The Autoclave - A Shipping Saga

HIGH FIVE!

We would like to send a big thank to Dr.Mark Kinghorn

Dr. Mark Kinghorn is a prominent veterinarian and the founder of the Roncy Village Veterinary Clinic, as well as a leader at the Bloorcourt Veterinary Clinic, both located in Toronto, Ontario

He is also a Regional Leader with Community Veterinary Outreach (CVO) in Toronto.

They do great work for those of need in the Community.

He is also deeply involved with Catlake Friends of Animush

Their vision is for all fly-in, First Nations communities to have access to the resources they need to provide proper care for their animals, leading to healthier and happier communities overall.

Now he has also helped Cubans help their animals.

Our thanks go to him for his donation of an autoclave to the Spanky Project.

Dr.Mark came to know us through Dr.Michael Belovich.

Dr.Michael is the Spanky Project's Veterinary Medical Director and owner of Yonge Street Animal Hospital in Toronto. He also volunteers with Community Veterinary Outreach (CVO) in Toronto and Catlake Friends of Animush.

Dr.Belovich took possession of the autoclave and had it refurbished.

In February we dropped the Autoclave for packaging and shipping.

We also dropped off IV Fluids and the liquids we use for our 

"Cold Sterilization" 

With the volume of instruments we cycle through in our campañas 

cold sterilization

 is our way of ensuring infection free recoveries.

DGP has been our partner in packaging for several years.

The liquids require special packaging before they fly.

These liquids were already approved for entry into Cuba.

We dropped them off on February 11 ... 

the 10 box 101.5kg shipment flew on Feb 22

The autoclave awaited approval from Cuba 

before packaging and shipping ...

... and the saga begins.

Dropped off Feb 11 

June 9 we finally received the approval from Cuba to ship

June 10 it was packed and ready to ship.

1 piece 46kg flew June 14 via Panama

June 16 it arrived in Havana

And we received the bill!

Packaging Air Cargo Taxes

$1656.02

Then on July 2 we received word from Havana that .. 

... they were unable to have the Autoclave released.

The Importing entity had change and we were not informed.

The Consgnee's name on the Airway Bill (AWB) was different.

Therefore the Consignee could not receive the shipment.

After much back and for between DGP and Copa the AWB was changed

On July 10 COPA acknowledge receipt of the amended AWB

On July 18 Copa confirmed the AWB had been amended in the

system but they now requested a letter of explanation for the change.  

    July 24 COPA required changes in the letter of explanation

July 29 COPA want the letter of explanation in Spanish    `    

    On August 18 the Autoclave arrived at the Consultorio Veterinario Spanky.

Dr. Leyssan Cepero checks out the new addition to the clinic. 

This is a very welcome addition.

We have also delivered a centrifuge, microscope and other clinic necessities.

Dr. Leyssan is the Spanky Project's Cuban Veterinary Director. 

Also, Head Veterinarian at Quinta de los Molinos and the 

Spanky Consultorio.

In 2022 the veterinary clinic space in Quinta de los Molinos 

was opened to the public with the new name.

Consultorio Veterinario 

SPANKY

This was a great honour.

It memorializes our ongoing work since 2003.

++++

Rewind to the "Dangerous Liquids" we shipped.

The liquid themselves cost $4642.30

Specialty packaging and Air Cargo $3243.40

Total

$7885.70

++++

A reminder that all this great work comes with a cost..

In 2024 we did 888 Spay / Neuter

In May 2025* we did 640 Spay /Neuters.

*(we lost a November campaña opportunity due to Hurricane Mellissa)

Let's hope for 1000 in 2026

Please join us in the beautiful work.

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.

Hey! 

We even have a QR code for donations.

Situation Critical

This is why we do what we do.

Helping Cubans help their animals since 2003.

It is a process to get to where we can enjoy the faces of happy Caregivers.

Determining need

Ordering

Packing

Paying

Since the Pandemic we have not been able to fly directly from Toronto to Havana.

So, it's Varadero and a transfer to Havana.

Note the "MX"  marked on our bag tag.

All baggage is screened before coming into the arrival hall.

