Since August 2024, C.A.R.E.4Paws has done outreach in the Santa Maria riverbed to assist pet families affected by undergoing clearings, which are happening in riverbeds across California. In collaboration with Good Samaritan Shelter, 5Cities Homeless Coalition and CAPSLO, a dedicated C.A.R.E.4Paws’ volunteer team has worked tirelessly to locate families with pets to ensure they have the support they need. We distribute pet food, water and supplies and bring our mobile units out regularly to provide spays/neuters, vaccines, microchips and other veterinary care.
As large parts of the Santa Maria riverbed are being bulldozed down, including people’s temporary homes, some pets have gotten lost. We have captured and brought more than a dozen unowned cats and kittens to Feline Network of Central Coast or Santa Barbara County Animal Services. These cats have been altered and will be adopted to loving homes.
What’s next? We will continue doing outreach and providing support. In fact, we just encountered a large community cat population and will be trapping and altering them on October 11. Our goal is to get all community cats safe placement afterward.
While the situation in the Santa Maria riverbed is dire, we have some pawsitive news. Our team encountered a Santa Maria dog that had been lost for some time and reunited him with his family, who was beyond happy to have their pup back. Also, we love and appreciate the contributions from our generous community to pay for pet food and crates as well as for medical care. This includes a $5,000 spay/neuter grant from ResQcats. Plus, Orcutt Pet Hospital recently donated a dozen crates.
If you are able to help, we’re incredibly grateful for all donations to support our work.
Select “Support pet families in the riverbed” from the “Where do you want your donation go?” dropdown menu.
