Rolling into the future!

Rolling into the future!

For two years, C.A.R.E.4Paws has been fundraising for a brand-new, 37-foot mobile clinic to augment our two existing and older, 26-foot veterinary vehicles.

We are so excited share that—thanks to the generous support of our community—we have met and even surpassed our fundraising goal!

The new, larger clinic-on-wheels rolls out in May and will allow our organization to help more animals over a larger geographical footprint.

We invite you to participate in the official clinic “unveiling” on Sunday, May 21, at the Music Academy of the West during C.A.R.E.4Paws’ Happy Tails Celebration & Fundraiser.

Tonka the dog, shepherd mix

Now we continue fundraising to grow and sustain our Mobile Community Medicine & Spay/Neuter Outreach program and the critical pet wellness services it provides for pet families in need. You can help by becoming a sponsor at one of many levels.

C.A.R.E.4Paws Mobile Clinic with a man holding a black and white puppy

A big, heartfelt thanks to the amazing supporters of our brand-new mobile clinic and to everyone who joined us at La Lieff Winery in Santa Barbara on March 12.

Ziggy Piggy is a happy pup!

Ziggy Piggy is a happy pup!

Sara Wagnon sent us this wonderful note:

“Thank you! My family and I are so grateful for you and the way you treated our Ziggy Piggy! He hasn’t had much interaction with other dogs so I was worried he wouldn’t behave, but he did great and the staff was so so welcoming! He’s passed out on his new blankie and loves his new chew toys!”

Our SLO partner event helped 175 pets!

Our SLO partner event helped 175 pets!

Wow! Our first Pet Wellness Clinic cohosted with San Luis Obispo (SLO) County Animal Services in SLO City was incredibly busy from start to finish. We helped 175 pets with critical services, such as $5 rabies vaccines and low-cost spays/neuters and medical careAnimal Services sponsored FREE microchips for more than 100 dogs and cats! Our friends at Woods Humane Society and Central Coast Partnership for Animal Welfare gifted pet supplies to families in need and helped co-promote the event. Fantastic job, everyone!

A man and his doberman pincher (mixed breed)

Shout out to one of our fabulous volunteers, Claire Sheehy, for the wonderful pictures!

Sequoia’s Beautiful Journey

Sequoia’s Beautiful Journey

Sequoia was a very special cat who had an incredible bond with his mom, Nancy Shobe. The two met 13 years ago when Sequoia was a tiny stray kitten—up north in the Sequoias—and the way the story unfolded, it was destiny for Nancy to rescue this kitty and bring him home to Santa Barbara. Sadly, Sequoia recently got cancer and Nancy had to make the tough decision to put him down. We booked an appointment for Nancy in C.A.R.E.4Paws’ mobile clinic with our Pet Wellness Services Director, Carlos Abitia.

“I watched Carlos with all of the people who were waiting with their animals. With each person, he was compassionate, caring and full of information.” Nancy adds, “Sequoia was loved and well cared for during his final moments. I felt loved and well cared for. It was a moment of true compassion. I could not have been more pleased.” 

A sweet sentiment from Sandra

A sweet sentiment from Sandra

“I was very pleased with the service that was given to my babies. They received vaccines and nail trims. People were so nice. I could not be more grateful. Thank you! You guys are awesome!” Love, Sandra

On a roll!

On a roll!

We are on a roll to curb pet overpopulation. Spaying/neutering prevents unwanted litters, suffering and pet homelessness. It reduces the risk of deadly cancers and pyometra infections and can improve a pet’s behavior too! That’s why C.A.R.E.4Paws’ mobile clinics provide spay/neuter surgeries for free or at low cost for families in need. In 2022, we altered a record 2,336 dogs and cats, a number that we aim to surpass again in 2023! Visit our clinic services page if you need help to alter your dog or cat.

A Safe Haven for pets in need

A Safe Haven for pets in need

Every hour of every day in the United States alone, hundreds of people and their companion animals suffer abuse. Animal cruelty is strongly correlated with violence against people, and pets are often used as “pawns” in domestic violence situations to prevent family members from speaking up or leaving the abusive relationship. In fact, survivors stay on average two years longer in a violent home if there’s a family pet involved.

Our Safe Haven program ensures that domestic violence survivors can find safety for their pets when they leave an abusive situation. Pet owners can seek emergency shelter with their animals through Domestic Violence Solutions (DVS), and we arrange for anonymous foster care or boarding for the pets. We also collaborate with several animal welfare partners and social welfare agencies, including the District Attorney’s Office Victim-Witness Assistance Program. Plus, victims and law enforcement can contact us directly for support.

Women with black and white cat on a couch

Become a foster family!

We are looking for loving foster families to provide temporary refuge for Safe Haven pets. Please reach out at foster@care4paws.org if you are able to help a dog or cat in need.

Services for the unhoused

Services for the unhoused

On the first Thursday of each month at 5pm in Alameda Park, 1400 Santa Barbara Street, Santa Barbara we offer support for pet families experiencing homelessness. This includes provision of pet food and supplies, basic grooming and access to free and low-cost vaccines, flea treatment, spays/neuters, medical care and microchips. We collaborate with several community partners to help improve the welfare of animals and the people who love them.

