Albus Fund
Every year, hundreds of families on California’s Central Coast reach out to C.A.R.E.4Paws for assistance with urgent veterinary care. We know that countless dogs and cats do not receive the care they need without financial assistance. That’s where our Albus Fund steps in. As resources allow, the Albus Fund assists with urgent and lifesaving care at C.A.R.E.4Paws’ partner veterinary clinics, helping to ensure that pets get the treatment they deserve and families receive the support they desperately need.
Since 2023, working with AVS and dozens other Central Coast vet clinics, the Albus Fund has helped 200 dogs and cats with urgent care at the average cost of $500 per pet.
We launched the Albus Fund alongside philanthropic animal lovers Andrew and Kendra Feshbach and Advanced Veterinary Specialists (AVS) in 2023. AVS had saved the life of the Feshbach’s beloved Aussie, Albus, and the couple wanted to help other families without the means to pay for emergency care. Right now, for the third year, the Feshbachs invite the community to partake in a $25,000 matching gift challenge to support the Albus Fund. This means your donation doubles, dollar for dollar!
While C.A.R.E.4Paws’ mobile clinic program delivers care to communities in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties, we’re not a full-service or emergency animal hospital. Some pets need care that goes beyond what we can provide in our mobile setting, which means we have to refer the care to one of our vet clinic partners. Sometimes, it’s combination of care provided between our mobile veterinary care and the Albus Fund.
Stories of Compassion
When Nicole Blanco came to C.A.R.E.4Paws’ mobile clinic with her sweet senior, Jax, she was convinced she’d have to put him down. Jax was in severe pain from a tooth abscess and needed surgery, but the $6,000 quote Nicole received from her vet was impossible. C.A.R.E.4Paws’ clinic vet team immediately jumped in to made Jax feel more comfortable and helped schedule him for discounted dental surgery with a partner vet.
All of Jax’s critical care was sponsored by the Albus Fund.
“Jax had stopped eating, walking and was in a lot of pain,” says Nicole. “Now, he’s back to his old self, even running around like a puppy!”
We love the update from Sal after his beloved four-legged companion, Harley Grace, underwent a life-saving, $1,400 bladder-stone operation with help from the Albus Fund and gifts from kind community members. “Thank you all for the assistance,” says Sal, who adds that Harley is helping him navigate through the next chapter in life after he lost his wife, Vivianne. “Harley is doing well and keeps me moving. We are blessed by your support.”
Kitty ended up with seven foxtails in her nose during a walk. Michelle, then in between jobs, was distraught as she could not afford an emergency vet bill. Luckily, the Albus Fund covered the $800 fee. When Michelle picked Kitty up after surgery, she was told Kitty would not have survived for long without care. “To everyone who is donating, thank you!” says Michelle. “You help people like me keep our beloved pets.”
This is Grayson before and after he received care for a severe laceration through the Albus Fund. He was a stray cat then and now he is thriving in a loving home!
One Friday evening in September, Tammy called us in tears about her dog Rebel’s badly infected toe. Tammy and Rebel—a four-year-old Doberman—are unhoused in Santa Maria, and she had no way to pay for urgent veterinary care. Tests revealed Rebel’s toe was cancerous and required amputation, along with additional diagnostics. Even with generous discounts from Dr. Alex Gomes at Main Street Animal Hospital, costs added up quickly. We raised $1,000 through social media, but another $1,000 was still needed.
That’s when the Albus Fund stepped in. Created in 2023 with Andrew and Kendra Feshbach and AVS, the fund ensures pets receive lifesaving care when families cannot afford it. It has already helped 200 pets, and this holiday season all donations are being matched up to $25,000, doubling the impact for pets like Rebel.
Rebel’s surgery went smoothly, and she’s now healed and back to her “spunky, happy self,” says Tammy. “Rebel means the world to me. I don’t know what I would do without her. She’s the reason why I strive every day to make our lives better. C.A.R.E.4Paws went the extra mile to help her, and I can’t put in words how grateful I am to the donors who made this possible. You gave Rebel her life back!”
Make a gift today at care4paws.org/albusfund—your support will go twice as far.