Pet Wellness on Wheels!

Pet Wellness on Wheels!

Having access to veterinary care improves the lives of pets and their people. Yet, for many families, gaining that access is difficult, unless pet wellness services are brought directly to a family’s neighborhood, which is exactly what C.A.R.E.4Paws’ Mobile Community Medicine & Spay/Neuter Outreach program does and why we have rolled out a third and much larger mobile veterinary clinic.

We launched the new, 37-foot unit during our first Access to Care Pet Wellness Clinic in Oceano (sponsored by PetSmart Charities). We also honored our clinic supporters with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Sunday, August 20, at The Maker’s Son in Los Alamos. Guests had the opportunity to tour the new vehicle and learn about our mobile clinic program, while also enjoying live music, drinks and appetizers.

View the photo gallery from our ribbon-cutting event and click here for more information about our clinic services and locations served.

Check out recent press coverage on KSBY and New Times SLO as well as our brand-new mobile clinic video.

New Mobile Clinic Sponsorships
Would you like to foster a pet in need?

Would you like to foster a pet in need?

As our Safe Haven program grows, so does the need for safe, anonymous foster care and boarding for pets of domestic violence survivors. Studies show that survivors stay at least two years longer in a violent situation when family pets are involved. Together, we can prevent more suffering and save lives! You provide the love and safe housing, we will provide the food, supplies and medical care. Contact us at foster@care4paws.org if you can help and please spread the word!

Woman sitting on sofa in living room with her pets little dog and cat
Order your masterpiece today!

Order your masterpiece today!

C.A.R.E.4Paws is proud to partner with the amazing youth at the United Boys & Girls Club of Lompoc to provide wonderful portraits of all types of pets while raising critical funds for our critical work. We received this fantastic feedback from our community!

“What a wonderful surprise! My sister, Genese Izuno, arranged for a pet portrait as a surprise for Sierra and me. The pet portrait of Sierra painted by Katie R. for Mother’s Day 2023 is so heartwarming. It brought tears to my eyes, as Sierra is my “child,” and the portrait was so realistic. It is incredible that Katie could paint with such accuracy from a photograph.

Thank you, C.A.R.E.4Paws, for the work you do for the City of Lompoc, particularly for two of our most vulnerable groups. I appreciate your time and dedication to supporting our youth and animals. I am overwhelmed by your willingness to collaborate and provide something so unique and wonderful to our citizens of Lompoc.”

~ Warmly, Tanya Opfermann & Sierra ~

Collage of people with pet portraits

Support our youth program, Paws Up For Pets, which promotes compassion and accountability for animals and inspires empathy in our community as a whole by ordering your pet portrait today.

Donor with her pet portrait of her dog
Girl painting a pet portrait of a dog
Partnerships for unhoused pet families

Partnerships for unhoused pet families

We are pawsitively happy with our new partnership with The Street Dog Coalition (SDC) and our two first two wellness clinics for pet families experiencing homelessness. On June 3, we helped several unsheltered families in Lompoc in collaboration with Good Samaritan Shelters. Our April 15 clinic alongside Central Coast Partnership for Animal Welfare (CCPAW) took place in San Luis Obispo, where Shower The People provided mobile-shower services for the two-legged. During our events, dogs and cats receive vaccines, flea treatment, wellness exams, nail trims and other services from our vet team, lead by SDC’s Dr. Alex Gomes and technician Becky Clement. We also provide supplies and pet food. We will continue to host regular events for the unhoused throughout Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties with Street Dog Coalition and other partners.

C.A.R.E.4Paws has received a $120,000 grant from PetSmart Charities!

C.A.R.E.4Paws has received a $120,000 grant from PetSmart Charities!

Incredible news! C.A.R.E.4Paws has received a $120,000 grant from PetSmart Charities to improve access to vet care in Oceano, an underserved community in San Luis Obispo County that lacks pet wellness services of any kind. The funding will allow us to provide critical mobile clinic services for free for pet families in need to keep animals healthy and in their homes. We are truly grateful to PetSmart Charities for this opportunity. Stay tuned for specific details about our first clinic, which will take place on August 6 at Oceano’s Parks & Recreation Department. #petsmartcharities, #incubatorgrantee

Flyers for event
Care that keeps pets with the people who love them!

Care that keeps pets with the people who love them!

