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8- The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday January 23, 2008 www.oakvillebeaver.com Mukisa has overcome many obstacles to remain with owner Continued from page 1 Canada's lead agency for development assistance. During that period, Didyk's work focused on elevating the status of women in the country by raising their profile in areas of decision making and generating income. As this was a big enough task to deal with, the fate of Uganda's many homeless dogs was not on her mind, and with millions of Ugandans living in severe poverty, caring for these dogs is also not a top priority of the Ugandan government. "Usually you see these dogs everywhere," said Didyk. "Being an animal lover from Canada, you really have to develop a thick skin and turn a bit of a blind eye." However, one day was different. Didyk had been walking the streets of Uganda's capital, Kampala, heading home, when she came upon a group of children surrounding a box. "They were throwing stuff into this box and I said in the local language slang. `What's up? What are you doing?' and they said, `There's a dog there.' I walked over and I looked and sure enough these little kids were throwing stones and hitting this puppy with a stick." Didyk waved the children away from the box, but as she began to walk away she quickly realized she was being followed. CARRIERS WANTED The Oakville Beaver The Oakville Beaver is looking for newspaper carriers in your neighbour hood! Support your local carrier "This dog just jumped out of the box and ran right over to me and I was thinking, `Oh God, I can't take this dog. I have my own life and I have things to do,'" she said. Again Didyk walked away, but the puppy persisted. "She followed me a good 10 feet, this little puppy. She followed me and followed me until I scooped her up and I looked at her and she licked my face," she said. "I grabbed her, hopped on a motorbike and went home and I said to her, `You're with me. For the next year and a half that I'm here we're going to be together.'" Didyk quickly named the dog Mukisa, which, although technically a boy's name, Didyk felt was appropriate -- in Uganda the name means good luck and is often given to baby boys who survived complications at birth. Known as an African street dog or African mutt, Didyk said, Mukisa's breed is renowned for their ability to adapt, their energy, agility and their fierce loyalty to their masters. "I found that to be quite true with Mukisa," said Didyk. "Through that year I had her, she rarely left my side and she really was the guard for our house. Anyone who intruded, she would let me know right away." Even as the bond between master and dog continued to grow, Didyk knew the day would come when the good times had to end and she would have to return to Canada without Mukisa. When Didyk's departure date finally did arrive, she placed Mukisa with owners she believed would take good care of her and said a tearful goodbye. Fate, however, would bring the two back together only a few months later. "I had gone to South Africa to work and I found out that she had disappeared," said Didyk. "She had run out of the gate, presumably to find me, and no one could find her. I was completely distraught and this is where I really decided that I was going to bring her back. I couldn't stand hearing that she'd disappeared." Over the next four months, while Didyk worked in South Africa, a network of friends searched and made inquiries about Mukisa. Despite many initial false leads Mukisa was eventually found, still in the same area she had been living with Didyk. "Many of the locals had remembered her as my dog," said Didyk. "They were taking care of her while she was on the street. They were actually feeding her and taking care of her as best as they could. That was really touching to hear." With the search for Mukisa over, Didyk began the painstaking task of bringing her to Canada, See Dog page 10 KEEPING SENIORS INFORMED OPEN HOUSE Join our carrier club Earn extra money and win prizes Many routes still available Call immediately for more information TM 905-845-9742 Vision ­ To be the most livable town in Canada JOIN A TOWN OF OAKVILLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE Mayor Rob Burton and Oakville Town Council invite and encourage you to apply to serve on a Town Committee and help make Oakville the most livable town in Canada. Currently, there are vacancies on the following Board or advisory committee: · Oakville Public Library Board (1 position available) · Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee (1 position available) Further details, committee descriptions and application forms are available on the Town's website at www.oakville.ca/advisory.asp or from the Clerk's Department at Oakville Town Hall, 1225 Trafalgar Road. We welcome all interested Oakville property owners and residents, 18 years of age or older to complete and submit an application form either online at www.oakville.ca/advisory.asp or to the Clerk's Department, in person or by mail, Town of Oakville, 1225 Trafalgar Road, Oakville, ON L6J 5A6. All application forms must be received by the Clerk's Department by Friday, January 25, 2008. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that the Clerk's Department has received their application. Town Council will appoint qualified candidates for citizen vacancies based on the recommendations of the Striking Committee. Please note that all applicants will be notified of the final determination of their application by mail. For more information about the appointment procedure, please call Colleen Tino, Clerk's Department at 905-845-6601 ext. 3136, or email ctino@oakville.ca. Volunteer ­ you can make a difference