SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – After a weekend of generosity from pet lovers, a public food drive has restocked the supplies for C.A.R.E.4Paws in Santa Barbara County.
The non-profit set up in multiple locations to accept food, blankets and pet products from residents, coming through in a safe flow patterns.
Some dropped off small quantities. Others had multiple 50-pound bags.
Staff members were on scene to help with the unloading and sorting.
It comes at a time when the need for food has shot up during the COVID crisis and when many people have become jobless or work insecure. This drive is helping with their pet costs.
C.A.R.E.4Paws says nationwide the number of pets living in a poverty setting has gone up 20 percent compared to the number before COVID.
Isabelle Gullo, C.A.R.E.4Paws’ Executive Director and Cofounder says, “during tough times people rely on their pets more than ever. A majority of pet owners can’t imagine going through these tough times without their four-legged friends. Poverty severely impacts both people and pets, and it’s critical that we, as a community, work together to provide a safety net for those in need to prevent suffering and ensure animals can stay with their owners.”
The need is vital for the pets and their owners for companionship and mental stability during a crisis. “Especially during tough times so it becomes difficult with something so big as the pandemic to make sure they have pet food and veterinary care,” said Gullo.
Thousands of animals and pet owners have been helped every year. “And since the pandemic started that number has tripled. So in 2020 we helped 20,000 pet owners,” said Gullo.
In a statement C.A.R.E.4 Paws said:
Since the start of COVID-19, C.A.R.E.4Paws’ Companion Pet Assistance (CPA) program has distributed more than four tons of pet food per week, assisting pet owners in need Santa Barbara Countywide. That’s roughly 400,000 pounds of pet food! Prior to the pandemic, the organization typically distributed two tons of food total in a year. This has increased C.A.R.E.4Paws’ pet food expenses to an unparalleled $10,000 monthly.
C.A.R.E. 4Paws distributes the food through its mobile veterinary clinic sites which is listed on its website. The organization also collaborates with groups like Adam’s Angels which meets at Alamada Park each Thursday, to help those in need with food, clothing, wellness and food for their pets.
Gullo said, “we want to be there to support and we don’t want anyone to feel bad about coming to pick up food. It’s important.”
In addition to the food, blankets, and collars, there’s also a mobile grooming donation at the park site once a month. “Tthe need was great for grooming because they can’t give baths where they are currently living.”
Going forward even with COVID slowing down, the need is expected to be high for months.
Gullo said, “we’re not seeing the need diminishing anytime soon. So we want to be here to support the community. It’s community supporting community to help others in need.”
Donations over the weekend were made Saturday at multiple locations throughout Santa Barbara County including The Earl Warren Showgrounds in Santa Barbara, Deckers Brands in Goleta, and Santa Ynez Valley Humane Society & Dog Adoption Welfare Group (DAWG) in Buellton. On Sunday, April 25, drive-thru donations were dropped off at Ryon Park in Lompoc and Elks Event Center in Santa Maria.
Ongoing donation drop off sites includes Dioji K-9 Resort & Athletic Club in Santa Barbara and Goleta, Plaza Deli, Montecito Pet Shop, Advanced Veterinary Specialists (AVS), Carpinteria’s Animal Medical Clinic and Santa Barbara County Animal Services’ shelters in Santa Barbara, Lompoc and Santa Maria.
C.A.R.E.4Paws offers assistance with free and low-cost veterinary care for low-income pet owners through its Mobile Community Medicine & Spay/Neuter Outreach program.
The organization’s mobile clinic works directly in the County’s most underserved areas and, since the C.A.R.E.4Paws and its services, visit care4paws.org or reach out via info@care4paws.org or 805-968-2273.
Posted at4:58 PM, Apr 25, 2021 and last updated6:58 PM, Apr 25, 2021
C.A.R.E.4Paws is stacked with new dog and cat food items following its Pet Food Donation Drive-Thru Saturday and Sunday.
Spanning across Santa Barbara County, this was the non-profit organization’s first countywide donation drive-thru event, according to the C.A.R.E.4Pawswebsite.
C.A.R.E.4Paws executive director and co-founder, Isabelle Gullo, said she hopes to collect fresh food and funds for pet owners in need during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The pandemic has created a lot of hardships for people, so C.A.R.E.4Paws is here,” said Gullo. “We have a big safety net of services which includes distribution of pet food, so we’re trying to help as many people as we can so that pets can stay in their homes.”
Community members were asked to bring new and unopened dry or canned pet food, as well as new pet supplies such as beds, blankets and pet jackets.
Drop-off sites at the Elks Unocal Event Center in Santa Maria and Ryon Park in Lompoc were accepting donations Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
C.A.R.E.4Paws also had drive-thru donation sites Saturday at the Earl Warren Showgrounds in Santa Barbara, Deckers in Goleta and the Santa Ynez Valley Humane Society/DAWG in Buellton.
