Dubois Charitable Foundation

A couple of weeks ago it was announced that the Dubois Charitable Foundations was to send their first container of 2013 to Cuba. 

Specifically for distribution in the Province of Mayabeque.

Loading day was June 1st.

  John and Marion Dubois are very much hands on.

 A great group of volunteers assembled. Many of them regulars.

 These container packings are an excellent opportunity to meet people that you may only have known from the internet. 

This day was no different as I meet quite a few including Iriemon, Cubamiga, Bicyclman and Canuks.

Small world.. turns out I worked with Canuks' brother in a "previous" life - 30 plus years ago.

 They don't call him BigJohn for nothin'.

 Every inch of space is filled. 

The forklift was used to nudge the doors closed.

This container is headed to Mayabeque where the capital is San Jose de las Lajas.

San Jose de las Lajas is home to the Agrarian University of Havana -Faculty of Veterinary Medicine.

Readers of this blog know that the Spanky Project has excellent relations with 

the Dean, faculty and students.

So, once I heard of this container I got in contact with John.

He was very welcoming. I pack nine boxes of supplies for the "Vet School" and the town's clinic.

Hats off to the whole gang.

 Once the doors are closed Marion and John put on a very nice lunch.

And on special occasions there's cake!!!

John Dubois and Cindy shared a Birthday on load day. 

I still don't believe John is 72.

 

Dubois Charitable Foundation is a registered Canadian caharity.

Here is how you can help their work.

A container is planned for Havana in July.

I have begun packing veterinary supplies for Havana's Clinics.
If you have veterinary equipment and or supplies for donation... email John or myself.

Dubois Charitable Foundation

Spanky Project

This post brought to you by ...

How do you start your day?
With Emma being vegan she comes to Cuba prepared.
Super Chunk no less

With the Spanky Project and Animal Balance veterinarians in town it was "showtime".

Months and months of planning, coordination and collaboration is put to the test.

Before our first clinic day, traps were left with colony keepers to be picked up the next day with the "patients".

Dairne was our go get gal for "pick up and delivery". She forged caring and trusting relationships with the keepers, who are very protective of their colonies

To keep Dairne happy we set her up with some fun wheels.

... and even a big red truck on occasion.

The portion of the clinic we occupied was made up of several exam rooms which we purposed. 

It was perfect for a TNR Campañna.

Check-in/Registration

This being Havana's first, we were not sure how successful we would be with trapping.
To ensure our veterinarians had a steady flow of patience we booked and additional 

20 pet cats per day.

 Anaesthesia Station.

Dr.Michael Belovich, of Yonge Street Animal Hospital in Toronto, ran this room.
Cats are weighed and then given the proper dose.

I always enjoy seeing the hand crafted carriers.

Prep Station

  Where the sedated and anaesthetized are prepped for surgery.

Depending on the veterinarian the cat is shaved for a flank spay or, as Frank is doing, a midline

Because cat’s eyes may dry out under anesthesia a lubricant is applied to keep them moist.

Surgery Station

Our surgical suite was fitted with four tables.

After surgery feral cats have an ear tipped.

Pet cats receive a tattoo.

RecoveryStation

Here cats are given post op meds and monitored.

Recovery/Discharge

 Dairne prepares to return colony cats.

 

Here some pet cats are on their way home.

Throughout the day, cats that have recovered overnight in the clinic are returned to their colony keepers.

I would like to send a big thank you to APAC-Varadero and Air Transat.

On an ongoing basis Air Transat sends, free of charge, carriers that have been collect in Canada to Varadero.

We were in need of carriers for recovery and APAC-Varadero came through for us.
Normally cats are recovered in traps.We had only 24 traps. 

To achieve our target numbers we needed more "recovery rooms"

Some colonies had cats that were friendly enough that they could be picked up and placed in carriers.
Thank you Ingrid for bringing them in from Cardenas.

