Wednesday, March 22, 2017

On The Ground.

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.
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!

Wednesday, March 15, 2017

Wishlist Wednesday


Welcome to another
WISHLIST WEDNESDAY
We are happy to say our Spanky Caja program has taken off.

The Spanky Caja is a preloaded box of donated supplied.
Travellers from the USA pay the postage to receive the box.
They then deliver to a designated location in an area they are visiting.
Contact Audrey to get yours.

We are in need of a number of supplies in Havana.

Supplies which do not need advance approvals
Supplies which you could purchase and deliver to convenient locations in Habana Vieja and Vedado.
Flea and tick treatments (like Frontline, NexGuard or Advantix)
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 like 4Dx or ELISA test kit
Medication for mange (i.e. Demodex)
Antibiotics like Amoxicillin, Tetracycline or Doxycycline
Antiseptics like Chlorhexidine or Povidone Iodine
Sterile surgical gloves
Latex or Nitrile gloves (non-sterile, usually 100/box)
Milk substitutes for kittens and puppies (powdered is lighter easier to carry)
Old towels and small blankets
Sheets - we have a seamstress that will make trap and cage covers
Medicated shampoos
Nail clippers specifically for dogs and cats
Leashes and collars. Slip leads.  Also harnesses for small dogs.
Flea combs
AAA Batteries (for surgeons headlamps – especially rechargeable)
Duct tape (we use it to mark cages so we don’t mix up animals and their paperwork)
General office supplies - pens, Sharpies, copy paper, clip boards and solar calculators
Cotton Balls
ZipLoc Sandwich Bags
ZipLoc Gallon Bags
Styptic Powder
Large Plastic Tarps
Bungee Cords
Large Trash Bags
Masking Tape
Zip Ties (lighter weight and 4-5” long)
Plastic Bowls

Cotton Roll Non-Sterile 1 Lb
Scalpel Blades Sterile #10    100/Bx
Scalpel Blades Sterile #15   100/Bx
OptixCare Eye Lubricant
1cc Syringes, Sterile  100/Bx

Check out some previous WISHLISTS.

Help Cubans help their animals.
Set a little space aside in your baggage for much needed supplies

 We also have a GoFundMe appeal ongoing.
Supplies have been prepositioned for 2017.
The bills are in!!!!
Helps us where you can.

Spanky Project
Box 6136
Picton ON  K0K 2T0