C.A.R.E.4Paws begins offering pet wellness clinics to Oceano in August

C.A.R.E.4Paws begins offering pet wellness clinics to Oceano in August

By: Camillia Lanham | New Times San Luis Obispo

Published August 3, 2023 | San Luis Obispo, California

Three mobile clinics are rolling into Oceano on Aug. 6, aiming to treat animals in the community at no cost to town residents in need.

Although C.A.R.E.4Paws charges for its services on a sliding scale and does comp services for those who can’t afford to pay anything, the nonprofit is able to help the seaside berg’s pet population for free thanks to a $120,000 grant from PetSmart Charities.

“Only 10 nonprofits in the United States have received this grant, so it’s an incredible honor and a wonderful opportunity to be a part of this innovative initiative,” C.A.R.E.4Paws Executive Director Isabelle Gullö said. “This grant is part of PetSmart Charities visionary new $100 million grant program focusing on underserved communities.

Pet family at C.A.R.E.4Paws mobile veterinary clinic

C.A.R.E.4Paws had the opportunity to pick one community to serve when it applied for the Access to Care project grant. Gullö said Oceano is a fairly remote area where pet families have zero access to veterinary care or even affordable pet food, about 42 percent of the community members are Hispanic, and the per-capita income is less than $34,000 per year.

As part of the first Pet Wellness Clinic event at the Oceano Parks and Recreation facility on Aug. 6, the nonprofit will provide free spay/neuters and medical care inside its mobile units by prior appointment, as well as a walk-in clinic with free vaccines, microchipping, flea treatment, deworming medication, and nail trimming. Gullö said C.A.R.E.4Paws will be back in Oceano on Aug. 11 and 18 and then either weekly or biweekly, depending on the turnout to the first couple of events.

“It’s a bit hard to say how huge the need is going to be, but we are definitely planning on having a regular presence there going forward,” she said.

Gullö cofounded the nonprofit in 2009 with fellow Santa Barbara County Animal Services shelter volunteer Carlos Abitia, C.A.R.E.4Paws’ mobile clinic manager. She said they realized that the main contributor to shelter overpopulation is a lack of access to affordable pet care, so they launched the nonprofit that would work directly with communities, providing low- and no-cost care to pet families in need. In 2022, C.A.R.E.4Paws expanded its mobile community outreach and spay/neuter outreach program into SLO County with plans to do more in the future, including serving communities in North County.

On Aug. 6, the nonprofit will be rolling out its new 37-foot mobile clinic in Oceano, which C.A.R.E.4Paws raised money for over the last three years.

“The new clinic is larger and better equipped than our existing 26-foot units, with capacity for two surgery teams and increased kennels space, which allows us to house more large dogs during clinic days,” Gullö said. “This means we will use it the most going forward, but we plan to double up or use all three units as often as resources allow. The need for help keeps growing in both Santa Barbara and SLO counties, and we want to do all we can to meet that demand.”

To make an appointment, visit care4paws.org/clinicservices and care4paws.org/oceano. To learn more about C.A.R.E.4Paws and find out how to contribute to the organization, visit care4paws.org/how-to-help.

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

PetSmart Charities donates to improve access to veterinary care through C.A.R.E.4Paws

PetSmart Charities donates to improve access to veterinary care through C.A.R.E.4Paws

By: KEYT Andrew Gilles

Published May 16, 2023

OCEANO, Calif. – C.A.R.E.4Paws has received a grant from PetSmart Charities for $120,000 to address gaps in veterinary access in Oceano.

“Oceano is a community that has chronically been without access to pet care of any kind,” said Isabelle Gullö, Executive Director and co-founder of C.A.R.E.4Paws, a nonprofit organization that assists pet families lacking resources in Santa Barbara and SLO Counties. “A large percentage of animals entering SLO county shelters come from Oceano and similar communities, and many of these pets are relinquished due to a lack of resources. The PetSmart Charities funding will allow C.A.R.E.4Paws to provide needed veterinary services through our mobile units to improve quality of life for Oceano pet families and keep animals in their homes.”

