C.A.R.E.4Paws & Pours at Bien Nacido Estate

C.A.R.E.4Paws & Pours at Bien Nacido Estate

Our C.A.R.E.4Paws & Pours event at Bien Nacido Estate in Santa Maria was such a success and heartwarming friendraiser! Big thanks to everyone who joined us to sip, snack and support local pet families and our Pet Refuge project. We are truly grateful for the generous donations received—including a $5,000 gift from CoastHills Credit Union.

Three C.A.R.E.4Paws employees wearing StayPawsitive shirts at the Paws & Pours event

A special shoutout to Bien Nacido for hosting our event and for donating 10% of weekend proceeds to C.A.R.E.4Paws. Another heartfelt thanks to Klondike Pizza for the gourmet veggie pizza spread provided at an incredible discount. We are in awe of our community’s support for C.A.R.E.4Paws’ programs, all aimed at keeping pets healthy, safe and with the families who love them. 💕

If you could not make it but would like to learn more about, and contribute to, our Pet Refuge, please visit care4paws.org/petrefuge/. We are only $60,000 away from our fundraising goal for the refuge facility and adjoining play yard!

Group photo of C.A.R.E.4Paws board members, staff and supporters at the Paws & Pours event
C.A.R.E.4Paws will offer boarding for pets living with struggling families

C.A.R.E.4Paws will offer boarding for pets living with struggling families

By: Bella Cox | News Time SLO | October 23, 2025 |

About a year ago, C.A.R.E.4Paws was offering its services to a shelter for the unhoused, when a woman staying at the shelter asked for help to take care of her dog who had become pregnant and would eventually have 10 puppies.

The woman wasn’t in a state to be able to care for the incoming litter, so C.A.R.E.4Paws took them in to ensure the puppies had proper treatment and went to good homes and the mom was eventually reunited with her owner. This was when Isabelle Gullo, C.A.R.E.4Paws executive director and co-founder, and her team came up with the idea of the Pet Refuge.

The goal: to provide temporary shelter for pets and reunite them with their owners once they are settled in a comfortable living situation.

Two girls holding different types of pet cages each holding one cat

“We just have seen a huge need for somewhere that we can instantaneously provide safe, confidential boarding for pets right away and not have that lag time or scramble trying to find available fosters,” Julia Black, C.A.R.E.4Paws marketing and Safe Haven manager, said.

Pet Refuge aims to offer immediate boarding opportunities for pet families so individuals in tough situations don’t have to put their pets in the shelter. The dog portion of the facility will contain 10 dog kennels and a large covered play yard for the dogs.

As of Oct. 10, the nonprofit had raised $105,000 out of the $175,000 needed for the kennel structure. And it recently received a $20,000 donation that will go toward building the play yard, according to Gullo.

C.A.R.E.4Paws launched its Safe Haven program in 2020 in partnership with Domestic Violence Solutions in Santa Barbara County to provide support and resources to victims and their pets. The Pet Refuge aims to be an extension of that program and a temporary boarding facility for pets of victims of domestic violence.

Advocates for Domestic Violence Solutions reach out to C.A.R.E.4Paws when they’re in need of fostering, pet supplies, vet care, or dog training, according to Black. 

8 Month old Golden Retriever on 4 poster bed in luxary kennel

C.A.R.E.4Paws recently had its first collaboration with Lumina Alliance, which provides support for victims of domestic violence and intimate partner assault in San Luis Obispo County, and will continue offering support, according to Black. 

The refuge should be open early 2026, according to Black. As for the location of the facility, it will remain confidential to protect the pets and their families.

Whether families are struggling financially or experiencing domestic violence, possible deportations, temporary homelessness, loss due to a wildfire, etc., C.A.R.E.4Paws employees want to relieve pet owners of any stress when deciding what to do with their animal.

Once the pets are back in the care of their family, C.A.R.E.4Paws offers dog training services to help the animal reacclimate to the home.

Ginger cat sleeping in cat bed at home

For more than 15 years, C.A.R.E.4Paws has served pet owners in Santa Barbara County with the intention of providing resources for pet owners during significant life crises. C.A.R.E.4Paws started offering its mobile clinic services around SLO County in 2022. The clinic travels directly to low-income communities to offer affordable veterinary care like spays-neuters, medical exams, dental care, blood work, and more.

