B...is for Barbara don't call me Barb.
Apparently a barb is something on a fishing hook and this seemed to be a sticking point. I learned very early to go with the full Barbara and only after several days of Cuban cultural immersion did I attempt to use Barbarita.
I mention the above with a smile on my face. Barbara was an absolute joy to spend time with both on a professional and a social level.

Barbara is a “Veterinaria” from Montana, USA. This was the first time I had spent time in Cuba with a foreign Veterinary professional. This turned into a very busy and productive trip. I wonder if Barbara, in her planning, thought we would be as busy as we were. I didn’t.

Introductory meetings,


Veterinary clinic visits,

two spay campaigns,

visits to the homes of Protectoras.

and a ranch.

It was a real pleasure to spend two week in Cuba with a Veterinary professional.
I now count Barb ...oops... Barbarita among my friends.

ABCs

I always struggle with the blogging of my adventures in Cuba.
In an effort to do something different I’m going to give you the ABCs.
The idea for this approach came from my partner. Check out Mags Kandis’ Blog.

A...is for Aduana which equals Cuban Customs.

As per any airport this is the second layer of bureaucracy you may encounter. After you spend time with an Immigration official where your picture will be taken you exit to have your carry-on Xrayed.
Next stop is the luggage carousal where depending how long you waited in que at Immigration your bags may actually be waiting for you. Should you find a chalk mark X on your bags, X-rays have detected something Aduana wants to see. Should you be X free and have nothing to declare head for the exit.

A...is for Aniplant equals Asociación Cubana para la Protección y Bienestar Animal y de Plantas.

I have been helping the animals of Havana since 2003 and have not, until this trip, met with a member of the executive of Aniplant. This trip I would meet the President. I appreciate any group that is helping the animals of Havana and Cuba.
For additional insight into Aniplant please visit Liz Orton’s Naufraga blog.



A... is for Amparo which means “Protection” in English

Profesora Amparo Lopez is the head of the Dulce Maria Loynaz group. They are a working group of the University of Havana.
I have known and worked with Amparo since 2003. She works tirelessly with the Spanky Project and the Veterinary community in developing a program in Centro Havana for the betterment of animal.

Still "On the road again".

After dropping my bag, giving “besos y abrazos” to my sweetie who arrived earlier the same morning, greeting Evora and family--- including Cindy the boxer--- and settling into my casa it was time to meet Barbara.



Barbara and I had been in email contact for several month planning this trip . This was the day when it all came together.

Driving from Montana to Calgary then flying to Varadero, Barbara would be only a two and a half hour bus ride from Havana and a mojito on a patio. With about four hours to kill before my arrival she should have settled into her prearranged casa, strolled some and had that mojito. Well, that was the alternate reality (as Barbara would say).

The first few words out of Barbaras mouth when we met were, “I just got here”.
Due to her generous nature in bringing needed supplies to Cuba, Aduana in Varadero saw fit to have a few words with her. I must point out that in an “alternate reality” the supplies may have been in a “duffle bag” instead of a cardboard box.
Barbara spent enough time with Aduana that she missed the first Viazul bus to Havana and had to catch the second of the day.
We will cover her Varadero experience in greater detail in the future.

For now it was time to hit the streets and show Barbara the Havana I have come to know and love. Oh and some Mojito research.

Wish List Wednesday

We interrupt this trip to Cuba with a list of needed items.

If you think you can help please let me know.
For those willing to deliver supplies to Havana, Holguin, Trinidad, Camaquey (Varadero soon) I will provide all the needed contact info and back up contacts.
losperros@spankyproject.org

Wormers, flea and tick preventatives are greatly needed.
For your information if an animal has a flea infestation it has worms. Therefore the need
to rid the animal of fleas goes hand in hand with worming.
Any products will be appreciated - collars, shampoos, drops and sprays etc.

Below is a list of specific items requested.

WORMERS
DRONCIT (Praziquantel)
Praziquantel kills mature and immature development stages of tapeworms in the
intestine after a single treatment.

Pyraquantal
Control of all intestinal worms.


Ivomec 1% Injection (Ivermectine) for Cattle & Swine
Do not purchase Ivomec Plus as it has a negative effect on the livers of dogs.
The dosage of this product has been worked out for use on dogs. This is a highly
effective remedy for parasites and mange mites.
This product can be purchase at farmer’s co-ops and TSC Stores in the United States.