Other drop-off locations include George’s Pet Shop in Montecito, the Animal Medical Clinic in Carpinteria and the Dioji K-9 Resort & Athletic Club in Goleta.
Community members interested in assisting C.A.R.E.4Paws do not need to step outside of their home to do so — people can shop from the comfort of their own home on the organization’sPet Food Amazon Wish Listor make a financial donationonline.
Monetary donations can also be mailed to C.A.R.E.4Paws, PO Box 60524, Santa Barbara, 93160.
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif. — The COVID-19 pandemic has created extreme challenges for two and four-legged family members alike.
Across the nation, the number of pets living in poverty has increased by more than 20 percent compared to pre-COVID estimates, according to an ASCPA study.
To prevent suffering and ensure companion animals stay healthy and with their owners through these difficult times, nonprofit C.A.R.E.4Paws is rallying the community to support its pet food donation drive-thru taking place today and Sunday from 10 a.m. till 2 p.m. with multiple drop-off locations available countywide.
Today, supporters can drop off pet food and monetary donations at Earl Warren Showgrounds in Santa Barbara, Deckers Brands in Goleta, and Santa Ynez Valley Humane Society & Dog Adoption Welfare Group (DAWG) in Buellton.
On Sunday, drive-thru donations can be dropped off at Ryon Park in Lompoc and Elks Event Center in Santa Maria.
Contributions of dog and cat food — unopened products only — can be dropped off in bins (to limit person-to-person contact). The C.A.R.E.4Paws team is of course on hand to help unload donations as needed.
C.A.R.E.4Paws, thanks to many of its longtime business and agency partners, has a dozen additional locations where donations can be dropped off this weekend or anytime before and after the official drive- thru event.
This includes Dioji K-9 Resort & Athletic Club in Santa Barbara and Goleta, Plaza Deli, Montecito Pet Shop, Advanced Veterinary Specialists (AVS), Carpinteria’ Animal Medical Clinic, and Santa Barbara County Animal Services’ shelters in Santa Barbara, Lompoc and Santa Maria.
Since the start of COVID-19, C.A.R.E.4Paws’ Companion Pet Assistance program has distributed more than four tons of pet food per week, assisting pet owners in need Santa Barbara Countywide. That’s roughly 400,000 pounds of pet food! Prior to the pandemic, the organization typically distributed two tons of food total in a year.
This has increased C.A.R.E.4Paws’ pet food expenses to an unparalleled $10,000 monthly.
“A majority of pet owners can’t imagine going through these tough times without their four-legged friends,” C.A.R.E.4Paws’ executive director Isabelle Gullo said. “Research shows it and we continue to hear it firsthand from clients, donors, social media followers and anyone in between.
Poverty severely impacts both people and pets, and it’s critical that we, as a community, work together to provide a safety net for those in need to prevent suffering and ensure animals can stay with their owners.”
C.A.R.E.4Paws distributes pet food during all of its mobile veterinary clinic days and participates in several weekly distribution events with agencies such as the Foodbank of Santa Barbara County, People Helping People, and the senior centers of Los Alamos and Guadalupe. Its Mobile Pet Meals team delivers pet food directly to homebound seniors, senior centers and low-income housing facilities.
Additionally, the nonprofit provides pet food and supplies at several Pet Resource Centers cohosted with agencies such as Santa Barbara Rescue Mission, Good Samaritan Shelters and Santa Barbara County Animal Services. Two new centers are launching by June 1 at SBCAS’ Santa Barbara and Lompoc shelters, adding to the center already operating successfully at SBCAS’ shelter in Santa Maria.
“The more pet food and money we raise, the greater of a safety net we can provide for community members who are struggling,” Gullo concluded.
For more details about how to support the Pet Food Donation Drive-Thru, you canvisit their website.
The COVID-19 pandemic has created extreme challenges for two- and four-legged family members alike. Across the nation, the number of pets living in poverty has increased by more than 20 percent compared to pre-COVID estimates, according to an ASCPA study. To prevent suffering and ensure companion animals stay healthy and with their owners through these difficult times, nonprofit C.A.R.E.4Paws is rallying the community to support its Pet Food Donation Drive-Thru taking place onApril 24 and 25, 10am to 2pm, with multiple drop-off locations available countywide.
On Saturday, April 24, supporters can drop off pet food and monetary donations at Earl Warren Showgrounds in Santa Barbara, Deckers Brands in Goleta, and Santa Ynez Valley Humane Society & Dog Adoption Welfare Group (DAWG) in Buellton. On Sunday, April 25, drive-thru donations can be dropped off at Ryon Park in Lompoc and Elks Event Center in Santa Maria. Contributions of dog and cat food (unopened products only) can be dropped off in bins (to limit person-to-person contact). The C.A.R.E.4Paws team is of course on hand to help unload donations as needed.
