My mission during a trip to Cuba December, 2003 was to make contact with the

Associacion Cubana Para La Proteccion De Animals Y Plantas

(The Society for the Protection of Plants and Animals).

It was my hope to gather information on what could be done to help the street dogs of this beautiful country.

All I had was an address obtained from the internet. With address and a map in hand, I headed off to find their offices.

Upon arriving at the address I had scribbled on paper, I thought I must be at the wrong location. What appeared before me was not an official looking building or office, instead there was a small, obviously residential apartment building with a locked door.

On one of the balconies a woman appeared and I asked her in questionable Spanish if "The Society" was located here.

Without a word she disappeared. Moments later she materialized before me, unlocked the door and led me to an upstairs apartment. After a few taps on the door it opened and I was greeted by a wonderful gentlemen named Oliver.

Oliver, well into his eighties-- yet decades younger in appearance and verve-- is a life-long animal lover. At first, this genuinely concerned man thought that I was there because I had an animal in some sort of need. But through some fractured English on his part, fractured Spanish on mine and the handing back and forth of notes, I finally communicated to him that I did not need his help--- I wanted to help him and his cause.

Oliver proceeded to make several telephone calls in an attempt to have one of his associates speak with me in English. Eventually arrangements were made and I would receive a call at my hotel later that evening.

As promised, that evening I received a call from a woman named Silvia. Silvia, a Dutch national, runs a privately funded group that spays dogs and cats in attempts to control over population. This group also provides veterinary services to those with animals in need. Silvia provided me with the address for a clinic, which was being held the next day, and we arranged to meet.

The next morning I arrived via taxi to a location in Centro Havana.

The taxi driver had some difficulty finding the address, but I knew we had the right place when I saw a smiling Oliver waiting for me on the street.

As we entered the front door and walked into the casa we came upon a courtyard-- well, in a normal home it would be a courtyard. Today it was a recovery room for post-op dogs.

As you can see by the photo, this is not a typical, hospital-like setting.

As I was led further into the house I was introduced to Silvia and "Dr.Joe". They were in the middle of an operation.

These moving clinics are held in people's homes with operations being performed on the kitchen table.

On this day, operations were performed on some twenty dogs and one lucky cat.

The technique Dr.Joe uses for the operations is the left lateral flank spay. Unlike the typical North American practise of the ventral spay, the lateral spay allows for quicker recovery. This procedure does necessitate the shaving of the animals side, this maybe aesthetically unsightly for some, but is much easier on the patient in the long run.

This project began April 1, 2003. Since the beginning this privately funded project has spayed approximately 3000 dogs. With a formula used by the WSPA and confirmed by a Cuban professor of mathematics, the spaying of these dogs means that over a five year period 3,144,000 less dogs will be in need of loving homes.

During my visit a dog was examined and venereal tumours were detected. I was told that depending on availability, chemo therapy would be used to remedy the situation.

The incredibly caring people involved with these clinics are doing wonderful work with limited supplies. Until the overpopulation issue is successfully addressed many dogs and cats will suffer needlessly.

For the record. On that trip I never did find the

Associacion Cubana Para La Proteccion De Animals Y Plantas

What I found I will never forget and forever support.

What can you do to help?

If you are traveling to Cuba, Havana in particular, please consider dropping off some supplies for this worthy project.

Please contact me at losperros@spankyproject.org and I will provide you with contact information.

Click here for a list of requests.