“We keep evolving, year to year, to always do our best to meet the community needs,” Gullo said.

C.A.R.E.4Paws often gets requests from surrounding counties, like Bakersfield and the Los Angeles area, inquiring if the nonprofit would ever be able to provide services in their area.

“If we get a request from someone who’s out of our area, if we’re not able to help them, we’ll try to provide them [with] all the resources we can in their area,” Black said.

C.A.R.E.4Paws creating Pet Refuge for domestic violence victims

C.A.R.E.4Paws creating Pet Refuge for domestic violence victims

By: Callie Fausey |Santa Barbara Independent | Mon Oct 13, 2025 11:16am | Temporary boarding facility in Santa Barbara County would host pets while survivors get back on their feet|

When someone needs to escape an abusive living situation, their four-legged friends can inadvertently hold them back.

That’s why C.A.R.E.4Paws, which offers resources for Santa Barbara County’s pet families in need, is fundraising to provide free, temporary shelter for animals from broken homes.

Isabelle Gullö, the organization’s cofounder and executive director, said that this new pet refuge would eliminate “the fear of leaving a beloved animal behind,” which often acts as a barrier to safety for victims of domestic violence.

It will be run as part of their Safe Haven program, which provides anonymous foster care or boarding for pets from Central Coast families exposed to domestic violence.

The pet refuge would be a confidential, temporary boarding facility for pets that would ensure people can leave a domestic violence situation — or navigate other kinds of instability, such as deportation, hospitalization, military deployment, or displacement from disasters — without having to worry about the well-being of their furry companions.

A lady with two pets, one cat and one dog, sitting in her lap.

The location is not public to protect pets and their owners, but will include 10 new indoor/outdoor kennels for dogs and a 40,000-square-foot-outdoor space for active pups, as well as a separate facility for cats with homelike rooms to “promote normalcy and peace.” Pets will have access to vet services, grooming, enrichment, and training during their stay, Gullö said. She hopes to open the refuge by the end of the year or early next.

She emphasized that it’s not meant to be a permanent solution: The ultimate goal is reunification once the family is safe.

“We want to make sure it’s as much of a home environment as we can create,” Gullö said. “We ultimately want to keep pets with their families but provide a safe, warm experience for animals while they’re in our care until the family is safe and back on their feet.”

Help when it was needed most

Help when it was needed most

“The best organization that truly demonstrates love and compassion in helping many of us who do not have the financial means to afford vet care, especially in emergency situations. Thank God for this wonderful gift in our communities and all they do, along with the people who donate and volunteer to keep this blessing going. Most of all, thank you from the bottom of my heart for helping me with my Lil Abbey.  As a Senior, I can’t afford to take her to the vet on a tight fixed income; you have saved her and me. God, please continue to bless this amazing organization,” says Carrie Williams.

I am moving into an affordable housing apartment new build in Atascadero, hopefully by June. And will have the extra funds to meet her needs at the vet there.

We are so grateful to you all! ❤️

Small black and white dog laying in a dog bed
C.A.R.E.4Paws fundraises for a confidential Pet Refuge

C.A.R.E.4Paws fundraises for a confidential Pet Refuge

By Noozhawk|Four-Legged Friends and More|October 1, 2025 9:00 am|

More than 10 million pets in the United States live in households affected by domestic violence, making them silent victims of abuse and often a critical factor in whether or not survivors can escape, C.A.R.E.4Paws reports.

Because for many individuals facing violence at home, the fear of leaving a beloved animal behind becomes another barrier to safety.

Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October targets these stark realities, along with the urgent need for effective solutions, like C.A.R.E.4Paws’ Safe Haven program and the creation of a confidential, temporary refuge for dogs and cats that ensures people can leave an abusive situation without having to worry about the well-being of their companion animals.

“Since 2020, Safe Haven has provided a lifeline for Central Coast pet families exposed to domestic violence by offering anonymous foster care or boarding for pets,” according to C.A.R.E.4Paws. “Many survivors delay seeking help, return to their abuser or avoid seeking assistance altogether because they fear for their pets’ safety.”

This fear is often well-founded, as 71% of survivors entering domestic violence shelters report that their abuser had harmed, threatened, tortured or killed their pets, according to data from Humane World for Animals.