C.A.R.E.4Paws, thanks to many of its longtime business and agency partners, has a dozen additional locations where donations can be dropped off April 24-25 or anytime before and after the official drive-thru event. This includes Dioji K-9 Resort & Athletic Club in Santa Barbara and Goleta, Plaza Deli, Montecito Pet Shop, Advanced Veterinary Specialists (AVS), Carpinteria’ Animal Medical Clinic, and Santa Barbara County Animal Services’ shelters in Santa Barbara, Lompoc and Santa Maria. All locations, addresses and more details are listed atcare4paws.org/drive.
Since the start of COVID-19, C.A.R.E.4Paws’ Companion Pet Assistance (CPA) program has distributed more than four tons of pet food per week, assisting pet owners in need Santa Barbara Countywide. That’s roughly 400,000 pounds of pet food! Prior to the pandemic, the organization typically distributed two tons of food total in a year. This has increased C.A.R.E.4Paws’ pet food expenses to an unparalleled $10,000 monthly.
C.A.R.E.4Paws volunteers packaging pet food for distribution – Photo by WinkFace Photography
“A majority of pet owners can’t imagine going through these tough times without their four-legged friends,” says Isabelle Gullo, C.A.R.E.4Paws’ Executive Director and Cofounder. “Research shows it and we continue to hear it firsthand from clients, donors, social media followers and anyone in between.” But, Gullo says, when money is tight or nonexistent, the stress of not being able to care for a pet can be overwhelming. “Poverty severely impacts both people and pets, and it’s critical that we, as a community, work together to provide a safety net for those in need to prevent suffering and ensure animals can stay with their owners.”
C.A.R.E.4Paws distributes pet food during all of its mobile veterinary clinic days and participates in several weekly distribution events with agencies such as the Foodbank of Santa Barbara County, People Helping People, and the senior centers of Los Alamos and Guadalupe. Its Mobile Pet Meals team delivers pet food directly to homebound seniors, senior centers and low-income housing facilities. Additionally, the nonprofit provides pet food and supplies at several Pet Resource Centers cohosted with agencies such as Santa Barbara Rescue Mission, Good Samaritan Shelters and Santa Barbara County Animal Services (SBCAS). Two new centers are launching by June 1 at SBCAS’ Santa Barbara and Lompoc shelters, adding to the center already operating successfully at SBCAS’ shelter in Santa Maria.
Beyond pet food, C.A.R.E.4Paws offers assistance with free and low-cost veterinary care for low-income pet owners through its Mobile Community Medicine & Spay/Neuter Outreach program. The organization’s mobile clinic works directly in the County’s most underserved areas and, since the pandemic started, C.A.R.E.4Paws has increased its number of clinic days from 140 to more than 200 per year. The number of clinic services provided has grown by 50 percent since 2019, including spay/neuter surgeries, vaccines, treatment of skin issues, dental procedures and mass removals.
Another critical service available to pet owners is C.A.R.E.4Paws’ Safe Haven program, launched in partnership with Domestic Violence Solutions (DVS) in January 2020. Pet owners exposed to domestic violence can seek safety with their pets at a DVS shelter and C.A.R.E.4Paws arranges for immediate, anonymous boarding or foster care for their animals.
On April 24 and 25, in addition to donating pet food and money at one of C.A.R.E.4Paws’ many drop-off locations, community members can visitcare4paws.org/driveto donate online and purchase food to be delivered from the organization’s Amazon Wish List. “The more pet food and money we raise, the greater of a safety net we can provide for community members who are struggling,” says Gullo.
For more details about how to support the Pet Food Donation Drive-Thru, go tocare4paws.org/drive. For more information about C.A.R.E.4Paws and its services, visitcare4paws.orgor reach out viainfo@care4paws.orgor 805-968-2273.
Nonprofit C.A.R.E.4Paws will conduct a Pet Food Donation Drive-Thru from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday to collect pet food that will be distributed to low-income pet owners countywide who are having trouble feeding their cats and dogs.
On Saturday, pet food and monetary donations can be dropped off at the Santa Ynez Valley Humane Society & Dog Adoption Welfare Group, also known as DAWG, in Buellton.
Then on Sunday, donations can be dropped off at Ryon Park in Lompoc and the Elks Unocal Event Center in Santa Maria, a C.A.R.E.4Paws spokeswoman said.
The organization is looking for contributions of dog and cat food in unopened containers, which can be dropped off in bins to limit person-to-person contact, although members of the C.A.R.E.4Paws team will be on hand to help unload donations.
However, donations also can be dropped off Saturday and Sunday or anytime before and after the official drive-through event at the Santa Barbara County Animal Services shelters in Lompoc and Santa Maria.
All drop-off locations, addresses and more details are listed atcare4paws.org/drive.
Prior to the pandemic, C.A.R.E.4Paws Companion Pet Assistance program typically distributed 2 tons of food in a year, said Isabelle Gullo, executive director and co-founder of C.A.R.E.4Paws.
But since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the program has distributed more than 4 tons of pet food per week for a total of 400,000 pounds, which has increased the organization’s pet food expenses to an unprecedented $10,000 per month, Gullo said.
