We're Back in Havana!

We are back in Havana for Campaña 2026

Registration began on February 9.

We had a little false start as the registration number was incorrect.

We used WhatsApp, once corrected, it worked very well.

Registration closed the next day.

We had over 2000 requests.

We confirmed 540 for the campaña.

Our Cuban campañas are never without challenges.

We started packing bags in October for what was to be a late November campaña in Santiago de Cuba.

We were ready to fend of the chikungunya virus with mosquito spray.

But in late October Hurricane Melissa devastated Santiago de Cuba.

We decided to postpone until February.

Then we received word they would not be recovered sufficiently for a February campaña.

So here we are Havana February 2026.

We will help celebrate World Spay Day, per normal, on the last Tuesday of February

BUT

On February 10 Air Canada suspended flights to Cuba.

Shortly after Westjet and Air Transat followed.

Our Canadian team was booked on Air Transat. 

On February 11 the Government of Canada issued a travel warning.

CUBA - AVOID NON-ESSENTIAL TRAVEL

Avoid non-essential travel to Cuba due to worsening shortages of fuel, electricity, and basic necessities including food, water, and medicine. These shortages can also affect services at resorts. Fuel availability has decreased, is difficult to predict, and may disrupt ground transportation.

All Canadian airlines have suspended service to Cuba until further notice. Commercial flights remain available through international airlines; however, they may become limited on short notice. You should consider leaving while options remain available. 

++++

This prevented our Canadian team and supplies from flying.If it were not for the need for permits from Cuba and Canada for our controlled drugs we could have flown through a third country.

Our Spanky Project USA team have arrived.

With a little scrambling they were able to cover of the lack of Canadian supplies.

Now in Canada we have over $11,000 worth of supplies and drugs ready to go once flights resume.

On Friday February 20 ...

Thanks to the assembly team of the fairground #Pabexpo and Grupo Empresarial PALCO our "Ad Hoc Clinic" was readied for the beginning of our  2026 Campaña Season.

    Saturday the load in was conducted.

    This included supplies we had preposition and new arrivals with Spanky USA

Surgical table were in place

On Sunday the final setup was conducted

Electric lines were run...

Cotton balls were rolled...

Vets become lighting directors... 😁

The cupboards are full and ready for the first day

Spanky The Next Generation

.. and we welcomed the newest member of the Spanky Family.

We look forward to kicking off Spanky's 23 Year in Cuba.

Please join us in this beautiful work.

With all the complications in Cuba now Cubans still show caring love for their furry companions.

Your support in aid of Cubans helping their animals is more important now than ever.

For those in Canada and the World you can give with your credit card

Instant tax charitable receipt will be issued.

Interac e-Transfers

can be sent to

donations@spankyproject.org

if you would like a Canadian Charitable tax receipt include your name and address.

By Cheque payable to 

"Spanky Project"

172 Main St.

Suite 301

Picton ON K0K 2T0

For our supporters in the USA donate through

Spanky Project USA

If you would like a Charitable tax receipt include your name and address.

For your convenience you can donate via the form below.

Together We Can Do Twice as Much - Double Your Impact: Donate Today!

It's been a long road.

But, together with generous partners like you, we have traveled it.

If you have not already done so, 

join our Spanky Family with your gift.

As 2025 comes to an end...

YES WE HAVE FANTASTIC NEWS

From December 17 - 31 a generous Spanky Family member will match gifts up to $2000.

It's as easy as...

For example ....

Your $22 gift will be matched

That $44 covers the cost of supplies for one cat spay.

That one cat will no longer reproduce.

Now look what you have done.

That's a huge impact  

DONATE

MEOW

Feliz aniversario 22 Años!

In this post you will find a post from every year we blogged.

Click on the YEAR to see the full post.

2007

Eusebio Leal Spengler, director of the Historian’s Office of the City of Havana gave approval for this pilot project to take place in Centro Habana. We hope to prove that a well run spay and neuter campaign can control the animal population to the point that wholesale dog catching is not the means of population control.

2008

My deepest condolences go out to the family of Dr. Fermin M. Palazuelos Tuset.

Fermin the President of the Consejo Cientifico Veterinario de Cuba passed on Tuesday.

Since our first meeting a couple of years ago Fermin has been instrumental in assisting the Spanky Project's efforts to help the animals of Cuba.

Official recognition of this assistance came in February of this year when Fermin on behalf of the Consejo signed a Letter of Intent with the Spanky Project and the Grupo Dulce Maria Loynaz.

2009

What do 6000 spay / neuters look like?

This was my first experience with a campaña in Cuba.

December 2003

December 2008

In a period of five years more than 6000 spay / neuters have been provided free to the people of Havana. Those pictured in the above photographs are pioneers in Cuban animal welfare.

I am honoured to be a part of this group.

It takes many people to accomplish such a feat...

protectoras, vets, vet techs, caring people.

At the gathering in December 2008 Dr.Joe took the time to individually acknowledge the contribution of all those present.

Please note that Silvia (2nd from the left in the 2003 photo), a founding member of this group, is no longer in Cuba. At the celebration she was with us in spirit and represented by the happy dog.

2010

Las Mascotas de Finca Vigia

June 8, 2010

This was a very exciting day.

 Dra.Danis, Dr.Alexis

Alexis, the veterinarian from the vet clinic in Centro Habana

Danis, the veterinarian from San Miguel del Padron 

On the way to our surgical suite....

... outdoors ...

... poolside.

2011

It's a Record

Early morning, February 12th, they began to assemble in Habana

Clinca Laika

Once again, an excellent team of Cuban veterinary personnel had assembled.