Safe Haven, in partnership with agencies such as Domestic Violence Solutions for Santa Barbara County (DVS), provides a way for survivors to leave abusive homes without being forced to abandon their pets.

A lady with two pets, one cat and one dog, sitting in her lap.

Since 2020, Safe Haven has supported dozens of families, encouraged by evidence that return rates to abusive partners are significantly lower when survivors can keep their animals.

“For many survivors, pets are a source of comfort, stability and unconditional love, and abusers often exploit that bond, threatening to harm animals to control partners and other family members,” said Isabelle Gullö, C.A.R.E.4Paws’ cofounder/executive director.

“Recognizing the deep connection between people and their pets is key to protecting both from harm and giving families a real chance to break free from abuse,” she said.

To expand on the success of Safe Haven, C.A.R.E.4Paws is fundraising to build the region’s first anonymous Pet Refuge, a temporary boarding facility for pets of domestic violence survivors, and, as space allows, for pets of individuals and families navigating other critical life events, including deportation, hospitalization, military deployment, or displacement from disasters, such as wildfires.

The Pet Refuge will house a prefabricated building with 10 indoor/outdoor kennels for dogs, complemented by a 40,000-square-foot exercise yard where they can run, play and decompress.

Cats will be cared for in a separate structure outfitted with home-like rooms to create a sense of normalcy and peace.

Two ladies holding their cats in carriers

During their stay, every pet will have access to veterinary services through C.A.R.E.4Paws’ mobile clinic team as well as grooming, enrichment and training onsite.

Unlike animal shelters or rescue groups, the goal is not adoption but reunification once families are safe and stable, C.A.R.E.4Paws said.

“The Pet Refuge will fill a critical gap at a time when foster placements and boarding options remain scarce — especially for larger dogs and multiple-pet households — and local shelters are crowded.,” the organization said.

“At DVS, we know that healing begins with safety, and for many survivors, that includes their pets,” said Tina Ballue, DVS director of development. “C.A.R.E.4Paws’ Safe Haven program and the Pet Refuge are compassionate and critical resources that ensure no one has to choose between escaping violence and protecting a beloved companion.

Boy comforting a golden puppy

“We’re proud to stand with C.A.R.E.4Paws in keeping families — human and animal — together through life’s most difficult transitions.”

Providing families with the reassurance that their pets are safe, cared for and loved makes a significant difference, said Gullö, noting the creation of the Pet Refuge is only possible with the community’s support.

“If we work together to make this happen, we can ensure that no family has to face a life crisis while also having to worry about their beloved animals,” Gullö said.

C.A.R.E.4Paws welcomes support in many forms, including refuge sponsorships with naming opportunities for kennels and the play yard; donations toward veterinary services, food, supplies, grooming, and dog training; volunteering; and in-kind contributions of fencing and construction materials.

The organization is also seeking foster families to provide temporary homes for Safe Haven animals until the refuge opens and for pets who need an in-home environment to heal and thrive.

To donate, visit care4paws.org/donate. For more about the Pet Refuge project, visit care4paws.org/petrefuge.

Survivors seeking support can contact C.A.R.E.4Paws at 805-335-7524 or safehaven@care4paws.org. Anyone in immediate danger should call 9-1-1.

Grayson’s journey, powered by the Albus Fund

Grayson’s journey, powered by the Albus Fund

Grayson was a stray cat when found suffering from a severe laceration. He had no family members to step in and provide the care he desperately needed—so C.A.R.E.4Paws did, thanks to our Albus Fund. Grayson has not only healed up beautifully, but he’s found a loving home. It’s a double happy tail!

The Albus Fund—along with discounts from AVS and other great clinic partners—has helped dozens of dogs and cats receive urgent care. We have increased the number of pets helped by 30% since last year and we hope to do save even more lives this year. 

Training tails: La Posada launches pet program for residents in Santa Barbara

Training tails: La Posada launches pet program for residents in Santa Barbara

By: Patricia Martellotti | KEYT News Channel 3-12 | Published September 3, 2025 11:34 am | A new partnership is bringing pet-friendly training right here to La Posada in Santa Barbara.

“You know, being unhoused and going to be housed, it’s stressful for an owner, let alone for the pets who can’t communicate like we can,” said Community Outreach and Volunteer Coordinator Priscilla Hernandez of C.A.R.E4Paws.

