Spanky Project

Monday, June 10, 2013

Day Off?

On this Sunday we were "mandated" a day off.

It was... Election Day.

"Exercise your right to vote and vote early"

Spanky Project's Gladys Morales was working at one of the polling stations.
We were invited to visit.

For some news on those elections have a look at this article in

Granma, the newspaper of Cuba's Communist Party.

After our polling station visit it was off to Cementerio de Cristóbal Colón.

Colon is the final resting place for many famous Cubans.

The likes of writers Alejo Carpentier , Dulce María Loynaz'.

Famed revolutionary photographer Alberto Korda.

Buena Vista Social Club members,
Ibrahim Ferrar, Ruben Gonzalez and Pío Leyva.

It is also home to the living.

Actually, the whole day we were just killing time until some special guests arrived

Stephanie - Courtney - Leslie - Shelley

Four VetTechs from Southern Ontario.
Steph and I have been in contact for years.
She has a love of Cuba and animals.
She is now set with her second career as recent Vet Tech graduate.
She told me a few years ago that once she graduated
she was going to work with the
Spanky Project in Havana.
She kept her promise.
They generously took two days out of their beach vacation to spend working with us in Havana.
Even thought they got bumped from Hostal Los Frailes and had to spend the night at the Hotel Florida they were a happy gang.

They were also kind enough to haul three bags

I had pre-packed for them.

Toronto - Varadero - Havana.

Good Morning Havana!
We were up and out at the crack of dawn to head to

Talapiedra Cochero Garage.

After the group shot and the opening of the gates ...

... we paired Courtney, a farrier before her Vet Tech career,

with Talapiedria's "herrero".

Hoof care and related matters were discussed with Gladys providing the translations.

Outside the Cocheros and their horses began to arrive.

Quite the crowd amassed as Dr.Travers and Dr.Belovich

oversaw the treatment of the horses.

At the end of the treatment session we had a get together.

The Cocheros had an opportunity to express some of the day to day

concerns they have for their horses.

The Cocheros gave us a ride back to Plaza de San Francisco or

as the locals call it "Plaza de las Palomas".

There we caught taxis to the clinic.

After arriving Emma gave an orientation to the crew.

Leslie and Steph in the "prep room"
Pet cats get their nails clipped - colony cats don't.

We celebrated Dra.Rocio's Birthday with a cake thanks to Frank.

She put her surgical skills to work by cutting us all a piece.

On this day we dewormed 65 horses and sterilized 58 cats.
Certainly a reason to dance.

Shelly being experienced in neuters did a few for us.

Day two, with our four Canadian Techs, saw another 40 cats sterilized.

At the end of the day Courtney, Stephanie, Leslie and Shelley headed back to the beach.

Their volunteer time with us was much appreciated by all.

I hope they join us again.

OAVT continuing education credits are available to Vet Techs that work with us.

Monday, June 3, 2013

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

Monday, May 20, 2013

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.