Thursday, April 30, 2020

Cuba Travel Network - A Victim of COVID19


It was with much sadness we learned of 
ceasing operations.
Last week the announcement was made on their website.
"Dear Customer 
As a result of the devastating effects of the coronavirus crisis, we regret to inform you that after 18 years Cuba Travel Network is no longer in business."

How Sad!
Eddie and CTN were the first "corporate" supporters of the 
Spanky Project. 
On occasion they provided free or discounted accommodations to our veterinary team.
They made us an "affiliate". Travel, accommodations or car rentals booked with CTN though the Spanky Project website or blog saw a small "commission" come back to us.

Eddie also visited our campañas.
Check out our blog post from the day they visited

Below is their recollection of the visit as published on 

Terry Shewchuk and his team of Canadian veterinarians, extend a paw to the dogs and cats of Havana, Cuba who cannot afford proper healthcare.

The Spanky Project was initiated in 2003, the year when Terry visited Cuba for the second time and his beloved mutt Spanky died. These two events prompted Terry to do something for the Havana mutts. He named his initiative “the Spanky Project”. In recent years cats and other domestic animals have been welcomed to take advantage of the free medical attention.

It needs to be said that Cubans love their domestic animals and happily drum up some patience for a stray dog that deems the middle of a busy road as the ideal place for a siesta. Fact is that parasite treatments, sterilization and preventive care are costly and veterinarian medicines are scares if not non-existent.

Over the last nine years, the Spanky Project has treated thousands of animals, both that live on the streets or with their owners. The initiative has developed into an official international collaboration between the Spanky Project and the various veterinarian organizations in Cuba including the veterinarian clinics of Havana.

I decide to go and visit Terry at the Clinica Veterenaria Laika in Old Havana and cannot believe my eyes. In a room of roughly 4x5 meters, the Spanky team managed to put up 3 improvised operating tables. I count at least 20 bodies in the crammed quarters, but no one seems to care. The Canadian surgeons are working closely together with their Cuban counterparts, demonstrating new techniques and fully incorporating freshly graduated Cuban vets who are introduced to new generations of medicines and anesthetics in the process.

I realize that this professional interaction is what makes the Spanky Project really shine. Terry tells me that soon he plans to move on to other Cuban cities, knowing that the medical supplies he will keep on sending to the various Havana clinics will be put to excellent use.

During my short visit I witness the sterilization of one dog and six cats and cannot help to ask wonder if Spanky would approve of all this loving attention to his natural adversary. Terry assures me Spanky would have been fine with it, after all, the fewer cats she would have to worry about, the better.

The 85 kilos of medicine that Terry and his team brought with them were paid for by donations from individuals. The Canadian team paid for their own passage on Cubana Airlines. Cuba Travel Network provided free accommodation for Terry while in Havana.

For more information on the Spanky Project, please visit spankyproject.org.


Thank you Eddie and CTN!
We hope to see Cuba Travel Network rise again when Cuba opens the border.

With the lose of affiliate commissions from CTN your support is crucial in these times.
If you are able and if you can please....
Donate Now Through CanadaHelps.org!

Monday, April 20, 2020

Isolating and Donating

              Greetings All,
The last months have been very hard for the whole world.
I hope you and yours are well.  
Isolation may be a bore but physical interaction is a danger.
Be careful..
As you know the Spanky Project have been at the forefront of 
humane population control of cats and dogs in Havana, Cuba. 
With the onset of COVID 19 the pause button has been pushed.

We are still looking forward to the resumption of campañas in 
Havana and Trinidad to round out 2020. 
With this time of isolation you may find 
you have some new found savings. 
It's been 15 years since we have seen prices like this

It would be so very supportive for our work to have additional perpetual monthly donors.
Please consider if you are able to manage a monthly donation of $5 or $10 dollars.
Over a 12 months that would equate into 2 or 4 sterilizations. And the benefit is exponential having another two or four sterile cats/dogs in the community.

If you have been thinking about helping Cuba's animals and would like to become a $5 or $10 monthly sponsor, click here  and choose the "Donate Monthly" option.

In just a few minutes, you can make a difference supporting the Spanky Project
Make the donation that fits your needs.
Your scheduled monthly donations will help both you and Spanky Project plan ahead. 

If you would like to dedicate your donation,  an e-card can be sent to announce your gift.
Pay for your donation using your credit card or PayPal account.
You will receive an instant tax receipt.

Your tax receipts will also be store in your Canada Helps account for use come tax time. 
Start a fundraiser
It’s great for donors like you:
Save time and protect your budget: Pick an affordable amount each month and it’s automatically donated on your behalf.
Stay in control: Create, modify, or even cancel a gift online, anytime.
Make tax time easier: Receive one tax receipt at the end of the year for all CanadaHelps donations.
Feel good: Once your donation is set, you can feel good knowing you’re making a difference every month.

And it’s even better for the Spanky Project:
Easier planning: Reliable monthly income makes it easier to plan ahead.
Better budgeting: We can easily budget for their most important programs.
Less costly: We can reduce administration costs related to payment processing and tax receipting
Increased Focus: We can worry more about the important work and less about fundraising.

Schedule a gift today and make an impact every month.Donate Now Through CanadaHelps.org!

Wednesday, April 1, 2020

We Can't Stop Now...

Our goal for 2020 was and continues to be 1000 sterilizations.
February saw us perform 522 sterilizations in Havana.
That leaves us to complete another 478 to meet our goal of 1000.
Havana and Trinidad are planned for the next two campañas.
Right now, you are the best chance we have at making our September campaña happen! 

Please do your part to follow physical distancing measures and WASH your HANDS!
Wear a mask!

NOW is our time to stop the spread.. where ever you are.
We are confident our September and December campañas will
 be a go…
if we all take measure now to stop the spread of this virus.
... Cuba's animals still need your help!
Donate Now Through CanadaHelps.org!