The collaboration between Good Samaritan and C.A.R.E.4Paws is designed to make life easier for both residents and their pets.

“So we’re gonna help them kind of transition to be able to feel more comfortable more at ease to help the owners know how to control their dog,” said Hernandez.

“These pets are really important to our clients for a lot of them. It’s been there soul companion for years so having them feel supported it’s really important to us,” said day habilitation coordinator Katie Zentgraf of Good Samaritan La Posada.

Residents say they’re excited about this program, saying the training gives them confidence and helps build a stronger community.

“Pet maintenance, some basic pet technique, so that way they can help their dogs be happier and then they’re also gonna be happier,” said Hernandez.

The program also helps staff by giving them tools to manage safety while supporting residents who want to keep their pets.

Organizers hope the program becomes a model for other housing sites across the county.

Small orange dog with a white muzzle looking into the camera

The training sessions will continue weekly at La Posada, with plans to expand in the months ahead.

C.A.R.E.4Paws has already provided wellness clinics and pet supplies at La Posada and continues to deliver similar services at shelters across the region. In 2023 alone, the non-profit distributed more than 17,500 spay/neuter procedures and veterinary services through its mobile clinics.

Leaders believe this collaboration strengthens both shelter operations and community resilience by addressing the needs of people and their pets together.

Spayathons to curb overpopulation

Spayathons to curb overpopulation

Lady with her cutie white dog with black and brown ears
A man with his son and a calico kitten

We are hosting a series of Spayathons this fall with matching gift opportunities, and we invite the community to sponsor spay/neuter surgeries. We have received $20,000 from the John J. and Frank Sparacio Foundation and $5,000 from ResQcats (for feline surgeries)—which means your donations go twice as far to reduce pet overpopulation and improve animal welfare!

Emplyee in StayPawsitive t-shirt adminstering a vaccine to a small dog

We hosted a successful Spayathon & Pet Wellness Clinic on August 17 with Santa Barbara County Animal Services at the Santa Maria County shelter. With four vet teams, dedicated clinic crews and many amazing volunteers, we provided 78 spay/neuter surgeries and cared for 83 dogs and cats with walk-in services of vaccines, nail trims, free microchips and more. What a team effort! Big thanks to everyone who contributed, all the pet families who came out, and to Kenji Photography and Andrea Miller for the pawsome photos! 🐾 Our next big Spayathon will be in Paso Robles on September 21 in partnership with SLO County Animal Services.

C.A.R.E.4Paws hosts free spay and neuter clinic for local families

C.A.R.E.4Paws hosts free spay and neuter clinic for local families

By: Grace Bennett | KSBY California’s Central Coast | Posted 7:43 PM, Aug 17, 2025 and last updated 12:39 AM, Aug 18, 2025 |

With the cost of veterinary care going up, two local agencies are teaming up to reduce shelter overcrowding on the Central Coast.

C.A.R.E.4Paws and Santa Barbara County Animal Services (SBCAS) hosted a Spayathon and Walk-in Pet Wellness Clinic on Sunday at the SBCAS shelter in Santa Maria.

Four veterinary teams performed dozens of spay and neuter surgeries for both cats and dogs at no cost.

C.A.R.E.4Paws In the news on KSBY

C.A.R.E.4Paws also offered low-cost vaccines, flea treatment, deworming medication, and nail trims for dogs and cats, along with free microchipping.

Organizers say two matching grant challenges from the John J. and Frank Sparacio Foundation and local nonprofit ResQcats made the event possible.

Donations given by families at the Spayathon were reportedly matched dollar for dollar by the organizations.

Hope and healing for senior dog, Brooklyn!

Hope and healing for senior dog, Brooklyn!

When life took an unexpected turn, Heather found hope and healing for her senior dog. “I have a little chihuahua named Brooklyn who I inherited from my sister a few years ago. She’s now 11 and has always had dental problems,” says Heather. “Due to unforeseen circumstances, I became homeless and was living in my van, and little Brooklyn was having pain while eating because her teeth were really bad. Someone told me about C.A.R.E.4Paws and we were able to get Brooklyn’s teeth pulled. It was such a blessing. At every appointment, the staff and volunteers were so lovely and kind. I will always be thankful for what they do.” We’re always grateful to help pets like Brooklyn during life’s most challenging times.