Tuesday, December 21, 2010

VetTrek - Day 1

Our first day was one of "greetings & orientation"

After a roof top breakfast at our hotel we were off to our first official event.

We delivered over $7,000 worth of supplies to our sponsoring Cuban counterpart -
Society for Heritage, Community and the Environment (SPCMA)
Sociedad Patrimonio, Comunidad y Medio Ambiente
Pictured from let to right ...
Ana Lourdes Sotto - Directora Ejecutiva
Ulice Acosta Llanes -Especialista Principal en Cooperación Internacional
Fernando Gispert, DMV - Veterinarian Laika Clinic
Susana Hurlich the Spanky Project's Havana Coordinator and translator

SPCMA is a Cuban not for profit organization that concerns itself with “the preservation, rehabilitation, management, development and promotion of the historical, architectural and cultural heritage of the City of Havana, and in the community and environmental issues that affect the City.”


After introductions and welcoming words it was down to the paperwork.
All the supplies we brought to Cuba were documented for importation and now were signed over to SPCMA for use during our visit and into the future.

After our morning event we walked to the nearby
Jarden del Oriente.
(Amargura No. 12, e/ Mercaderes y Oficio)
This shaded courtyard eatery is few steps from Plaza de San Francisco de Asis.


It has been a favourite of mine for simple, well-priced meals.

As you can see, this eatery is frequented by a number of cats.
The Spanky Project has put forth the prospect of implementing the Cat Café
concept at Jardin del Oriente.

After lunch we strolled to Clinica Veterinaria Laika.
It is located near the train station on the western edge of La Habana Vieja
Out front was a gentleman with his goat that was suffering from a skin condition.
Clinica Laika is a full service veterinary location.
Dr.Gispert explained the work that is being done in the clinic and with the
community outreach programs.
One program is the "Comisión de esterilización".
I will expand on this later but in short, they are reducing the number of strays in
La Habana Vieja.
The clinic is open seven days a week to serve the community.
The two veterinarians, along with the technicians, do great work with limited resources.

This was an event filled week.

Coming soon-
Day 2 - San Miguel de Pedron - sterilization campaña
Finca Vigia / Museo Hemingway

Day 3 - First Annual Cuba Canada Veterinarians Day
Conference at Consejo Cientifico Veterinario de Cuba
Visit to Clinic Veterinaria José Luis Callejas
Visit to Quinta de los Molinos
Day 4 - Presentation of SPCMA programs
Day 5 - La Habana Vieja sterilization campaign
Day 6 - Early morning workshop with Cochero's and their carriage horses

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

On The Air



The video is on the net. Check it out while you can.
Dr.Michael Belovich appears on Animal House Calls. The link is to Toronto's CP24.
Click here and then select Dec 7 Part 3
Dr.Belovich speaks of his recent trip to Havana with the
Spanky Project.
I am not sure how long it will be up - so please take a moment and have a look.


Monday, December 6, 2010

We're back.

On November 29th, the Spanky Project embarked on a one week VetTrek to Havana, Cuba.

We arrived to learn ...

... and to teach.

Most of all, we arrived to help Cubans help their animals.

Dr. Linda Pallett

Dr.Michele Traver

Dr.Michael Belovich



We attended to dogs ...

.... cats ...

... and horses.

We visited and worked in veterinary clinics ...


...as well as in the streets.

Even though we worked hard, we also managed to have some fun.

Please come back as we share our visit.

Sunday, October 31, 2010

More Than Tourists.



It's official ..... let the packing begin.


We now have our Cuban visas in hand.
This piece of paper permits us to do more than tan, dance and drink rum.

But along with the visa comes other responsibilities.
Like documenting supplies for Customs/Aduana preapproval.
When are bringing purchased supplies totaling over $2800.oo and donations in kind of over $3600.00.



A big thank you goes out to Ethicon and Codman, both members of the Johnson & Johnson Family of companies.
Their generous donation of suture material and surgical instruments will be a huge boost to the Spanky Project's work in Havana.

Also a big thank you to those that have made donations here by PayPal or through the Cuba Canada Friendship Association/Mackenzie-Papineau Memorial Fund.

One of the three veterinarians on this trip will be Dr.Michael Belovich,
practice owner /veterinarian of the
Yonge Street Animal Hospital
in Toronto.
If Dr.B's name sounds familiar perhaps it may be because you watch Animals House Calls.
He is a frequent guest on the Animal Planet show hosted by Ann Rohmer.


This is going to be a great trip !!

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Wishlist Wednesday

Before I present this "Wish List Wednesday" ...

The Spanky Project is please to announce a wonderful collaboration.
Sociedad Patrimonio Comunidad y Medio Ambiente (SPCMA), Laika Veterinary Clinic -Habana Vieja and the Spanky Project will work together to provide 100 free spay/neuters in Old Havana.