In 2023, PetSmart Charities announced a $100 million commitment over the next five years towards improving veterinary access for historically excluded communities.

man holding a family pet at the C.A.R.E.4Paws mobile clinic

“Most people today consider pets family, yet 50 million pets in the US struggle to access even basic preventative care such as spay/neuter procedures, vaccinations and annual exams,” said Kate Atema, Director of community grants and initiatives at PetSmart Charities. “While this issue affects families in nearly every community, those who have been historically excluded from human social services are most in need of pet services, too. We’re proud to support this innovative approach that meets the unique needs identified by those living in the communities themselves.”

On Aug. 6, C.A.R.E.4Paws will launch its first free Pet Wellness Clinic at Oceano’s Parks and Recreation Department on 1655 Front Street.

“The bond between pets and humans is an incredible thing,” said Gullö. “C.A.R.E.4Paws’ goal is to keep pets healthy and with their families for life by ensuring that Oceano’s community members have continuous access to veterinary services. We are truly grateful to PetSmart Charities for this opportunity.”

For more information about C.A.R.E.4Paws visit care4paws.org. For clinic questions contact info@care4paws or call 805-968-2273.

High school student, Ava Vasquez, hosts Pet Food Drive for C.A.R.E.4Paws in Santa Barbara

High school student, Ava Vasquez, hosts Pet Food Drive for C.A.R.E.4Paws in Santa Barbara

By: KEYT Staff

Published April 21, 2023

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – A high school student is hosting a pet food drive at her former elementary school Vieja Valley for C.A.R.E.4Paws.

Directors of the organization are hoping the community will participate in this generous food drive.

Last year Ava Vasquez was able to bring in nearly 500 pounds of dog and cat food.

The food drive benefited pet families in need across Santa Barbara County.

This year, the Vieja Valley Student Council is also getting involved to help with the drive.

Organizers expect even more food to be collected.

Wendy Domanski is C.A.R.E. 4Paws’ community programs coordinator.

“It’s becoming more challenging and hard to make ends meet so shelters throughout the country and Santa Barbara is full and the last thing we would want is a beloved family pet to be surrendered to lack of resources,” community programs coordinator Wendy Domanski of C.A.R.E.4Paws.

To learn more about how you can help, click here.

Central Coast nonprofits help pet, families experiencing homelessness

Central Coast nonprofits help pet, families experiencing homelessness

By: KSBY Staff
Published April 16, 2023

Homeless pets and their families got some much-needed attention this weekend.

Central Coast non-profits C.A.R.E.4Paws and the Street Dog Coalition helped more than thirty pets during a free wellness clinic on Saturday.

The event took place at San Luis Obispo’s United Church of Christ as the first of multiple pop-up clinics across the Central Coast.

“More and more families are experiencing homelessness or they are at risk of experiencing homelessness,” said Isabelle Gullo, executive director for C.A.R.E.4Paws. “So this event is really to provide resources for pet families in need so that they don’t have to give up their pets or their animals don’t have to suffer due to lack of resources.”

Organizers also received help from the Central Coast Partnership for Animal Welfare, which helped promote the event and distributed leashes, collars, and other pet supplies.

To learn more about these resources, click here.

To find out more ways to help or for a comprehensive schedule of upcoming pet wellness clinics, visit the C.A.R.E.4Paws’ website at care4paws.org.

C.A.R.E.4Paws Partners with The Street Dog Coalition to Assist More Unhoused Pet Families on California’s Central Coast

C.A.R.E.4Paws Partners with The Street Dog Coalition to Assist More Unhoused Pet Families on California’s Central Coast

By: Santa Barbara Independent

Published Wed Apr 12, 2023 | 10:48am

Santa Barbara, Calif. – As the cost of living on the Central Coast keeps rising, so does the number of community members experiencing homelessness, including thousands of people with pets. To ensure unsheltered pet families have access to veterinary care, another steadily increasing cost, local nonprofit C.A.R.E.4Paws has partnered with The Street Dog Coalition to host regular, free pet wellness clinics in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo (SLO) Counties. The first collaboration event takes place Saturday, April 15, at the city of San Luis Obispo’s United Church of Christ (11245 Los Osos Valley Road), 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

“We want people and pets to stay together,” says Isabelle Gullo, executive director and cofounder of C.A.R.E.4Paws, an organization that offers affordable, mobile pet wellness services for families in underserved communities. “Pets provide comfort, love and loyalty and they are nonjudgmental, unlike us humans. For so many people experiencing homelessness, the companionship of an animal is everything. And that human-animal bond is mutually beneficial.”

