LA PROTECTORA DE COLÓN

This post is to follow up on my December 24th post.
As Barbara commented, "This dog was so shaggy and so dignified."
He is allowed to keep his dignity with the help of Protectoras like Gisela.

Protectoras are those on the frontlines in the battle for animal welfare. They are the ones that help street animal in distress. They are the ones that will nurse an animal to health and find it a home. I will expand on the work of Protectoras in another post.

I had the privilege of meeting Gisela on my recent trip. She met us at the Veterinary Clinic of Colon in Centro Habana.

Here, along with (clockwise)Professora Amparo Lopez, Dra.Magaly and Dr.Barbara Calm we discussed the work being done in Centro Habana for animal welfare.

Dra.Magaly is the Directora of the clinic. She provided for review the book that contains all donated supplies provided through the Spanky Project and how they were put to use.

As we discussed the work being done... work was being done on the other side of the door.
On this Saturday a Spay/Neuter clinic was being held.
Dr.Barbara found this much more interesting.

Above
Dr.Barbara Calm DVM
Montana, USA

Below
Note- the incision is on the side and not the belly.

After each procedure the dog or cat is given a unique tattoo.
This ID system was developed by the Dulce Maria Loynaz group and the Spanky Project.
The Spanky Project has provided two tattoo outfits for Havana clinics.
Animals with the tattoo now have a way back home.
Zoonosis (Dog catcher) now has a way to find an animal's home.
With the introduction of the tattoo ID system, the government has provided the Clinic with it's first computer ... this due to the need to house the database.

After our visit to the clinic Gisela took us to some of the locations where she protects animals.
One location was a garage / parking lot.
Here with the assistance of the garage workers animals have a refuge...

and get some lovin'.

Have you .....

Have you hugged your dog today?

Dispatches from La Habana

Greetings from La Habana.


Here I am at day five and I finally have some time to offer some commentary about this trip.

December 14th found me partaking in the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Consejo Cientifico Veterinario de Cuba (Veterinary Council).
This celebratory event was initiated and for the most part organized before the untimely death of Dr.Fermin, President of the Veterinary Council. His wife Dra.Beatriz Amaro picked up the torch and carried the planning of this event to it’s completion.



One observation from this trip is the increased number of dogs in the street. Not only increase numbers but in poorer shape.
More on this when I return to Canada.

Oaxaca, Mexico

It's me again. Perhaps you've been wondering what's gong on ... well, a lot.
I interrupt my last Cuba report with a trip to Oaxaca (sounds like Wahaca), Mexico
We traveled to this part of Mexico with the specific purpose of taking in the celebration, Día de los Muertos.

You will be hard pressed to find a more colourful festival.

Oaxaca is very much a town of artists and craftspeople.

True to form ... I did search out a dog story.
Before my departure I was connected with Rebecca Raab. This expat lives with here husband on property that has been in his family since the '60s.
Together they operate a wonderful guest house called Casa Raab .

Wandering the streets of Oaxaca I noticed few dogs in the streets.
Most visible dogs seemed to be associated with a person or purpose.
The one below was the "greeter" at a monument supply company.

This one seemed to clean up after lunch at the market.



This town is amazingly clean.
Recycling is second to none and people are constantly cleaning up.



Brooms seem to be on standby and at the ready should any rubbish hit the ground.
There is little to no sign of dogs being in the streets ... you know what I mean.

In the perfect world, I would like to think that the lack of strays was due to a great humane population control program.
The world is not perfect.
The efficiency with which the streets are cleaned is also displayed by the dog catcher.
This is a town that runs on tourism.
Need I say more.

You do see more dogs as you get out of town.

Rebecca calls her project Megan House.

Megan House was established in 2003 in the memory of her beloved German Shepherd.
"The number of homeless dogs and cats in Oaxaca continues to rise at an alarming rate and organizations to assist them are virtually nonexistent. More resources and facilities are urgently needed to care for these animals and to educate the community about the importance of responsible animal ownership, including sterilization and vaccination."


Read more and perhaps leave a donation here.

Oaxaca is a beautiful part of Mexico.



Should you find yourself traveling to this area ...


...don't forget our four legged friends.

09/26/2008 continued

After a short taxi ride down the Prado and along the Malecon I was in Vedado.
Awaiting me were Amparo and her cousin, my translator when needed, Justo.

A short time later arrived Gladys Morales Wiswell. Gladys is a former president of La Asociación Cubana de Aficionados a los Gatos (ACAG).

Gladys has agreed to take on the role of Coordinator for a project under development with Grupo Duce Maria Loynaz the Universidad de La Habana and Barbara Calm DVM
.
“Proyecto Felina” is Barbara’s brainchild.
With donated test kits, Barbara and Cuban Vets will see if Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) exist in Havana, Cuba, and if so, to what extent.

09/26/2008

This trip to Havana found us staying at a hotel and not our usual Casa.
One week trips to Cuba are more economical if booked as a package.
The Hola Sun package we booked had us flying direct into Havana and staying at the Hotel Telegrafo. This four star is located across from Parque Central and beside my favourite cafe. So, for under $600.00 CDN, we received air into Havana with over 100 lbs of luggage allowance, transfers, and hotel with breakfast for one week. 
That is a great deal as air only with Air Canada would have been $800.00 plus.

View from our room

This trip I had quite a few things on my “to do” list.

To find this dog ...

To get an update on this dog...
And...
-Attend a campaign.

-Meet with Consejo Cientifico Veterinario de Cuba.

-Develop a process for visiting veterinarians to work with Cuban veterinarians on projects of mutual interest.

-To have introductory meetings with Havana area vets. These meetings were to discuss how the Spanky Project may be of assistance to area clinics.

So, with all of this in mind, it was off to Vedado and a meet with Amparo, head of Grupo Dulce Maria Loynaz.