Chao 2017

September found us back at our Havana campaña home located at Quinta de Los Molinos

Set up days can be a bit of bore.

But at the Spanky Project we aim to make them as pleasant as possible.

Here Audrey, Spanky Project USA President, provides cheese and cracker service.

.. and hosts a little "fashion show".

After set up we were down to the serious business of getting to our diner spot.

The next day it was down to business.

The campaña was opened with greetings by

Martha Oneida Pérez Cortés

Presidenta

Sociedad PATRIMONIO, COMUNIDAD Y MEDIO AMBIENTE

SPCMA are our coordinating Cuban structure.

All patients are pre-registered and given time slots for their surgery.

There is always a group of early arrivers to process once the gates are opened.

 A big thank you goes to Blandine Jochem.

Coming to us from France via Colorado she was one of our international team.

She worked the registration desk with Justo...

... and also did spanish translation for us.

Including ...

...translations during interviews with Cuban media.

The Spanky Project is so much more than just a 

spay/neuter machine.

Our campañas are a place for education, training and investigation.

Indira Castillo Iglesias first joined our campañas in 2016 as a veterinary student.

This campaña Dra. Indira Castillo joined our team as a surgeon.

Dr.Viacheslav Eduardovich Zenkov holds an "Ask the Vet" session.

During campañas we offer caregivers informative sessions on a variety of pet related topics.

Doctors Anaeli Morales and Julio Martin, 

from the University of Havana, 

take blood samples from the cats in our campaña.

They are investigating blood borne diseases in Cuban cats.

Our campañas have come a long way since the kitchen tables and garages of 2003.

Our surgical protocols are second to none.

Our campaña weeks usually end with a free mass deparasitiztion event.

They show up early for a free deparasization and rabies vaccine.

The weather was on the rainy side so moved in doors.

Dra.Marina Galindo Chenard (all smiles) also worked with us as a student.

This campaña she was back as a veterinarian.

As was Dr.Ernesto

And once the last patient, for the week, was served it was off to the wrap party.

Our second mass campaña for 2017 was in the books

We had 20 veterinarians work on the campaña.

10 from Havana

4 from Mantanzas

1 Cuban veterinarian now residing in Qatar

1 each from Turkey and the Netherlands

34 veterinary students

4 veterinary technicians

5 translators

7 volunteers

Our total sterilizations for the campaña totalled 207

35 San Jose de las Lajas

172 Havana

Kisses and best wishes to all those who supported the work in Cuba

Once the campañas are over and I take that last walk through Habana Vieja I reflect on the week and what was... and at the same time planning for the campaña is on my mind.

And as always I do Camila Cabello one better... my whole heart is in "Havana-oh na na".

2017 by the numbers…

Sterilizations
February World Spay Day Week  283

May Mini- Campaña                   15
August Mini- Campaña               15

October Mass Campaña

 San Jose de las Lajas 35
Havana                                       172
———

520 

We average our costs at $30 per sterilization

2017 = $15,600

For 2018 our goal is 750 sterilization.

2018 = $22,500

Your contribution is vital to our work

Help Cubans help their animals.
The next generation of veterinarians are ready.

Sponsor a spay/neuter

Tax receipts are issued in the USA and Canada.

Donate in the USA

in Canada 

and around the world

The Future Is Now!

On this September morning our Spanky Project Team assembled 

near the lancha (ferry) docks in Habana Vieja.

With representation from France, The Netherlands, Turkey, USA, Canada and Cuba 

we were truly an international team.

Before hitting the road Audrey Mabie, president of 

Spanky Project USA 

handed out some stylish scrub tops.

Our first surgical day was not at our Havana home base, Quinta de los Molinos.

 We were headed to San Jose de las Lajas now home to the veterinary school.

A point of interest, until 1976 the veterinary school was located across from Quinta de los Molinos .

After overcoming car issues with Cuban ingenuity and 

Claudia's "encouragement"

we were back on the road.

A 30km drive brought us to the Province of Mayabeque 

and it capital San Jose de las Lajas.

Here, we were met by students of the 

Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria. Universidad Agraria de La Habana

and the student group... 

Veterinarios for la Protección y Bienestar Animal

VESPA

In their own words....

The VESPA group is based at the Agrarian University of Havana (UNAH) and is made up of students and professors who advocate for Animal Welfare. We carry out mass sterilization campaigns and free deparisitizations  in different locations in the Mayabeque province. We have a shelter in which we welcome a limited number of animals due to the characteristics of the building of the place, among other limitations. With some of these dogs we perform assisted therapy for children with special needs in a school in San José, this activity is recognized nationally.

Our main task is to educate the community in general about Animal Welfare and the importance of this for sustainable development. And try to change the world of more than one animal, we speak for those who have no voice, but who like us suffer and feel.

All of our sterilization campañas have the participation of veterinary students.

They are the future and we are honoured to work with them on their home turf.

With limited supplies available in Cuba teaching opportunities like this have been limited.

Until recently veterinary schools had focused on beasts of burden and food production.

Still much of the practical, small and companion animal, education takes place outside of the curriculum.

In mini campaña like this and our mass campañas in Havana.

This mini-campaña was held outdoors at an athletic complex.

