOG PROJECT Reducing war trauma through the healing power of the human-dog bond

Some of our current trainees in front of The BIG FIX Uganda’s training area.

There are two familiar canine faces amid the 2018 Comfort Dog Project graduating

class: Mario (now Watber) and Pancake (now Nimaro).

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Mario was certified as a Comfort Dog in 2016 and was raised from a puppy by his

former guardian. Unfortunately, difficult life circumstances took his guardian away and

Mario came to stay at The Big Fix. We had hoped that a reunion with his former

guardian would be possible, but after nearly a year, Mario deserved a new home.

Ognwen Bosco was paired with our wonderful bow-legged Mario and renamed him

“Watber” which means Whoever Talks Should Tell The Truth. The two are a perfect

match and both are doing well.

Our sweet little dog formerly known as

Pancake” (shown below with her signature

one ear up/one ear down look) came to The

BIG FIX as part of a litter of puppies

extremely ill with parvo virus. Most of the

puppies died, but Pancake and a sister

survived, along with their mother – now

Comfort Dog Gum who completed training

in January 2018.

Pancake warmed the hearts of our 2017

World Animal Day volunteer team as a

playful, energetic puppy.

Later, Pancake was placed in a foster home

with the plan that she would begin training

in April as a Comfort Dog. However, in

April after she saw American friends at The

Big Fix, she escaped from her foster home

and refused to leave. Upon investigation,

Pancake was removed from her foster,

pending placement as a Comfort Dog

trainee.

A committee of CDP graduates pairs every

new dog with every new guardian and the

committee, again, did an excellent job.

Adong Lucy was selected for Pancake

because she, like Pancake, was seen as

young and energetic. Pancake was named

Nimaro by Lucy, which means I Feel

Myself Being Loved Now Although I

Have Been Abandoned. That name says

it all.

ONE OF THE AMAZING PEOPLE

BEHIND THE SCENES AT THE BIG FIX

Meg Daley Olmert’s book Made for Each Other: The Biology of

the Human-Animal Bond culminates 30 years of research into

a conclusion many of us would not argue: animals, especially

dogs, make us feel better. This is the philosophy behind the

hugely successful Warrior Canine Connection program which

has paired dogs with American service members with PTSD.

When we first had the idea of using dogs to help war trauma

survivors in Northern Uganda, I thought, Why not consult with

the top person in this field, Meg Olmert? Imagine my surprise

when this incredibly talented, extremely busy phenom not only

talked to me, but helped to develop The Comfort Dog Project,

and even agreed to serve as our official project adviser!

From the very beginning, Meg Olmert has kept The Comfort Dog Project in her heart

and thoughts and has worked tirelessly to help the project succeed. Meg is one of our

silent heroes whose efforts have an impact greater than she will ever realize.

HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED

We sincerely appreciate cash donations, which allow us to purchase the supplies we

most critically need, and to pay our staff salaries in Uganda and other operating

expenses. However, there are many other ways you can help us. Here are just a few.

Collect dog collars for us. Dog collars improve the health and well-being of

dogs in the villages, where only chains, wire, and other unsafe materials are

available to tie or lead dogs.

Shop on Amazon Smile and list The BIG FIX as your organization to support.

And while you’re shopping, check out our WISH LIST on Amazon at

http://a.co/7bK2Kqr

Share this Update with others. Follow us on Facebook and share our posts.

Come visit us in Uganda! Plan to be part of a future volunteer team.

ANIMAL KINDNESS CLUBS MAKING AN IMPACT

Our Animal Kindness Clubs partnered with the Gulu District Police to make a number of

community presentations aimed at educating about the criminal penalties in Uganda for

crimes of animal neglect and acts of cruelty. Club members made drawings to illustrate

their points about the rights of animals and the presence of the police made an impact.

We face ongoing problems with dog poisonings in Uganda as well as incidents of

cruelty. Most people did not realize that such acts against animals were a crime and we

hope the number of cases in the future will be reduced as a result of this work.

Each term the Animal Kindness Clubs

program focuses on another key

issue, with the aim of transforming our

communities. This term, the aim is to

reduce incidents of animal cruelty.

Community attendance was high at

our July primary school debate

tournament in both the local language

and in English. The topic was

Resolved that those who commit acts

of animal cruelty should face

significant criminal penalties. The

debate tournament was judged by a

panel from the Northern Uganda

Debate Association and the finals of

the English debate will be held as part

of the World Animal Day activities on October 4.

Life in Uganda is difficult.

Dogs make it better.

Help us take care of them.

The BIG FIX Uganda is a project of Central Valley Coalition for Animals, an IRC

501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, tax ID # 30-0019352. The BIG FIX Uganda is

also registered as an International NGO in Uganda, registration number 0658.

In the U.S., donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

For more information, contact Sarah Schmidt, Project Coordinator, The BIG FIX

Uganda, 8927 Sherman Valley Rd SW, Olympia, WA 98512; e-mail:

SAS4dogs@outlook.com; telephone +1 (360) 259-9149.

A special THANK YOU to our monthly donors Kara Donahue, Chris Eckerle,

Kaitlyn Gagnon, Alexandra Gruskos, Erin Hoerig, Kelly Lyons, Posh Paws Petcare

(Bonnie Ladwig), Sharon Rickard, Alice Porter, and Casey Harrison!

We sincerely appreciate all who made donations to us in June and July 2018: Bonnie

Ladwig, Cindy Chang, Ket Mee, Greg Rodriguez, Cynthia Clark, Bobby Raiford

We are especially grateful to the sponsors of WORLD ANIMAL DAY 2018 in Uganda:

Allison and Chris Laurel, Guardian Animal Medical Center, Darla Reagin/Nexgard, John

Hinton, Andrea and Mike Kennedy/The Huut, Anonymous Donor in Northern California,

Paradise Ridge Pet Clinic, Posh Paws Pet Care, Carolyn Scotton, and Patterson Vet

Supply; and to our 2018 World Animal Day Volunteer Team, which will be arriving in

Uganda on September 26: Dr. MJ Wixsom, Dr. Ellie Newcomb, and Rhea John!

Sincere appreciation to those who donated critical supplies and equipment: Dr. Mariann

Regnier, Project V.E.T.S., Allison and Chris Laurel, Linda Chandler, Providence Health

International, and Dr. Andy Bidwell. Also to Ray and Joy Spragg for their work doing

supply inventories!

Thanks to those who volunteered their time and talent to help The BIG FIX: Allison

Laurel (Special Campaigns Coordinator), Kelly Lyons (Social Media Coordinator), and

Laura Baga (Fundraising/Promotion).

You are all part of The BIG FIX Team and we could not help the animals without

you.