Page 26 - July - Sept 2023 Edition

CANINE ASSOCIATION UGANDA

By Nada Andersen (Chairman)

The winners of the German Shepherd Specialty Show 2023 with
FCI judge Gabriel Stibel from Macedonia

There is no better and more loyal companion than a dog. Dogs wake up
every day with a single thought: how do I make my owner happy today?
Sometimes they show more humanity than people. They act as service dogs,
guard dogs, provide emotional support, or simply live with us as family
members. Many people in Uganda keep their dogs locked up during the day,
not realising they are missing out on so much fun and bonding. Dogs deserve
to be a part of our lives, to bring fun and joy to families, and to perform their
duties while enjoying the Five Freedoms of Animal Welfare: freedom from
hunger and thirst, freedom from discomfort, freedom from pain, injury, or
disease; freedom from fear and distress, and freedom to express natural
behaviour.

A group of dog lovers and enthusiasts formed the Canine Association Uganda
in January 2021. CAU is an association of kennels and clubs with the mission
to protect the Five Animal Freedoms and promote the responsible keeping of
purebred dogs. CAU follows the principles and rules of FCI (Federation
Cinologique Internationale) and is taking Uganda on the journey to becoming
an FCI member. On this journey, CAU is mentored by the Kennel Association
of the Republic of Macedonia, who are keenly assisting us with knowledge
and guidance on managing the national purebred registry and national
microchip database, organising training seminars for dog judges and national
dog shows that meet the FCI standards.
CAU registry currently has 26 different breeds. Our robust microchip data-
base serves as the dog identity and ownership database in case of loss or
theft. We assist dog owners with advice and support with the import and
export of dogs, finding the right mate for breeding, and finding suitable dogs
for new owners. Registration of pedigree dogs is free, so I encourage dog
owners to reach out and register their dogs with CAU and join in showing

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