Man with his pet at a C.A.R.E.4Paws Mobile Clinic event

When you live on the streets or in your car, it can be impossible to find a way to bathe your four-legged companion and A’s Mobile Dog Grooming joins us to provide baths and nail trims specifically for pets of the unsheltered.

In Santa Maria, we have partnered with Doggie Parlour to offer baths and nail trimming as well as pet food distribution for pets of the unhoused. Parts of these services are generously sponsored by our supporter and volunteer Bill Basiliko.

C.A.R.E.4Paws – Nonprofit Feature

C.A.R.E.4Paws – Nonprofit Feature

Published January 12, 2023

Back in 2009 when Isabelle Gullö co-founded C.A.R.E.4Paws, she knew there was a desperate need locally for programs that reduce pet overpopulation and intervene before animals suffer and/or end up homeless among the low-income, senior, disabled, and unhoused pet family population in town. As a volunteer at the Santa Barbara County Animal Services shelter, she’d seen firsthand the issues that happen when their owners aren’t able to properly take care of their beloved pets. The concept of C.A.R.E.4Paws was to offer an array of free or low-cost pet services and provide resources that keep pets healthy and with their families for life.

Among the nonprofit’s offerings are programs that include free spaying or neutering, assistance with veterinary care including vaccines, distribution of pet food and supplies, extra support for pet families exposed to domestic violence, and a youth education program called Paws Up For Pets. More than 7,000 families per year were receiving the services by 2019 as the organization closed the gap, largely through its well-equipped pair of mobile veterinary clinics.

But what Gullö didn’t realize was just how extensive the problem would become when the pandemic hit.

When COVID closed things down and made life even more challenging for those already living in poverty or otherwise challenged to take care of their pets, the 7,000 families C.A.R.E.4Paws was already helping ballooned to more than 20,000 by the end of 2022.

“We’re growing every year because there is such a huge need in the community,” Gullö said. “A lot of people just cannot afford going to their vets. We ended up having to run both of our mobile clinics much more often to meet the demand and it’s just so important.”

The mobile clinic units travel to regular locations where the staff is able to provide a record number of free and low-cost spay/neuter surgeries, vaccines, and other veterinary care that would likely otherwise be inaccessible to the pet owners. Indeed, the two mobile clinics altered 2,300 dogs and cats last year, an increase of 300 surgeries from 2021 and 1,000 from the pre-pandemic year 2019. There’s been a huge increase in providing low-cost veterinary care, as well, which Gullö said could include anything from dental cleanings to mass removals to basic wellness exams, flea treatments, deworming, implanting microchips, and help with skin, ear, and eye issues.

“It’s a great outreach tool that really benefits the community,” Gullö said.

Spaying and neutering doesn’t just help to prevent overpopulation through unwanted litters of puppies and kittens that often end up in shelters, it’s also beneficial for the pets themselves, Gullö said. “It helps keep them healthier because you reduce the risk of cancers and infections and there are also behavioral benefits to the pet and the family because the dogs and cats tend to calm down when they are altered. That also helps keep them in the home because they’re easier to take care of.”

To meet the ever-increasing demand that shows no signs of abating, C.A.R.E.4Paws is investing in a third mobile clinic, a brand-new, 37-foot veterinary vehicle that will vastly increase kennel capacity and the ability to carry more types of vital equipment where they’re most needed. This will allow the organization to more efficiently help additional animals over a larger geographical footprint, including San Luis Obispo County, where the nonprofit recently added service. C.A.R.E.4Paws is currently about $65,000 shy of the $350,000 price tag for the vehicle, and donations are gladly accepted.

But the organization is also expanding its services in other ways, including its innovative Safe Haven program, which collaborates with Domestic Violence Solutions and other social welfare agencies to aid pet families exposed to domestic violence.

“There was no safety net for pet owners who were stuck in abusive situations because they couldn’t bring their pets to the human shelter to seek safety for themselves,” Gullö explained. “Pets are often used as pawns in abusive situations to control someone from speaking up or from leaving. So they would stay an average of two years longer in an abusive relationship or eventually have to leave their pets behind. Now we are able to kind of bridge that gap with this free, anonymous program so that the human family members can go seek shelter while we take care of their pets until they’re ready to be reunited.”

The program is largely funded by the organizations’ new annual Walk Against Abuse event at Elings Park that debuted last fall to great success as it featured a dog walk through the beautiful park grounds as well as fun activities for both pets and their owners, music, food, and more.

Earlier on the calendar is C.A.R.E.4Paws’ Happy Tails Celebration & Fundraiser, which moves from the virtual world to the Music Academy on Sunday, May 21. The event highlights its work in the community and features heartfelt Happy Tails from some of the many pet owners whose animals have been kept healthy and in their homes. Sponsorships and tickets will be available soon.

Those who want to help other than financially can also give of their time and talents as a volunteer by visiting the C.A.R.E.4Paws. Either way, the nonprofit offers a big bow-wow of gratitude.

Love from Lompoc!

Love from Lompoc!

We received this lovely note from Brooke. “All the services provided to my kitten have been wonderful. The staff is amazing and kind. Thank you, C.A.R.E.4Paws. The Lompoc community deeply appreciates you.”