On November 28th the Spanky Project, headed by Terry Shewchuk, and three Canadian Veterinarians will arrive in Havana for a one week stay.
During this week the Canadian and Cuban veterinarians will work side by side and have practical and theoretical exchanges.

On this trip the main course will be canines and felines with a side of equine evaluation.
The trip will culminate with the spay/neuter of 25 dogs which were previously rescued from the streets of Old Havana.

The rescue of strays is an ongoing program which I will expand upon in another posting.

In addition to our delivery of the supplies for 100 sterilizations we will bring meds and instruments for use in local veterinary clinics.


In February we will again travel to Havana where that week's work will wrap up with a 50 spay / neuter day. If you are in the veterinary field we are welcoming expressions of interest for February.

Email me

Should you care to contribute by delivering supplies to Havana I have provide the Wishlist Wednesday list below.





SURGICAL MATERIAL:
Surgical gloves #8
Surgical gloves #7
Surgical gloves #6

Syringes without needles 20ml
Syringes without needles 10ml
Syringes without needles 5 ml
Syringes without needles 1 ml
Needles 20 gauge
Needles 25 gauge

Scalpel blades # 22
Scalpel blades# 12

Suture Catgut Nº 2
Suture Catgut Nº 1
Suture Catgut Nº 0
Suture Catgut Nº 1-0
Suture Catgut Nº 2-0

Gauze (pads various sizes, rolls)
Medical Cottons (Eye pads, Rolls, Swabs, Balls etc)


DESINFECTANTES:
Virkon S (Bayer)
Fenol

ANTISEPTICS:
Alcohol 90º
Alcohol 70º
Chlorhexidine–alcohol scrub
Povidone–iodine

ANTIBIOTICS:
Erythromycin 100mL
Oxytetracycline 100mL
Penicillin 100mL
Gentamicin 100mL


VITAMINS / BIOESTIMULANTES:
Yatrén Caseína (100ml) BAYER
Vigantol A-D-E (100ml) BAYER
Catosal B12 (100ml) BAYER
Calfón BAYER


Mineral oil
Hairball remedy
Collars leashes

Put to good use your outdated dust collecting electronics ...
2GB or higher USB Flash Drives
Digital cameras
Laptops

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Fiesta en Toronto !!



If you live in the GTA or can make it in for the day come and enjoy a touch of Cuba.

Salsa in the City Square

15th Annual Toronto-Cuba Friendship Day

Saturday, August 28, 2010 - 1 pm to 8 pm
Cuba Sí! Experience the Friendship!


FREE Admission

Nathan Phillips Square, Toronto City Hall
100 Queen Street West at Bay
Three Cuban bands:
Yani Borrell y los Clave Kings
Sonido Cubano
Pablo Terry & Sol de Cuba

Beer Garden, Cuban Food
Free Salsa lessons Display and Info tables


ALL WELCOME

Organized by Canadian-Cuban Friendship Association Toronto
www.ccfatoronto.ca

If you will be in attendance and I would be happy to collect donations for the work in Havana.
flea & tick prevention
de-wormers
collars leashes
grooming tools
surgical and exam gloves

Look for Skeeter ...
... the white dog with one black ear and you will find me.

If you can't find Skeeter or me (Terry) you can drop your donation at the CCFA-Toronto booth located next to the stage.

Should you care to make a monetary donation and receive a tax receipt ...
Bring your cheque payable to:

Mackenzie-Papineau Memorial Fund

Write on the cheque "Las Mascotas"
Name and address (& tel if possible) of the donor for the tax receipt.

Cheques can also be mailed to:

Mackenzie-Papineau Memorial Fund
Att: S. Skup
56 Riverwood Terrace
Bolton ON L7E 1S4

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Save A Life ...

Havana is begging for help !!!

These little pests are killing dogs.
The occurrences of the tick borne disease ehrlichiosis seem to be at an increased level this year.
Given the prevalence of the disease in ticks - the absence of tick prevention -
and the lack of available diagnostic testing - all result in a deadly problem.

The Cuban drug of choice for treating this disease is oxytetracycline.
Other antibiotics of use are tetracycline or doxycycline.
You can help !!
For those of you in Ontario, Canada TSC Stores are a source for Oxytetracycline.
Here is their store locator.
Other sources in Canada would be Co-Op and other farm supply stores.

In the USA, online sources include Amazon the Cattle Store and the Tractor Supply Company.

Of course, prevention is the best remedy.
Tick collars, sprays, dips and drops are in great need.

If you will be in Havana in the very near future please lend a paw and save a life.

I will provide drop off locations upon request.