about us
Who We Are
We are a powerhouse team of passionate artisans and animal lovers who want to support a greater mission for healthy, positive development in this picturesque country of Uganda.
Uganda is home to a culturally rich, remarkably friendly, hard-working and creative society of nearly 50 million people. Collectively, the founders of Uniquely Paws have lived, worked and volunteered at the USPCA in Uganda for nearly 15 years. Our mission is to create opportunities for growth through sustainable initiatives. Uniquely Paws features a model that we believe can be implemented anywhere in the world to create lasting impact
What We Do
At Uniquely Paws, our programs are a blend of creativity, compassion, and community impact. We are a movement dedicated to shaping a safer and brighter world for animals and the communities they inhabit. We achieve this through a multifaceted approach.
Central to our initiative is our free, community spay/neuter, vaccination, and education clinics. We actively address the challenge of stray animal populations by sponsoring 500+ annual spay/neuter procedures. By curbing the cycle of overpopulation, we create safer environments for both humans and animals, aligning with our overarching goal of building rabies-free communities by putting fewer animals into the population.
Uganda has a mandate for Rabies Free by 2030, and we are doing what we can to support that program with clinics to reach over 5000+ animals. Uniquely Paws is not just a conduit for change; it is a testament to the profound impact that a community-driven, compassionate approach to animal welfare can have on the world.
The Yellow Collar Initiative, the creation of handmade yellow collars, each uniquely numbered, symbolizes an animal with a rabies vaccination. These collars, provided at our free, community clinics, not only protect pets from abuse from a fearful public, but also empower women through sustainable livelihoods, as they play an integral role in their crafting. We believe that by fostering economic empowerment among women, we contribute to the overall well-being of communities.
In tandem with our collar initiative, we educate the next generation through Pet Care Coloring Books, reaching 5000 children annually with essential lessons on responsible pet ownership. These educational materials not only nurture a love for animals but also instill lifelong values of compassion and empathy.
Moreover, we could not do any of this without the support of our teams. Our Leaders do just that…lead our on-the-ground teams and encourage our donors to help us with our mission. Our Coalition Team leads our events with their expertise, and our Women’s Collectives hand make every item we sell to help us fund this program. We could not do it without all of them.
Our Mission
“Empower lives, foster compassion, and build a safer world for all through innovative One Health solutions in animal welfare and community enrichment”
One community at a time, together with local governments, local volunteers, local veterinarians, and donors, and with the cries for help from our stray and rescued paws, our ultimate goal is to reduce the number of stray animals, eliminating the need for mass euthanasia by authorities, which leaves dead and diseased animals on our streets leading to vermin and other problems, while improving the health and welfare of community dogs, cats, and humans.
Paws Community Clinic 2022
Our Vision
Our vision is to no longer need animal shelters as every animal born will have a home.
It might be a pipe dream, but it’s what drives us. We believe our grassroots, innovative, and sustainable model is adaptable to all countries, and we will proudly offer consultation services for rescue missions around the globe. Our greatest hope is that countries around the world will be able to self-manage animal control without our help, within the next generation. Uniquely Paws: One Community at a Time, One Country at a Time, One Health.
Our Impact
Since our inaugural year in late 2022, Uniquely Paws, in partnership with dedicated collaborators, has achieved remarkable milestones. In total, we have served 2516 pets and performed 406 surgeries.
On World Rabies Day 2023, we provided essential rabies vaccinations to over 802 cats and dogs, a significant step in safeguarding these animals from this lethal disease.
With only few months of 2024 behind us, we have already served 331 animals and performed 76 surgeries, and have 3 more clinics planned for March 2024, with a major World Veterinary Day event in April 2024 in multiple districts throughout Uganda.
Our services included not only rabies vaccinations but also comprehensive care, including de-worming, tick and flea treatment, and minor treatments. In some cases, we also encounter dogs with serious venereal disease issues, so the vets will also treat these for free for the owners.
These endeavors exemplify our commitment to enhancing the well-being of the animal population in Uganda, furthering our mission to make a lasting, positive impact on their lives.
Pets immunized
0
Spayed & neutered
0
Our Passionate Leaders
Sue Williams
Co-founder and President Sue Williams, currently in the USA, fell in love with Uganda during her internship while pursuing her master’s in International Affairs. Her work focuses on women, children, and animals worldwide, with a hope to make Uganda her permanent home in the future.
Meg Jaquay
Co-founder and Secretary Meg Jaquay, living in Kampala, Uganda for 11 years, actively engages in local business and social impact efforts. She’s a passionate animal lover who has rescued over 200 puppies and kittens, and she’s a foster parent to 8 animals. Meg’s support for women’s initiatives and animal welfare aligns with our mission.
