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| Dr Adele Lloyd Dr Alex examining a patient at Uganda SPCA. |
Adele visited Uganda where her sister is a primatologist who has connections with the Ugandan Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (USPCA) and is
active within the local rural communities. Adele went to help in a behavioural
capacity with some locally rescued dogs as well as to volunteer at the USPCA.
Adele writes:
The USPCA is a non-profit animal
welfare organization. It is the only organization in the country with the goal
of promoting animal welfare through encouraging society to live up to its
responsibilities by assisting to achieve an improved level of animal care and
husbandry.
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| Dogs at the Uganda SPCA. |
Adele and her husband last visited
Uganda in 2008 where they helped in a veterinary and husbandry capacity at the
USPCA.
“It was fantastic seeing one of the animal carers, Remi, again who
remembered us being there 5 years ago. He especially remembered the work we did
helping a young, terrified Doberman who was rescued from a pit latrine (a ‘hole
in the ground’ long drop toilet) where he had been for many days. He was
incredibly underweight and terribly frightened of people. After an intensive
week of feeding up and gentle socialization, he was almost a different dog and
was adopted a week later, which was a great outcome and reward for us and the
staff at the USPCA.”
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| Dr Adele Lloyd and Remi anaesthetise a patient at the Uganda SPCA. |
Since Adele’s last visit, the
shelter has employed a new manager Alex who helps the new vet Dr Alex with
consults and surgery. It was great to see that the staff had further developed
their skills and focus towards the needs of the animals in their care. Remi was keen to learn from Adele with
regard to some tips on making the ‘catching’ part of their
“Catch-Neuter-Return” street dog program more humane.
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| Sharing skills can improve animal welfare. |
Adele took part in the spey and
neuter program at the USPCA as well as hosting a short workshop on dog behaviour
with the staff -
“I was just so pleased that the staff actually wanted to know
how to treat the dogs there better by understanding their behavioural needs
better.”
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| A patient at the Uganda SPCA. |
The USPCA is run on a shoestring so
any donations and help from vets as well as other volunteers are always very
welcome. If you need a good excuse to visit Africa then why not combine a
working holiday with seeing the amazing wildlife and scenery of Uganda. Having
been there three times now and also having a sister who has lived there for
16 years, Adele is happy to give volunteer information as well as details on
where the best places are to visit and stay: adele.lloyd@sentient.org.au.