Throughout the process, steps are taken to ensure the health and safety of the cats.
Here a note was placed on the trap, by one of the volunteers, for the veterinarians to 

"revisar el ojo derecho - check the right eye"

During our trips you never know who is going to drop in for a visit.

Big Bear, a good friend of Dr.Rocio and Frank, is a heavy Metal band promoter.
He has pledged to help with fundraising to support the work at the Carlos III clinic.
What do you think?
"Metal for Mutts"

Woofstock is taken.

 

At the end of each clinic day we have a little huddle.
Here, Gladys Morales, Spanky Project's Cuban representative, thanks our Cuban partners that worked with us on the day.
Some of you may recognize Slavik chief veterinarian with APAC-Varadero.

Our first two days saw us spay neuter 69 cats.

You would think that we were done for the day at this point.
NO!!

We head out to drop off traps and carriers to colony keepers.

Pobrecito Tony.
He will be in better shape when we do this again in December.

Animal Balance - TNR Report

A big thank you to Emma Clifford, Director of Animal Balance.

Emma has written up a great trip report from our October Cuba TNR.

 

Click here for the 

TRIP REPORT

Help Cubans help their animals with a donation.
Our next mass TNR will be in December 2013

Dreams Do Come True.

During the first week of our two week program we stayed at the Hotel Plaza, a Gran Caribe property, in Havana.

It is an economical hotel, in a prime location, on the edge of Parque Central.

The roof top restaurant is where the buffet breakfast is made available.

Dairne worked on her "service" skills.

You can book a stay at the Hotel Plaza, and other properties, through the Spanky Project.

A portion of your booking goes to support our work in Cuba.

Book hotel, air and car rentals with our partner Cuba Travel Network.

After breakfast it was off to work.

Susana, our Spanky Project Havana based coordinator, arranged transport for us.

Alberto, Susana's plumber, has a very nice set of wheels.

 

Each one of our visits to Cuba builds upon what has gone before.

For years, many have expressed concerns about the treatment of animals in and around resorts.

As strays increase in numbers, both dogs and cats, the resorts call "the dog catcher" to remove them.

The end is not always humane. 

Preliminary talks are now turning to action.
Humane population control programs are in the works.
We thank Cuban Hotel Group Gran Caribe for listening to our presentations.

On this morning we met with Noemi Sanchez Rodriguez-Dir. Negocios y Desarrollo, Gran Caribe.

We discussed a pilot project that has been developed in collaboration with our great friends at 

APAC - Varadero. 

This pilot project will launch at Hotel Villa Trópico and the environs of Playa Jibacoa.
A "Carta de Intención"(an official letter of intention) is being drafted and we will have more details shortly.

APAC - Varadero have been saviours and advocates for the animals of

 Cardenas, Matanzas and Varadero.

In collaboration with APAC's; Ingrid, Hanoi, Slavik and others we know this program will be a success and a model for the rest of Cuba's resort areas.

Together, and with your help, we will create a harmonious relationship between the:

 local community, 

vacationers, 

animals,

and 

the environment.

Special thanks go to Emma Clifford, of Animal Balance, for her advice and support of our ongoing program development.

Emma - Noemi - Terry

Ahead of the veterinarians arrival we dropped off our supplies. 

Much to our delight, we found Dra. Rocio and Vet Tech Frank in the middle of a clinic makeover.

Rocio and Frank were placed with us by 

Carlos III's Director Miguel Angel .
Their above and beyond the call of duty effort boded well for our future collaboration.

 As final touches were put on the reception area we had a planning session with Rocio and Frank.

 Many came together to make this happen and I thank you all.

 Flashback (Feb, 2012 trip)

"If I wish really hard ...

... maybe a campaña at Carlos III could be a reality." 

 The dream did come true.

Seamos realistas y hagamos lo imposible -Che

In preparation for the arrival of our veterinarians and first day of surgery 

Dairne and Alberto delivered traps.

Tony stayed behind at the clinic doing the overnight firewatch.

Others were not so comfortable and spent the night in Parque Central.