Helping Cuban Animals

I've been retired for 22 years, and I really haven't been looking for something to do. Still, five years ago I took a trip to Cuba and stumbled on something that has kept me busy ever since. My traveling companion was Christina from one of the humane organizations who work for animal protection. She had the name of a contact in Cuba who did animal protection work.

Thus I met Nora Garcia Pérez, the President of Aniplant, the only animal protection organization officially recognized in Cuba. That first trip was packed with visits to zoos, veterinary hospitals, a rabies center, two vet's offices, and many other animal related activities. Christina and I quickly developed lots of respect for Nora's work helping animals. Also, it seemed Nora knew everyone in Cuba who had anything to do with animals. We left Cuba thinking there was something more we could do to help Nora in her work.

In the intervening time, I took four more trips to Cuba, learned lots more about humane work there, and found a way to make an important difference in the lives of many Cuban animals.
This series of blog enteries will be the story of what we do to help Cuban animals, the Cuban culture as related to animals, and the special challenges of working in a beautiful country so estranged from our daily life here in the US.

My wife, Charlene, a life-long animal activist,has been a source of much encouragement in this work for the animals. Her efforts have produced a formal incorporation of The Aniplant Project, Inc., and we have now applied for a 501 (c) (3) designation from the IRS, which will be formal recognition of our status as an approved charity. That 501 (c) (3) application was a big job, but it's finished, and we hope to get the IRS comments soon.

We have asked friends and neighbors for donations, they have responded generously, and we have taken modest amounts of money to Nora for her operations. We have also helped her to purchase anesthesia medicines for use in her growing spay and neuter campaigns. Using our help, Nora has made a dramatic increase in the number of animals she sterilizes each year.

I'll update this blog with new chapters no less often than once each week, and if you follow along, you'll get a good idea of life in Cuba, the plight of the animals there, and the wonderful work Aniplant is doing. We have lot sto say, but each of my additions to the blog will be about this same length. After all, if you wanted to read a book, you wouldn't have come to my blog.

Until the next time,

Les Inglis