San Lázaro - A Saint and a Refuge

In Cuban Catholicism, Lazarus, the patron saint of the poor and sick, is represented as a homeless beggar surrounded by dogs. ... Cuba's Lazarus works miracles for the destitute and the infirm, making him one of the country's most popular saints

San Lázaro is also known as Babalú Ayé, an Orisha in Santería.

"San Lázaro Viqia " is also the name of an animal refuge in 

Santa Clara, Cuba.

San Lázaro has a place of honour at the refuge.

Every year on December 17th, thousands of worshippers from all over Cuba make the pilgrimage to the small church in Rincón, 17 km from Havana. Santeria and Catholic beliefs have blended as people honour Babalú Ayé, the deity with healing power, also known as San Lázaro or Lazarus. Many pilgrims who come to Rincón are sick. People crawl or walk on their knees, some of them are carrying a cross or a block of concrete. Believers in Saint Lazarus ask for health and prosperity.

And on December 17 San Lázaro is loaded onto the tri-cycle in 

Santa Clara for a tour.

On November 19 ..  I traveled to Cuba.

It was a long overdue trip. 

18 months since my last visit thanks to COVID

For many years 10kg of medications for humans was allowed to 

enter duty free.

With COVID , until the end of 2021, this was increased to UNLIMITED.

Added to that Resolution was an exemption for Veterinary Supplies

Resolution 430/2021, published in Official Gazette No. 79 Extraordinary of September 9, 2021, authorizes the “non-commercial import” to Cuba of “antibiotics, antifungals, antiparasitics, vitamin mineral supplements, instruments for veterinary use and accessories for pets, in their original containers, duly labeled and identified with the commercial and generic name or international common name “

Medications

With this opportunity I delivered medication and supples to Santa Clara.

We thank Dr.Michael Belovich and Yonge Street Animal Hospital for their donation making this delivery possible.

Suture

Collars and leashes

 Once I had my feet on the ground in Santa Clara
Dra.Roseli Ortega took me on a tour.

We started at Parque Vidal in the centre of Santa Clara. 

Dogs gather there as local protectors feed them.

If veterinary care is need, they receive it from volunteer Veterinarians.

Pregnant bitches are relocated to the refuge which is located in the "Hospital Zone"

I went for a ride along.

 

Puppies are then offered for adoption.

There is also a dedicated area for cats

San Lázaro Viqia celebrates it's second anniversary on this evening of December 17.

Obviously the dogs give thanks for this sanctuary

Volunteers are desperately needed.

One or two hours per week would be a huge help.

Food is always welcome.

If you, or anyone you know in Santa Clara, can help contact ...

San Lázaro Viqia

Facebook page

If you would like to direct a donation through our Canada Helps portal use the "Donate Now" button.

Leave a message you are directing your gift to Santa Clara.

Only Hours To Go!!!!

Yes Nala!

June is almost over and the Great Canadian Giving Challenge will be done for another year.

Every dollar donated gives us one more chance at $20,000.

A minimum donation of $3 is all it takes.

Going into the final day here is the score.

20 Canada ( ON 13, BC 3, NS 3, QC 1)

2 Australia

2 Great Britain

0- the rest of the world.

Interesting that the countries giving are Britannia and her Colonies.

Update as of 10:30pm eat

Thanks to you all we are $242 $197 away from our goal of surpassing last year.

 

Get your country in the game!!!!!

The contest ends June 30, 2021 at 11:59:59 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time (PDT)

The draw is on July 1!

With $20,000 we can do more than 666 spay/neuters

What a difference your $3 could make!

The Great Canadian Giving Challenge is here!

The Great Canadian Giving Challenge is here!

 For the entire month of June, every $1 you donate to the Spanky Project through www.canadahelps.org qualifies us for a chance to win $20,000! 

The more you give

... the more chances for us to win!

Your generosity will help Cubans help their animals. 

Last year's results .

Country by Country

18 Canada

2 Australia

2 UK

1 Mexico

1 USA

We received 24 donations for a total of 1277 chances to win the $20,000

The challenge is on for 2021

With $20,000 we could do 666 more spay/neuters.