 MX is the code for "medications"

They believe that is what is in the bag and we will be sent for secondary inspection.

All is we as we always have Cuban import "Permisos".

All of our purchased Veterinary supplies come from Canada.

Spanky Project USA, based in Long Beach CA, flies in with donated supplies 

and other support materials.

Our first day at the campaña location is dedicated to unpacking and setup.

All our controlled drugs leave Canada with an "Exemption Letter" from Health Canada.

The letter states what is being export to where and to whom.

Here Dr.Belovich, our Veterinary Medical Director,  has Dr.Leyssan Cepero sign acknowledging receipt of the drugs.

This document is returned to Health Canada

This is our "cold sterilization" department. 

Surgical instruments ready to go.

All the liquids used for sterilization are sent as "Dangerous Goods".

This requires special packing and air cargo.

Yes, another big expense.

This is the cheque we wrote for the medications and supplies delivered in May.

This is where we stand financially in Canada.

(We have placed our orders)

    In the bank we have $9670.42

 SITUATION CRITICAL

As of November 9

  Spanky Project has received donations from 

    Great Britain, Ireland and Canada (4)

     $745 

    Thank you all.

All this to ensure top level medicine and the best possible outcome.

And happy Caregivers and their "Fur Babies"

Your donation TODAY will get us to 1000 without us having to did out of a hole,

Please join us in this important work with your gift of support

                                                             

Interac e-Transfers

can be sent to

donations@spankyproject.org

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

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

Instant tax charitable receipt will be issued.

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.

Can we do it? With you we can!

In 2024 we set two records during our Spay/Neuter Campañas in Cuba.

Single day

136

Annual

  654  Havana

  234 Trinidad

888  Record

In 2025 we look to break through the 1000 barrier.

Our Havana team was ready in May....

...  Cubans and their furry ones were waiting for us.

The gates opened at 8:30 am 

Our Havana numbers were wonderful.

We could have set a campaña record.

But due to many rejections because of problems like anemia,

 flea and tick infestations, heart murmur, etc,  many animals were ineligible for surgery.

We had an all Cuban surgical team.

All of them had worked with us as students at one time.

Some began with us in 2016

Also we had three young female surgeons who attended our 

surgery workshop 

earlier in the year.

We are so happy to be able to empower women in the Veterinary field

Our total May invoices for drugs and supplies amounted to $30,597.07 plus HST. 

We had to provide the Oficina del History the total for all our expenses related to the campaña. 

That included all meds, supplies, travel and the care and feeding of everyone at the campaña for the six days, which came to .....

$51,963

*all international team members pay for their own travel and lodging 

We are in the planning stage for one more campaña this year.

If we are to go over the 1000  spay/neuters for 2025 we need you..

We are waiting for you.

Please join us in this important work with your gift of support

                                                             

Interac e-Transfers

can be sent to

donations@spankyproject.org

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

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

Instant tax charitable receipt will be issued.

For our supporters in the USA donate through

Spanky Project USA

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

“With Endings Come New Beginnings.”

Spanky

1995 - 2003

“One moment can change a day, one day can change a life and one life can change the world.” 

– Buddha

A few years ago I heard cover of Neil Young's

Heart Of Gold.

It was a version by Passenger.

The video was an emotional viewing for me.

I did find my "Heart of Gold".

It was a Friday 22 years ago, today, we bade "adios" to Spanky.

It was a day filled with her favourite things...

restaurant patio time and finally eating that tuna sandwich...

pizza at the ballpark...

and a walk on the beach .

September 5, 2003 was not to be the end of her story...

"The end is never the end. It's always the beginning of something."

-Kate Lord Brown

"Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle,

 and the life of that candle will not be shortened"

.... on December 14, 2003 that first candle was lit.

The Spanky Project was born with the goal of..

"Helping Cubans help their animals"

“Your purpose in life is to find your purpose and give your whole heart and soul to it.” 
... she gave me that purpose!

December 14 will be our 22th Anniversary.
May Spanky's legacy carry on ... well beyond my years.

In 2024 we performed 888 spay/neuter surgeries.

In May 2025 we did 640 enroute to...

 hopefully 1000+ for the year.

Join us in this beautiful work.