VetTrek - Day 6

Saturday December 5, 2010

Located on the edge of Habana Vieja, in the Tallapiedra district, is the
Cochera Equina (Equine Garage).

The horses and coachmen of Habana Vieja begin their days here...
receiving assignments and purchasing feed .

This is an area that tourists seldom see.

This was the final "working" day of our visit.
Dr.Travers put into practice theoretical presentations given a few days earlier at the
first Cuba Canada Veterinarian's Day.
Lameness tests, hoof tests, wormings and more.

Photo:Susan Hurlich
And boy was there more.
Dr. Carlos Yrurzun proves he knows his horses ...nose to tail.

Dr.Travers with members of the Agrarian University Faculty.

Ezequiel Palacios Coto the cochero of carriage 52 was very appreciative of our visit.
He invited us to join him and his horse for a complementary tour of Habana Vieja.

But first a visit with John Lennon

and a check up for Susana's cats.

The check ups included physicals, vaccinations, nail trimming, ear cleaning and the application of an anti-parasitic.
Susana and Gladys are both great cat lovers.
I have to be sure their kitties are healthy before I can ask them to help others.

We arrived at the Capitolio at the appointed time for our tour.
Again with Ivomec at the ready we manage to fill an some idle moments deworming coach horses.

Should you find yourself in front of the Capitolio thinking of taking a coach tour
look for Ezequiel and CP52.
He cares for and loves his horses. They are in very good condition.
Say Hola from Terry and the Spanky Project.

I am please to confirm there will be a second annual
Cuba Canada Veterinary Day.
The Consejo Cientifico Veternary de Cuba has set the date for
December 1, 2011.
This will be the highlight of a week full of collaborations.


Click on the envelope to send a message - you would be interested in participating..

VetTrek - Day 5

Friday December 4, 2010

It's
Esterilización Masiva Gratuita
Day
in La Habana Vieja

Photo:Susana
They came early.
Some walked. Others came via Bici Taxi.
Photo:Susana
All were registered, weighed ...
... and prepped.
Clinic Laika is not large.

But the space was maximized.
Five doctors could be working at one time.

As was her custom on this trip, Dr.Travers picked her table and got down to work.

Havana Television was on site documenting the day.

The final surgery of the day was performed by Dr.Belovich.
Note he is doing a "Flank Spay"
under the direction of a top Cuban surgeon.

Despite the seriousness of the work, these campaigns are a fun event
for those donating their time.
Dr.Alexi y Dr.Linda catch up since their last meeting.

Thanks go to Sergio Chan, the Bayer rep in Cuba.
Sergio delivered donated supplies from Bayer and ..
some of the best burgers I have ever had in Cuba

14 Dog 4 Cats
Yes, it was a modest morning number wise.
This day will lead to ever increasing numbers.


A sizable contribution to our donated supplies came from
Codman, a member of the Johnson & Johnson family of companies.


Photo:Michael Belovich
It was good to see patients had a ride home.

We, on the other hand, "hoofed" it.

After a short break at our hotel we were off to explore Old Havana.

Meet Niña or Canela ...
... depending on who or where you are.
She is a street dog that gets love and care from some of the locals in Habana Vieja. We had seen Canela earlier in the trip. She was cruising Plaza Vieja and her deformed leg caught our eye from across the square.
The gentleman seated in the photo told us someone had apparently kicked her a couple of years ago and broke her leg.

Our trio of Vets gave her a close look and she is no worse for wear.
She keeps the paw off the ground when walking on her three good legs.
So there is no abrasive damage.
The consensus was removal would likely allow her to get around better.
It would be great to find her a home.

Canela and her "posse" were parked across from our detination ...
Taller de Serigrafía René Portocarrero
Here I met Cuban artist Yainiel Martinez.
Located at Calle Cuba #513 it is a screen print work shop where young Cuban artists can produce their works.


Prints are priced from 30CUC.
I did come home with a series of three.

VetTrek - Day 4

Thursday December 2, 2010

¡Hace frío!

¡It's cold!

This Havana morning could very well have been around 10C.

After a morning walk through Old Havana we arrived at the Society for Heritage, Community and the Environment (SPCMA) Sociedad Patrimonio, Comunidad y Medio Ambiente.

SPCMA is a Cuban NGO 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.”

Photo:Michael Belovich
The SPCMA is located in the heart of Habana Vieja.
Space is available for meetings and art installations that promote the NGO's objectives.

Dr. Fernando Gispert opened with a presentation of the work being done by Comisión Nacional de Bienestar Animal lead by Dra. María Gloria Vidal Rivalta

Dra.Vidal also hosts a television show focusing on animal welfare.

The next presentation was the one I was looking forward to.
Comisión de Esterilización

A collective of volunteers working together with the Veterinary Clinic in Old Havana to
carry out free sterilizations each quarter.
The objective is to lessening the number of strays in the streets and therefore reducing disease among animals and humans alike.

This is done with the support of the “Popular Council” and their access to media to promote the work.
The neigbourhood CDRs (Committee for the Defense of the Revolution) identify strays for participation.

From the intake of a stray from the street
- through nursing back to health
- sterilization
- post operative care
the process takes over 90 days.

In the two years this program has been running, 208 animal have gone through the process. They are enjoying a 100% placement rate into new homes for these former strays. This program has reduced the number of strays wandering the streets and increased the health of many more.

It was great to see members of the Comisión de Esterilización in attendance
with their latest placements.
Not long ago they were strays on the streets of La Habana Vieja.

The Spanky Project delivered anesthetic and supplies for 100 spay /neuters in support of this program in Old Havana. I look forward to seeing this project spread to surrounding barrios.

Professor Natan Vera Rodríguez
of the Agrarian University of Havana gave a presentation on the
lateral flank approach for ovariohysterectomy.
The majority of Cuban veterinarians use this small incision procedure over the North American preferred mid-line spay.
This theoretical presentation was a step towards a practical application by our Canadian veterinarians the following day.
Natan and Dr. Carlos Yrurzun presented a case study involving "external fixation" on the broken jaw of a horse.

Dr.Belovich was called upon for a consultation.
At this moment, with a light being shone up his butt this guy
may have wished he was back in the street.
The tentative diagnosis for the dog was anal gland adenoma.The Spanky Project's Cuban front line of Susana Hurlich and Gladys Morales posed with
Agrarian University Profesores Pavel Herrera Vera and Natan.

After our morning event it was time to collect the supplies we had brought from Canada.
We offered to assist Dr.Gispert and Dra. Guadalupe Ramos-Directora Municipal de Veterinaria de la Habana Viejain in transporting them to the Laika Clinic for a mass sterilization event on Friday.

But first.... time for lunch

photo:Michael Belovich
Some will tell you that "the food in Cuba is horrible".
Well, not true.
Taberna de la Muralla on Plaza Viaja is a micro-brewery that serves up tasty well priced offerings from the grill.
Once we completed lunch we moved across the square to ...
Café El Escorial
Some of the best coffee based infusions in the city can be found here on Plaza Vieja.

Photo:Michael Belovich
Considering the amount of supplies, it was decided that carrying the bags across
Old Havana was not an option.
So,we flagged down a couple of Bici Taxis and load up Gispert and Guadelope.


Photo:Michael Belovich
We would meet up with them the next day, along with other members of the
Comisión de Esterilización.

We capped off our day with friends and dinner in Barrio Chino.
Yes, Havana has a Chinatown.