From the intake exam..

through surgery..

.. to recovery this was a student run campaña.

A big thank you to Dr.Slavik Zenkov (left) and

Dr.Rayko Calimano (red).

They both work with VESPA on an ongoing basis.

Both join in on our campañas in Havana.

Note: Blandine and Claudia (on the left) with their new scrub tops thanks to Audrey (right).

Stylin' the scrub!

Dr.Natacha Nuñez, Vice Dean, holds court with the local media.

Here is a news report from our visit in 2011.

In 2003 the Spanky Project was born. 

The first Cuban veterinarian we met was Dr.Joemel Betancourt.
He is a graduate of the veterinary school in San Jose.

Now living In Qatar,  and as good fortune would have it,  in Cuba during our September campaña.
He joined us and the veterinary students.

It was great to reunite with "Dr.Joe".

We are increasing our support for the VESPA group.
On March 3 we will be back in San Jose.
At that time will share some exciting news with them.
When we return we will share it with you.

Help us help them.

The future is now!

Beat The Clock!!!

CANADA... Beat the clock and claim your 2017 TAX DEDUCTIONCountdown

We thank you for your support in 2017

With your aid we:

 sterilized 570 dog/cats

 dewormed nearly 300 horses

deparasitized hundred of pets
worked side by side with Cuba's veterinary students
worked towards a better future for Cubans and their animals

You made a difference in 2107 and can again in 2018.

Hey Canada...
Your tax credit may entitle you to receive as much as 53% of your donation back at tax time. Calculate your tax credit below!

If you’ve never claimed tax credits before, this is your last year to super-size your tax credit! You will receive a one-time, additional 25% tax credit of up to $1,000!

Our supporters in the USA can play Beat The Clock also
 donate to Spanky Project USA 
a 501(c) (3) non-profit

¡Feliz Año Nuevo!
Happy New Year!
2018 
is
The Year Of The Dog

Help us kick start 2018!

Join us in helping Cubans help their animals.

Not every Spanky Project story has a happy ending

The Spanky Project has an ongoing presence in Havana.

Twice a year we arrive in Cuba with the purpose of setting up high volume spay / neuter clinics.

The supplies we bring are geared towards surgery.

But without fail, we meet an animal that is in serious trouble and there is no way we can turn away.

This time a little dog was brought to us emaciated and covered in one of the worse cases of mange mites and scabies any of our vets had ever seen.  

We have a “regular” at our campanas named Miguelito.  He usually shows up on at least two days with animals that need to be sterilized. Miguelito is a man of simple means who considers it his “duty as a human being” to care for any animal that needs his help.  He rescues dogs from the street and because he is known in his barrio as a guy who cares for animals, people think nothing of dumping animals at his home .  This last campana, he told us he is caring for about 40 animals.

Miguelito brings his animals to us on a tricycle he has rigged up to carry multiple boxes or cages at a time. 

He lives on the distant outskirts of Havana and he rides his bike two hours each way so they can have surgery.  He waits all day until his dogs are fully recovered before putting them back on his bike and taking them on the long journey home.

This time, Miguelito showed up on foot.  

His tricycle was broken so he walked 3.5 hours to get to us.  

He brought two dogs on leashes...

...  and carried this little pup, recently dumped near his home, 

in a bag because it was far too weak for such a long walk. 

So recent she had yet to be named. 

Doctor Natasja, a volunteer veterinarian from Holland,
took the lead in determining what could be done for this girl.

Blandine, on the right from France, was our spanish translator

We has some drugs to treat the mites,antibiotics to treat the lesions on the skin and something to ease the pain this dog was in. All were prescribed and administered by Dr.Natasja, who monitored the dog all day and advised Miguel regarding home care.

And thanks to our supporters who bring supplies with them when they visit Cuba, we had some very high quality dog food that we gave to Miguelito so this dog could get some good nutrition and regain its strength.  At the end of the day, Miguel put the dog back in the bag and walked 3.5 hours home, after his other two dogs had recovered from surgery.

Things were looking up for our girl.

Two days later, Miguelito showed back up (on foot) with this poor little dog and two more for surgery.  It was apparent that the help we were able to provide came too late.  This dog was going to die – maybe in a few hours, maybe a few days.  

In this situation, Cubans have no option except to watch their animal suffer until the end comes.  But we had a little Euthanol on hand, a drug for euthanasia.  Natasja offered a compassionate end-of-life solution to Miguel and he said he wanted to watch the dog while his other two were in surgery. 

I’m sure like most of us who have been in this position, 

he was hoping for some kind of miracle that didn’t come.  

With all the sadness this brought there was still opportunity to smile .

... as one of Miguelito's dogs was released from recovery.

Miguelito’s dedication to his animals is incredibly admirable. Despite a broken bike, he brought 6 dogs to us this time, walking long distances in the heat to get them the help they need.  He didn’t have 40 CUC (about $40 USD) to repair his bike and it takes every penny he has to feed his animals.  It didn’t take us long to decide to help him fix his bike so he could continue performing his

 “duty as a human being”.  

We expect to see Miguelito next February, ferrying his dogs back and forth on his tricycle.

This time however, he put the little dog back in the bag and 

walked 3.5 hours home 

to bury her there.