More Than Tourists.

It's official ..... let the packing begin.

We now have our Cuban visas in hand.
This piece of paper permits us to do more than tan, dance and drink rum.

But along with the visa comes other responsibilities.
Like documenting supplies for Customs/Aduana preapproval.
When are bringing purchased supplies totaling over $2800.oo and donations in kind of over $3600.00.

A big thank you goes out to Ethicon and Codman, both members of the Johnson & Johnson Family of companies.
Their generous donation of suture material and surgical instruments will be a huge boost to the Spanky Project's work in Havana.

Also a big thank you to those that have made donations here by PayPal or through the Cuba Canada Friendship Association/Mackenzie-Papineau Memorial Fund.

One of the three veterinarians on this trip will be Dr.Michael Belovich,

practice owner /veterinarian of the
Yonge Street Animal Hospital
in Toronto.
If Dr.B's name sounds familiar perhaps it may be because you watch Animals House Calls.
He is a frequent guest on the Animal Planet show hosted by Ann Rohmer.

This is going to be a great trip !!

During my trip to Asia some good news was received.
“Success!! Shaggy arrived in the UK on Saturday afternoon., 17th Nov. I am now a happy, excited owner of a dog once again. “

By the sounds of it the process was not an easy one

“What a drama Operation Shaggy has been. Amparo and I spent all day going from place to place in a taxi. I needed official permission from the head of the vetinerary clinic in Habana, followed by legal validation of her signature at another office in another part of Habana. The rest of the day was spent at the airport, gathering all the other bits of paper to be signed and stamped. Amparo and I thought that was the end of it and the day of the flight would be easy. Wrong again! Another whole day was spent at the airport running from one office to the other - to the Customs office 3 times, an examination by the airport vet, paying for one thing in one office and another in another office. We were exhausted. Even Amparo was confused at the end of the process, and she speaks the language. I had 13 official stamps on my papers! She said it must be easier to move an elephant that it was to get one little dog to the UK. I could never have done it on my own.”


Sound like the exit process for pets could be streamlined a little. I think this is something we can work on.
All the best to Marilyn and Shaggy.