The Big Fix

The Comfort Dog Project provided ongoing supportive services to over 100 dogs and guardians in the program; paired 12 new rescue dogs with war trauma survivors and supported through training 3 returning guardians and graduated 100% from the 20-week long dog training and bonding program; held "The Great Dog Guardian Games" which showcased dog training and positive human-animal interactions; held 48 meetings for program guardians which included group counseling and vet checks for project dogs; provided 100 individual counseling sessions for program guardians, provided free veterinary services for all project dogs, including hospitalization of 36 dogs; made 478 phone calls and 64 home checks to follow up on project participants; held 60 group counseling sessions for war trauma survivors which were each attended by an average of 18 people. The Comfort Dog Project graduates also entirely staffed The BIG FIX Uganda's Animal Welfare Team, which: responded to 12 major calls for multiple dogs in need of rescue, placed 57 dogs and cats into new adoptive homes after conducting home checks; followed up in adoptions with 576 phone calls and home visits; cared for a total of 362 dogs during the year; maintained permanent foster homes for 2 paralyzed dogs; provided 10,529 dog walks, and bathed 251 dogs at the hospital.

Our school education team included our education manager, the Principle Education Officer for Gulu City, the Lead Canine Officer with Gulu Police Department and three dogs and guardians from The Comfort Dog Project. The education team visited 22 schools, reaching 16,121 students and their teachers and provided information about The Five Animal Freedoms, animal health, rabies prevention, Uganda's anti-cruelty laws, how to communicate with and train dogs, and the health benefits of having dogs as friends. 13,617 copies of "The Great Dog Guardian Book" were distributed. With a talented local artist, our Art for Animals program created 12 school murals depicting positive interactions between children and dogs. We produced 23 radio talk shows on MEGA FM and Favour FM about animal health and welfare, laws protecting animals, rabies, the healing power of human-animal bonds, and other timely veterinary issues.