Animal shaver with detachable surgical blade. ie Oster A5 Golden (110V) #40 blade
Animal marker kit ie Spaulding Special Electric Tattoo Animal Marker (110V)

FLEA & TICK CONTROL
Permectrin II
Provides long-acting killing power for flies, lice, mites, ticks, fleas and mosquitoes

UK source for wormers



Needles, syringes
Digital thermometers
Gloves
Oral antibiotics

BOOKS - DIGITAL
Veterinary texts both english and spanish
Veterinary material in digital format
Care and training of domestic animals
Care and training of equines

Grooming equipment (Shavers, brushes, scissors, shampoo, nail clippers, flea combs, etc)
Scrub shirts and pants for staff and volunteers.
Black ink cartridge for HEWLETT PACKARD DESK JET 670 C
Type writer ribbons (es Cuba)

On the Road Again

Now that I am back at home I will fill you in on my latest adventures in Cuba.
I will provide - what should be - a day by day look at the trip

Monday February 11 2008

On February 11th I departed for Havana via Air Canada.
My plea for an extra weight allowance was denied by Canada’s national airline. Unlike Sunwing Vacations, Air Canada was true to their word in responding to my request in a timely manner. Yes, I did have a generous allowance to start with and I maximized all of my 140 lb. limit.

Departing at 09:15 the outside temperature was -18c with a windchill of - 30c. This kid was primed for some heat and humidity.

This was a two week venture to Havana and Trinidad with a possibility for time in Sancti Spiritus.
Meeting me in Havana would be Barbara Calm DVM from Montana USA. As most of you are aware, the United States of America does not allow it’s citizens to freely travel to Cuba. With this in mind,Barbara traveled under license provided by Caribbean Medical Transport.

Our goals for the trip included:
- meeting with Nora Garcia,head of Aniplant (Asociación Cubana para la Protección y Bienestar Animal y de Plantas).
-visits to Veterinary clinics
-visits to spay campaigns
-meetings with members of the Consejo Cientifico Veterinario de Cuba
-travel to Trinidad,Cuba and a visit with the founder of the Diana Project for horses.
-travel to Sancti Spiritus, Cuba for talks with the provincial veterinary council.
On the surface one would think that this would not provide two full weeks of activity.
If you add a little tourism, some of the Jazz Festival and a day off for “El Dia del Amor” the two weeks would fly by quickly.

Próspero Y Feliz Año Nuevo !

Well here we all are another year older. The Spank Project also has another year under it’s belt with this being year five.
Since 2003 the Spanky Project has been helping people who help animals. From the early days with a focus on Havana now we have contacts in Trinidad Cuba.

I have received many requests for delivery contacts in towns other than Havana.It is my hope to add other locations such as Holquin, Camaquey, Moron and Cardenas in 2008.

The year that has just past was full of wonderful developments.

Our dog Skeeter successfully recovered from Heartworm.

I became a member of Veterinarians Without Borders Canada.
Also helping make 2007 memorable were some of the people I have come to know in the past year including Liz , Sudah Yehuda Kovesh M.D., Harold Hosein

We've got a full year ahead to help the animals of Cuba. Let’s make the best of it.
If you would like to help I would love to hear from you.

For myself trips in February and New Year Eve are in the works

During my trip to Asia some good news was received.
“Success!! Shaggy arrived in the UK on Saturday afternoon., 17th Nov. I am now a happy, excited owner of a dog once again. “

By the sounds of it the process was not an easy one

“What a drama Operation Shaggy has been. Amparo and I spent all day going from place to place in a taxi. I needed official permission from the head of the vetinerary clinic in Habana, followed by legal validation of her signature at another office in another part of Habana. The rest of the day was spent at the airport, gathering all the other bits of paper to be signed and stamped. Amparo and I thought that was the end of it and the day of the flight would be easy. Wrong again! Another whole day was spent at the airport running from one office to the other - to the Customs office 3 times, an examination by the airport vet, paying for one thing in one office and another in another office. We were exhausted. Even Amparo was confused at the end of the process, and she speaks the language. I had 13 official stamps on my papers! She said it must be easier to move an elephant that it was to get one little dog to the UK. I could never have done it on my own.”


Sound like the exit process for pets could be streamlined a little. I think this is something we can work on.
All the best to Marilyn and Shaggy.