When C.A.R.E.4Paws launched our first-ever Community Cares Campaign on May 6, the goal was simple: bring people together to help pets and families access the care and support they need before a crisis occurs.
The month-long campaign kicked off on C.A.R.E.4Paws’ 17th anniversary and was fueled by an extraordinary $60,000 matching-gift challenge created during the paddle raise at our annual Happy Tails Celebration & Fundraiser. Throughout May, community members stepped forward to make donations, launch birthday fundraisers, share the campaign with friends and family, and invest in the wellbeing of Central Coast pets and and their people.
Every act of kindness made this possible
Together, supporters not only met the $60,000 match but exceeded it, generating critical funding that will help C.A.R.E.4Paws expand access to affordable veterinary care, emergency medical assistance, pet food and supplies, temporary boarding/foster care and other essential resources.
“Supporting pets starts with supporting people,” says Isabelle Gullö, C.A.R.E.4Paws’ Executive Director and Cofounder. “Community Cares was created to help ensure that families can access support before challenges become crises. The incredible response to this campaign shows how deeply our community cares about keeping pets healthy, safe and with the people who love them.”
A stronger safety net for Central Coast pet families
Nationally, nearly 20 million pets live in homes facing poverty or limited access to veterinary care. On California’s Central Coast, we see daily how rising housing costs, increasing veterinary expenses and limited transportation options leave many families struggling to access even basic services for their animals.
By removing barriers to care, C.A.R.E.4Paws helps families stay together, reducing stress and hardship while preserving the companionship, stability and emotional support that pets provide during life’s most challenging moments.
Following the success of the 2026 Community Cares Campain, it will be an annual May event dedicated to expanding access to pet wellness on the Central Coast.
Because every pet deserves a healthy life, and every family deserves the chance to provide it.
“We are truly grateful for the kindness and generosity,” says Gullö. “Every dollar raised makes a pawsitive impact for pet families in need.”
