Two Burnaby animal lovers are raising money for medical supplies for an animal welfare organization in Cuba.

The pair is travelling to Havana, Cuba for a week starting Dec. 4. As part of their vacation, Charlotte Sedens and Anne-Marie Nagata plan to visit Havana to present the supplies.

"We don't have a set goal in mind," Sedens said, regarding fundraising efforts. "Just as much as we can."

As of Nov. 3, they had raised $100.

Sedens researched fundraising and volunteering opportunities to help orphans in Cuba, after deciding to vacation there with her friend, Nagata.

She came across a fundraising website based in Toronto, Ont. - the Spanky Project - and decided to raise funds to buy supplies to help veterinarians spay/neuter and provide medical attention to stray dogs in Cuba.

The Spanky Project, run by Terry Shewchuk, raises supply donations to help dogs, cats and horses in Cuba.

"It sure sounds like Charlotte and Anne-Marie are going at this with a passion," Shewchuk wrote in an e-mail. "These supplies will go to support a project in La Habana Vieja (Old Havana), Protectoras, (to) rescue strays from the street."

Dr. Fernando Gispert, of Clinica Veterinaria Laika, is in charge of the project in Havana, Cuba.

The animals are nursed to health over a 30-day period before being spayed or neutered, Shewchuk said, and after recovering are put up for adoption.

He asks that people travelling to Havana bring supplies. The Spanky Project plans to deliver enough supplies for 100 sterilizations, he added.

"I wasn't aware there was an organization like that," Sedens said. Having travelled to Costa Rica, she knew stray animals were a problem there, but there wasn't an organization she could find that helped the animals.

"It was really sad, the condition they live in, their bones sticking out," she said.

She was glad to find out the situation was different in Cuba.

Sedens, who graduated from Simon Fraser University in April, is a volunteer at the Vancouver Aquarium and the Wildlife Rescue Association of B.C.

Nagata works at the Burnaby Veterinary Hospital and is buying the supplies through its suppliers.

She chose Cuba as a travel destination because she had been there nine or 10 years ago and really enjoyed it. Nagata is celebrating her graduation from nursing school.

"Animals area huge part of both of our lives," she said.

She and Sedens had become friends in high school.

The pair plans to purchase deworming medication, gauze and other types of medicine.

Those who wish to give to the cause can drop off donations at the Burnaby Veterinary Hospital at 2210 Springer Ave, daily between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.

The Spanky Project can receive monetary donations as well, via the Cuba Canada Friendship Association and the Mackenzie-Papineau Memorial Fund. Cheques should be made to the Mackenzie-Papineau Memorial Fund, with Spanky Project on the memo line. Tax receipts are available.

For more information on the Spanky Project, go to www.spankyproject.org.