Francis Okello Oloya, the Executive Director Big Fix Uganda told URN on Tuesday that the Centre will pick stray dogs from the streets, treat, vaccinate and offer them for adoption if their owners don’t reclaim them.
Gulu City
has received its first Dog Rescue Centre thanks to Big Fix Uganda. The Centre
that is valued at Shillings 85 million was built with funding from the American
People and is found in Pece Acoyo in Pece-Laroo Division South East of Gulu
City.
It will be
home to hundreds of stray and abandoned dogs within Gulu City. It has a
rescue section for stray dogs, paid for lodging facility for dogs, treatment
and care centers, therapeutic playgrounds, laboratory and pets` information
Centre.
Francis Okello Oloya, the Executive Director Big Fix Uganda told URN on Tuesday
that the Centre will pick stray dogs from the streets, treat, vaccinate and
offer them for adoption if their owners don’t reclaim them.
//Cue in: ‘’There are some…
Cue out: …someone to adopt.’’/
Okello explained that several stray dogs in Gulu and parts of Acholi sub-region
are being killed mercilessly by people throw poisoning or beating whenever they
are spotted roaming the streets, which prompted them to establish the Centre.
He disclosed
that there are more than 100 dogs that are roaming the streets of Gulu City due
to something, he described as poor management by dogs’ owners. According to
Okello, the Centre has twelve rooms with beddings and treatment facilities
managed by a team of experts on canine welfare. He explained that lodging
for dogs will cost Shillings 10,000 per day.
Santos Okot Lapolo, the Gulu Resident District Commissioner, says the Centre
has been established at the right time when Gulu City is struggling with dozens
of stray dogs in its streets. Alfred Kinyera, the Senior Kitgum District
Veterinary Officer, says the center will address the growing problems that dogs
are facing across Acholi Sub-region due to poor management by their owners.
Martin
Opiyo, a businessman in Gulu noted that they will greatly be relieved since
stray dogs had become a nuisance within Gulu City. Big Fix Uganda is an
international Non-Governmental Organization that promotes the welfare of dogs
and cats.
Emmy Daniel Ojara is a young journalist and has been practicing since 2013, during which he covered land rights violation in the contested Apaa and Lakang in Amuru as his first take ups while at Gulu Fm, Favor Fm and later Paidha Fm and Speak Fm where he is still attached.
Human rights abuses and denied access to land by security and government agencies has been the major aftermath of the contest over the lands. The underprivileged such as women, children and the elderly faced challenges in accessing soc