A one-of-a-kind nonprofit on California’s Central Coast, C.A.R.E.4Paws works directly in the community to provide critical services for pet families in need, improving pet family welfare, preventing suffering and saving lives! Check out our brand-new video, which shares the latest about our programs, from mobile pet wellness and spay/neuter services to pet food distribution and support for domestic violence survivors and unhoused community members. 

Did someone say FREE microchips for dogs and cats?

Did someone say FREE microchips for dogs and cats?

That’s right! Now through July 2, we provide free chips at all Pet Wellness Clinics through our partnership with Santa Barbara County Animal Services, Lompoc’s CAPA and San Luis Obispo County Animal Services (we cohost a big clinic with SLO animal services on July 2). As many as 30% more pets are lost between July 4 and July 6 than during any other time of year. Fireworks are fun for us, but they are scary for our four-legged family members. A microchip protects our pets and helps ensure they find their way back to you if lost.

Tips to keep your pet safe this July 4!

1. Keep your pets indoors, preferably in a safe, quiet room with no outside access. Provide your dog or cat with a crate to create a place of safety for them.

2. Keep your dog leashed if you must take them outside, and make sure your yard is secure.

3. Play music or turn on the television to drown out the sounds of the fireworks.

4. Provide a weighted blanket or thunder coat.

5. Write your phone number on your pet’s collar; tags can fall off.

Dog being scanned for.microchip
Celebrating the Happy Tails!

Celebrating the Happy Tails!

Event raises record-breaking $170,000 for C.A.R.E.4Paws

By: Santa Barbara New-Press, Annika Bahnsen

Photos by Kenneth Song / News-Press Photos

Published May 23, 2023

C.A.R.E.4Paws — a Santa Barbara County nonprofit that keeps animals out of shelters and improves quality of life for pet families in need — hosted its Happy Tails Celebration and Fundraiser Sunday at the Music Academy of the West.

The Montecito event highlighted the work that the organization has been doing in the community and features personal stories and memories from some of the pet owners they help.

The event featured guitarist Michael Holland, who provided background music for the crowd to enjoy. Additionally, there were lots of food and drink to partake in, including local wine from La Lieff Wines, craft beer by Rincon Brewery, as well as C.A.R.E.4Paws’ featured “meowgaritas.”

The main fundraising portion of the night was a live auction where attendees could bid for various baskets, experiences and fun animal-related items. Specifically, some items offered were animal portraits, a VIP tour with the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation or a flight on a search mission finding lost dogs. Donations were often tripled, which gave multiple buyers the opportunity to experience something they wanted.

The fundraiser raised close to $170,000, a new event record, according to Isabelle Gullö, C.A.R.E.4Paws’ co-founder and executive director. She told the News-Press that $100,000 was raised directly at the event and the rest was raised through sponsorships.

There also was a matching grant from the Sparacio Foundation, and the organization matched $50,000 during the auction event. This helped encourage those at the event to donate and bid.

According to Ms. Gullö, the money will go directly back to the organization, “helping thousands of pet families in need in the Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo areas.”

Recently, C.A.R.E.4Paws expanded to San Luis Obispo with its Mobile Clinic, which allows more families to be assisted on-the-go with whatever pet needs they may have. The money raised will help support this area of the organization.

“Thanks to the wonderful support for C.A.R.E.4Paws’ Happy Tails event, we will be able to help thousands of pet families in need, keeping animals healthy and with the people who love them!” exclaimed Ms. Gullö.

The event also featured multiple people talking about their “Happy Tails,” sharing how the organization has positively impacted their lives. “It is really heartwarming,” said Ms. Gullö.

The event was a success, and Ms. Gullö alongside the entire organization is thankful for the support.

If you would like more information on C.A.R.E.4Paws, visit care4paws.org.

email: abahnsen@newspress.com

Ava Vasquez’s successful foodraiser!

Ava Vasquez’s successful foodraiser!

Our volunteer Ava Vasquez did it again—and some! 👏🥳 Just like last year in April, Ava coordinated a weeklong pet food drive at her former elementary school, Santa Barbara’s Vieja Valley Elementary. She raised more than 800lbs of food with the help of the school’s student council, which is double the amount from 2022! We thank Ava, students, parents and teachers at Vieja Valley Elementary for the incredible support for pet families in need. We love the video by WinkFace Photography! #care4pawsdrive