On February 25, 2017 the Spanky Project arrived back in Havana.
World Spay Day 2017 Week
This is, now, an annual event we in inaugurated in 2016.
World Spay Day 2017 Week
This is, now, an annual event we in inaugurated in 2016.
Interestingly enough after check-in and before security in Toronto
we were welcomed to Cuba.
What a great feeling to reach the Cuban coastline.
Havana truly feels like home.
After securing our Cooperation Visas, waiting for us at the airport ...
...it was off to Aduana/Customs.
They were aware of our arrival and cleared us quickly.
Above is a small sample of what we were hauling.
We have a GoFundMe appeal going to help pay for the supplies that have now been positioned in Havana for 2017
After the formalities it was off to Habana Vieja and The Prado.
What a joy to have this bit of down time to take in the Artisans on The Prado.
This is a Saturday tradition and one you should take in if you visit.
The first order of business, for me, was to meet with Claudia- Spanky Project Program Manager.
She is heading up a pilot project in Havana Vieja.
It is called Proyecto Plazas and you will hear more about it very soon.
Then off to HQ!
Well actually Terracotta 4. The workshop / studio of Amelia and Angel.
This is our home in Habana Vieja.
Amelia and Angel tend a colony in a park across from their studio.
Here, Claudia and Amelia tend to a kitten that was dumped in the park.
Amelia and Angel do great work supporting other colony keepers.
It's a team effort!
After some late night cat colony surveying it was time to call it a night.
Early morning in Habana Vieja is so peaceful.
Crowded streets by day are deserted and tranquil overnight and into the morning.
After a stroll through the streets it was off to a green oasis in the heart of Havana.
Our deepest thanks go to Dr.Eusebio Leal and the Oficina del Historiador
for granting us the use of this space for our activities.
It is a great show of faith and support for the work we carry out in collaboration
with our Cuban partners.
The Spanky Project is pleased to announce that the pavilion at Quinta de los Molinos is now the permanent home for our sterilization campañas.
And as with any home we personalized it just a little.
With each of our campañas we strive for constant improvement.
This campaña we had our own autoclave for sterilizing our instruments and supplies.
This improves upon the cold sterilization techniques we have used in the past.
Here Dr.Michael Belovich- Spanky Project's Medical Director, works with Dr.Leyssan Cepero Quinta's Veterinarian to ensure the autoclave is up to working standards.
Dr.Michele Travers once again joined us in Havana.
Her past experience with transportation woes and trying to buy a broom were solved.
She brought her own.
With the surgical area set up ..
.... recuperation area prepared and recovery cages (aka bird cages) assembled.
...our day at "Quinta" was pretty much done.
Dr.Leyssan shares a moment with one of the resident "Quinta" dogs.
There was one thing left to do.
Promotional material for our World Spay Day Week
activities was produced and printed in Havana.
Only the folding of a few hundred was left to be done.
This would turn out to be our best campaña ever.
Education, collaboration, sterilization, deparasitization.
If we are to continue to expand this vital work we need your support.
We have an online site for donations at..
Should you prefer to mail in your support you can find us at..
Spanky Project
Box 6136
Picton ON K0K 2T0
Canada
GRACIAS!