Our Coalition Team
Uganda Society For The Protection And Care Of Animals (USPCA)
The USPCA in Uganda, active for 25 years, is building a new rescue center. They’ve saved, cared for, and rehomed thousands of animals, and aim to expand their impact. Known for educating children, they’ll now reach entire communities for a brighter future. Your support makes a difference.
Makerere University College of Veterinary Medicine Students
Vet Students in training come to our clinics to provide vaccines, assist in spay and neutering procedures, and offer basic care to injured or sick animals. They are unpaid volunteers, and your contributions enable us to express our gratitude by providing a free lunch and transportation for these animal-loving heroes.
Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) District Veterinary Officer (DVO)
KCCA DVO is dedicated to promoting human animal population control and safeguarding the well-being of pets in communities through laws and enforcement. But they can’t do it alone. With the support of our Coalition partners and Uniquely Paws, we can work together to create healthier communities throughout Kampala with our free community clinics so they do not have to resort to mass euthanasia.
VetConekt
We are a consortium of professionals advocating for transformative compassionate and comprehensive care of animals in communities and beyond, through research, training and advocacy. Our work includes animal welfare centred free community animal clinics, community and school outreaches, research, CPD for professionals, and trainings. We vision to create a world where all animals live healthier and have a better quality of life.
Bam Animal Clinic
Bam Animal Clinics is an animal welfare/health charity organization in Uganda, founded in August 2009 . It was birthed out of love and concern for pets living in the hands of cruel “masters”, those that had no homes and spent their entire lifetime on the streets, scratching through the garbage for a bone and also the concern about the lives of other domestic animals living in poor conditions. We are located in Eastern Uganda Iganga District, Nakavule Village. www.bamanimalclinics.net
Makerere University College of Veterinary Medicine Students
Vet Students in training come to our clinics to provide vaccines, assist in spay and neutering procedures, and offer basic care to injured or sick animals. They are unpaid volunteers, and your contributions enable us to express our gratitude by providing a free lunch and transportation for these animal-loving heroes.
VetConekt
We are a consortium of professionals advocating for transformative compassionate and comprehensive care of animals in communities and beyond, through research, training and advocacy. Our work includes animal welfare centred free community animal clinics, community and school outreaches, research, CPD for professionals, and trainings. We vision to create a world where all animals live healthier and have a better quality of life.
Our Women’s Collectives
Women Integrated Empowerment Development (WIED)
We met Dorothy Wakabi from WIED at a craft market several years ago. Their specialty is using sustainably harvested cow horns and reshaping them, polishing them, and creating beautiful jewelry, ornaments, magnets, and key chains. We asked them to produce our animal-themed ornaments, magnets and keychains, and they came through like champions producing frenchies, labradors, poodles, great danes, and so many more you can find in our shop.
Their mission is to help women in their community fight off poverty, ignorance, and diseases using community empowerment to create sustainable livelihoods, and to restore their spiritual and moral strength. We unfortunately lost Dorothy in 2021, but I am sure she is looking down on us, proud of her team for taking on something new, and for the work we are doing with our mission to support women and the communities we live in.
Ekibbo Uganda
This team of women are passionate about protecting the environment. They collect plastic carrier bags, wash and disinfect them, and present these beautiful paw print bath mats.
Ekibbo Uganda is dedicated to the economic and social upliftment of women in marginalised rural and slum communities.Our mission is to provide these women with skills,opportunities,and support they need to break the cycle of poverty through the creation and sale of handcrafted goods. We aim to foster self-reliance, dignity and gender equality while preserving the environment and promoting traditional crafts.
Beauty for Ashes Womens Collective
We met Caroline Wanyana Okurut, founder of Beauty for Ashes, a few years ago at a local market. Impressed by her handmade quilling items, she joined our team to create animal-themed ornaments. She leads a team of women and girls facing various challenges, teaching them to craft these unique items. Together, they embody the spirit of “beauty from ashes.” Their work is a blessing to our team, and we’re grateful for their contributions.
Sarabi Fabs
The women from Leopards Branch are instrumental in creating our yellow collars, locally made in Uganda. As with so many women’s collectives, their goal is to raise women out of poverty and into independence in order to be able to support their children.
DONATE!
Your donations are an integral part of our vision. Your contributions fund clinics, help us to implement community educational events and provide food and transport for our tireless volunteers. Most importantly, we hope to put our PawsMobile, mobile veterinary clinic on the road within the next few years! With your investment in us, we will be able to realize our goals. Does your employer have a matching donation program or Corporate Social Responsibility team? If so, please get them involved!