Centro Habana - Barrio Colón

My lodging on this trip, as many trips before, was the Hotel Plaza.

A three star hotel that straddles the tourist haven Habana Vieja and the gritty Centro.

The roof top views at breakfast are great.

The rooms may be a little tired, but
the bed is firm and the linens clean.
Besides, I'm here to be on the streets not in the room.

After breakfast I was off to meet the Spanky Project's Cuban representative, Gladys, and coordinator, Susana.
These two ladies work so hard on behalf of the Spanky Project.
I will forever be indebted to them.

After catching up we hit the streets.

The aim of this trip was to set the stage for the September and November missions.
In September, the Spanky Project has the honour of introducing Animal Balance to Cuba.
This is a "feasibility visit"for Emma Clifford, the founder of Animal Balance.
Their mission statement ...
"Animal Balance believes that high volume, community based sterilization campaigns combined with rabies vaccination is the only humane, logical and sustainable strategy to combat the over population of cats and dogs and prevent the spread of rabies."
Their goals and world wide experience bode well for future collaborations in Cuba.

First stop, Centro.

The Spanky Project has had an ongoing relationship with the
Consultorio Veterinario - Centro Habana.

Photos by S.Hurlich

Magalis (left), the recently retired Consultorio Directora, and Regnit (botom), the current Directora, greeted us. Ibrahim (right) was attending to patients in the treatment area.

With the Comisión de Esterilización doing great work in Havana Vieja, we now have the opportunity to expand our efforts.

This meeting set the stage for that expansion.

Centro Habana is an area with many challenges.
With Animal Balance we will do a modest 25 sterilizations.
This will be a get to know you event and a chance to discuss larger campañas.

Perhaps we will see this guy in September.

On this day he certainly hit a mother load of entrails.

The Barrio Colón area of Centro is a vibrant, real community....

...that can use some help.
We will be here to help Cubans help their animals.