We were done by 2:00 pm. My thanks go to you all.

27 Cat 56 Dogs A record breaking day!

2012

Pinar del Rio Sept 29

The Spanky Project does not just show up in Cuba to sterilize cats and dogs.

We actually spend time working with our Cuban counterparts sharing,

knowledge, experience and techniques.

2013

The year PayPal freezes our account

Watch the story here.

2014

Back to School.

A workshop held at Quinta de los Molinos for children.

2015

The Darkest Hour...

It took a special trip and a meeting to get our medications approved.

2016

Follow Your Dreams

2017

The Spanky Project, a Canadian Not For Profit, is the first international group to enter into a collective agreement with the Oficina del Historiador de la Ciudad de La Habana(OHCH), for the benefit of animal welfare and humane population control.

2018

An Expo ... 15 Years In The Making

A very special exposition presented to celebrate our 15 years of 

Helping Cubans Help Their Animals.

2019

La Habana 500

We set out celebrate Havanas 500th with

500 deparasitizations

+

500 sterilizations

2020

During the COVID Pandemic we lost Justo!

¡Justo!

Earth Cries... Heaven Smiles

1939-2020

The world has lost a great human.

It is with tremendous sadness we share with you the passing of JUSTO

Please be sure read Earth Cries Heaven Smiles..

2021

San Lázaro - A Saint and a Refuge

With Cuba opening up after COVID I was able to travel to Santa Clara.

I delivered much needed aid for local Protectors.

2022

A Ray Of Light In Troubled Times

Let's celebrate!

2023

Feliz Día del Trabajador de la Veterinaria

We celebrate the Spanky Family Team over the years

Bonus 2023

Veinte Años!

2024

That's

888

for the year!

Looking back over the years...

To think of our humble beginnings is 2003 and how far we have come.

Here is a Rock 'n Roll analogy.

"In 2003 the Spanky Project started as a garage band ... now we are playing arenas".

Yes in our early days we did hold our spay/neuter clinics on kitchen tables and in garages.

But now

These 23 years could not be possible without your generosity.

You can donate here.

If you are traveling to Cuba and can obtain something from the list below 

we can direct you to a drop off point.

BASIC SUPPLY DONATION REQUEST LIST

(Please note that any bottled items should be placed in a Ziploc bag in case of leakage)

·     Treatments to kill both fleas AND ticks (like Frontline, NexGuard or Advantix) 

·     Shampoos to killboth fleas AND ticks

·     Medicated shampoos for skin problems 

·     De-wormers and Heartworm preventatives (like Safe-Guard, Heartgard, Interceptor)

·     Vitamins for dogs and cats – age range from youth to adult to geriatric

·     Ehrlichiosis testing kits b  (like 4Dx or ELISA test kit)

·     Medication for mange   (i.e. Demodex) 

·     Antibiotics like Amoxicillin, Tetracycline or Doxycycline 

·     Antiseptics like Chlorhexidine or Povidone Iodine 

·     Milk substitutes for kittens and puppies (powdered is lighter easier to carry)

·     Latex or Nitrile gloves (Medium and Large - non-sterile, usually 100/box)

·     Scalpel Blades Sterile #10    100/Bx

·     Scalpel Blades Sterile #15   100/Bx

·     OptixCare Eye Lubricant 

·     Cotton Balls and Cotton rolls (1 lb non-sterile)

·     Old towels and small blankets 

·     Nail clippers specifically for dogs and cats

·     Leashes and collars/ Slip leads / Harnesses for small to medium dogs.

·     Flea combs 

·     Tick picker tool

·     AAA Batteries (for surgeons headlamps – especially rechargeable)

·     General office supplies - pens, Sharpies, copy paper, clip boards and solar calculators

·     ZipLoc Bags (Quart and Gallon Size)

·     Styptic Powder 

·     Large Plastic Tarps

·     Large Trash Bags 

·     Bungee Cords

·     Masking Tape and Duct Tape

·     Zip Ties (lighter weight and 4-5” long)

·     8’ x 10’ plastic tarp

·     Black Printer ink for an Epson NX 430 Printer

VETERINARY SUPPLY LIST

·     Surgical Gloves - Sz 6 thru 8

·     Exam Gloves - Medium and Large

·     IV Catheters - 20g, 22g  (occasional 18g and 24G)

·     IV Sets - basic

·     Hypodermic Needles  - All appropriate gauges and lengths

·     Syringe only - 1cc, 3cc, occasional 5cc

·     Syringe / Needle combo 3mL / 22g

·     Syringe / Needle Combo 1mL/ 25g

·     Syringe / Needle Combo  0.5mL/ 27g

·     Scalpel Blades #10 & #15

·     Absorbable Suture 2-0, 3-0, 4-0 (dyed if possible) – Needled strands or cassettes

·     Tissue Glue

·     Fenestrated drapes 

·     Gauze of any size (sterile is great)

·     Lap Sponges

·     Optixcare

·     Styptic powder

·     Lubricant - water soluble

·     Digital thermometers

·     Tape 1" Surgical Tape (plastic, paper, cloth)

·     Vaccutainer - 5 and 10 ml (red top – no media)

·     Face Masks

·     Oster A5 Clipper 40 Blade

·     Antibiotics of any kind

·     Ivermectin

·     Flea and tick (both) treatments (like Frontline, NexGuard or Advantix) 

·     De-wormers and Heartworm preventatives (Safe-Guard, Heartgard, Interceptor)

·     Vitamins for dogs and cats – age range from youth to adult to geriatric

·     Ehrlichiosis testing kits like 4Dx or ELISA test kit

·     Medication for mange (i.e. Demodex)