We can send critical supplies to help Veterinarians and Protectors

The "Days of COVID" have caused the cancellation of three mass campañas.

That is over 1000 spay/neuters we will have to recoup.

The pandemic is taking a serious toll on Cuba.

 Cubans are in a struggle not experienced since the "Special Period" of the early 90's.

Help us help Cubans help their animals.

The need is greater than ever.

Your gift will prevent suffering and save lives.

Cars for Cuban Animals

We now have a new way 

to help Cubans help their animals.

Are you tired our countless and costly repairs.

Do you want to avoid the hassle of selling your vehicle or junking it.

Donate It! 

Donate a Car Canada accepts vehicle donations for Spanky Project. 

Free towing is provided in most areas across Canada, or you can drop off your vehicle to maximize your donation. 

When you donate your car, truck, RV, boat, or motorcycle to 

Spanky Project through Donate A Car Canada, it will either be recycled or sold at auction (depending on its condition, age and location). 

Donate a Car Canada will look after all the details to make it easy for Spanky Project to benefit. After your vehicle donation is complete we will send you a tax receipt and 

we will put your gift to good use. 

Please click here to donate a vehicle.

If you are not in Canada or don't have a vehicle ...

... but still want to help Cubans help their animals.

Click below

Thank you for your support.

We are excited about this new way of 

funding our spay and neuter campañas.

$30 is our cost for a single spay/neuter.

How many surgeries will your vehicle sponsor?

Cuban Veterinarians Have Their Day

Veterinary Medicine Day is a day celebrated on different dates in each country of the world, based on the most representative historical events.

Until 1853, there was no formal veterinary education in any country in the Americas. The first veterinary school in Latin America was founded in Mexico for this year (1853), the second in Guelph-Canada in 1862; and the third in Ames-Iowa in the United States of America in 1879.

On March 24, 1961, it was chosen to pay homage to the veterinarians in Cuba in remembrance of the signing of Resolution 254 of the Council of Ministers, which unified all the country's veterinary services into the Revolutionary Veterinary Services, the first state organization dedicated to the free care of breeding animals and pets.

Before this, the day of the veterinarian in Cuba was celebrated on April 10th, since 1907; due to the fact that on that date the First Free School of Veterinary Medicine was founded in Cuba, which was incorporated to the Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of the University of Havana according to Decree No. 126 of January 27th, 1908.

The first attempts to include the teaching of veterinary medicine in Cuba date back to 1857, when on the recommendation of the Sociedad Económica Amigos del País, the creation of a school dedicated to the teaching of the specialty in Cuba was attempted without success, but more obstacles than contributions held back the good intentions of its promoters.

In 1937, the Veterinary School acquires the category of Faculty and months later establishes a new curriculum of four years of duration. In 1942 it opens its new building on the corner of Carlos III and Ayesterán, where it remained until 1976 when the Higher Institute of Agricultural Sciences of Havana, now the Agrarian University of Havana, was created.

According to data from the Ministry of Agriculture, Cuba currently has five faculties of Veterinary Medicine and 14 schools of middle-level studies, in which more than seven thousand specialists dedicated to the care and protection of animal health have graduated, as well as several research centers, among which the National Center of Agricultural Health and the Institute of Animal Science stand out for their results.

Every March 24, the workers dedicated to animal health in Cuba receive a well-deserved tribute in recognition of their work.

Since 2003 the Spanky Project has come to know many Cuban veterinarians.

We thank them all for their hard work, love and dedications.

Los acontecimientos del último año nos han recordado que todos tenemos que trabajar juntos por el bien de todos. Seguimos comprometidos con nuestros colegas y amigos en Cuba y esperamos volver tan pronto como se considere seguro para todos. 

Dr.Michael Belovich

 Events of the last year have reminded us all that we all have to work 

together for the good of all.

We remain committed to our colleagues and friends in Cuba and look forward to returning as soon as it is deemed safe for all.

Dr.Michael Belovich

Together we are stronger.

Join us in support of Cuba's Veterinarians as they tend to the countries animal population.

¡Felicidades!

One Love