We headed to Cuba for the first time in Oct 2014. We had no idea what to expect other then sun, sand and to relax on the beach.
On our first day we were greeted by this lil skinny dog. She was cautious but friendly as she moved in closer. I looked down at this poor girl noticing how she was just skin and bones. I just couldn't sit there knowing she was hungry, so off i went to get her some food and fresh water.
This was the beginning of our friendship, we decided to call her little orphan Annie.
She became a big part of our holiday. We were greeted daily by Annie with her lil happy barks and dance, tail wagging a mile a minute, happily trotting alongside of us alongside of us as we headed to the beach.
On our first day we were greeted by this lil skinny dog. She was cautious but friendly as she moved in closer. I looked down at this poor girl noticing how she was just skin and bones. I just couldn't sit there knowing she was hungry, so off i went to get her some food and fresh water.
This was the beginning of our friendship, we decided to call her little orphan Annie.
She became a big part of our holiday. We were greeted daily by Annie with her lil happy barks and dance, tail wagging a mile a minute, happily trotting alongside of us alongside of us as we headed to the beach.
The day came when our holiday was over and it was time to leave. I have to admit, i cried like a baby!
I was heart broken at the thought of leaving Annie, worried about her going hungry and being lonely.
I knew she would go on and find other kind people to feed her but the thought of her wondering why we would leave her was heartbreaking. How many days would she come back to look for us?
I made a promise to find help for her when i returned to Canada. And now a life changing journey begins.
I was heart broken at the thought of leaving Annie, worried about her going hungry and being lonely.
I knew she would go on and find other kind people to feed her but the thought of her wondering why we would leave her was heartbreaking. How many days would she come back to look for us?
I made a promise to find help for her when i returned to Canada. And now a life changing journey begins.
Upon our return as I promised I began seeking help for lil Annie. This was a very daunting task, i won't go into too much detail but let me tell you.. we were very naive to animal welfare in the caribbean and add to that with this being in Cuba. I reached out to a few organizations and mainly lived in my email inbox, waiting for replies. I am not one to give up easily but I was really getting frustrated and about to give up any hope of helping Annie.
Then i received an email from Les Inglis founder of (TAP) The Aniplant Project. Finally someone who was willing to try to help. Les was really wonderful, he forwarded my emails to Nora Garcia (President of Aniplant in Havana). Les advised that they will help as long as I was willing to adopt Annie and have her sent to Canada. Of course the answer was yes, i wanted Annie to have a life she deserved whether it was here with me or in Cuba.
Now the fun begins. You see I do not speak Spanish and Nora does not speak English, thank god for online translators! It was getting difficult with the 3 way messages from me to Les , the Les sending to Nora. As well, the internet is not very reliable in Cuba.
Nora was willing to go to the Cayos to rescue Annie, this is about 5-6 hour drive one way.
In November 2014, Nora headed out to the Cayos with a Vet to find Annie. We had barriers to cross first before leaving to the Cayos, permissions had to be given to cross the causeway and to also enter the resort. Nora received the ok's and off she went.
Two days in Cayo Santa Maria and the news upon her return was that they could not find Annie. I was heartbroken once again. I really couldn't understand how Annie could not be found, she was always by the Spa pool area. We figured that maybe someone had taken into their room or due to the weather she could be off in a sheltered area she had found. Was i giving up? No. Nora was not giving up either.
I then wrote to Nora that I would contact one of the staff at the resort whom I knew also took care of the dog and would give them her cell number and we would collaborate together to rescue Annie. Thankfully Nora agreed and so we started again.
Nora and I started writing daily, she would tell me about her calls from the staff regarding Annie and our friendship began to bond over this rescue. I wanted to know more about Nora Garcia and her wonderful work that she does for the strays in Cuba. I will tell you much more about Nora later in this blog.
Then i received an email from Les Inglis founder of (TAP) The Aniplant Project. Finally someone who was willing to try to help. Les was really wonderful, he forwarded my emails to Nora Garcia (President of Aniplant in Havana). Les advised that they will help as long as I was willing to adopt Annie and have her sent to Canada. Of course the answer was yes, i wanted Annie to have a life she deserved whether it was here with me or in Cuba.
Now the fun begins. You see I do not speak Spanish and Nora does not speak English, thank god for online translators! It was getting difficult with the 3 way messages from me to Les , the Les sending to Nora. As well, the internet is not very reliable in Cuba.
Nora was willing to go to the Cayos to rescue Annie, this is about 5-6 hour drive one way.
In November 2014, Nora headed out to the Cayos with a Vet to find Annie. We had barriers to cross first before leaving to the Cayos, permissions had to be given to cross the causeway and to also enter the resort. Nora received the ok's and off she went.
Two days in Cayo Santa Maria and the news upon her return was that they could not find Annie. I was heartbroken once again. I really couldn't understand how Annie could not be found, she was always by the Spa pool area. We figured that maybe someone had taken into their room or due to the weather she could be off in a sheltered area she had found. Was i giving up? No. Nora was not giving up either.
I then wrote to Nora that I would contact one of the staff at the resort whom I knew also took care of the dog and would give them her cell number and we would collaborate together to rescue Annie. Thankfully Nora agreed and so we started again.
Nora and I started writing daily, she would tell me about her calls from the staff regarding Annie and our friendship began to bond over this rescue. I wanted to know more about Nora Garcia and her wonderful work that she does for the strays in Cuba. I will tell you much more about Nora later in this blog.