The April 15 wellness clinic offers free medical care for dogs and cats of the unsheltered in C.A.R.E.4Paws’ mobile veterinary clinic. All services, including vaccines, flea treatment, nail trimming, wellness exams and treatment of skin, ear and eye infections, are sponsored by The Street Dog Coalition (SDC), a national nonprofit supporting pets of people experiencing homelessness across the United States.

“One of The Street Dog Coalition’s four core values is unbridled collaboration,” says SDC’s executive director Katrina Weschler. “We rely on supporters and community partners like C.A.R.E.4Paws to help us think outside the box, complement existing resources, establish trust, walk the talk, and deliver accessible, quality care through tailored delivery models.” She adds, “We are very grateful for the support C.A.R.E.4Paws provides for our mutual clients: people who may not have a roof over their heads but certainly have a home in their hearts for their four-legged companions.”

In 2023, C.A.R.E.4Paws and SDC will cohost events one Saturday per month, alternating between high-need locations in Santa Barbara and SLO Counties. For SLO County clinics, Central Coast Partnership for Animal Welfare (CCPAW) is also a critical collaborator and will help with promotion and pet food distribution. Clinics will be led by Dr. Alex Gomes, who heads SDC’s Central Coast chapter and also performs surgeries for C.A.R.E.4Paws’ Mobile Community Medicine & Spay/Neuter Outreach program. Pet clients who need medical care beyond what is provided during the once-per-month events will be referred to C.A.R.E.4Paws’ mobile clinics or a local veterinary clinic partner.

On April 15, pet food and supplies will be distributed by C.A.R.E.4Paws and CCPAW. For the humans, SLO County’s Shower the People will provide mobile-shower services.

To learn more and support C.A.R.E.4Paws’ services for unsheltered pet families, go to care4paws.org/unhoused-pet-families. For more information about other C.A.R.E.4Paws programs, visit care4paws.org or reach out via info@care4paws.org or 805-968-2273. To learn more about The Street Dog Coalition, visit thestreetdogcoalition.org.

 

Society Matters | C.A.R.E.4Paws Hosts Fundraiser for New Mobile Clinic

Society Matters | C.A.R.E.4Paws Hosts Fundraiser for New Mobile Clinic

By: Gail Arnold Santa Barbara Independent

Published Thu Mar 23, 2023 | 6:15am

Santa Barbara, Calif.,  – As the cost of living on the Central Coast keeps rising, so does the number of community members experiencing homelessness, including thousands of people with pets. To ensure unsheltered pet families have access to veterinary care, another steadily increasing cost, local nonprofit C.A.R.E.4Paws has partnered with The Street Dog Coalition to host regular, free pet wellness clinics in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo (SLO) Counties. The first collaboration event takes place Saturday, April 15, at the city of San Luis Obispo’s United Church of Christ (11245 Los Osos Valley Road), 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

“We want people and pets to stay together,” says Isabelle Gullo, executive director and cofounder of C.A.R.E.4Paws, an organization that offers affordable, mobile pet wellness services for families in underserved communities. “Pets provide comfort, love and loyalty and they are nonjudgmental, unlike us humans. For so many people experiencing homelessness, the companionship of an animal is everything. And that human-animal bond is mutually beneficial.”

The April 15 wellness clinic offers free medical care for dogs and cats of the unsheltered in C.A.R.E.4Paws’ mobile veterinary clinic. All services, including vaccines, flea treatment, nail trimming, wellness exams and treatment of skin, ear and eye infections, are sponsored by The Street Dog Coalition (SDC), a national nonprofit supporting pets of people experiencing homelessness across the United States.

“One of The Street Dog Coalition’s four core values is unbridled collaboration,” says SDC’s executive director Katrina Weschler. “We rely on supporters and community partners like C.A.R.E.4Paws to help us think outside the box, complement existing resources, establish trust, walk the talk, and deliver accessible, quality care through tailored delivery models.” She adds, “We are very grateful for the support C.A.R.E.4Paws provides for our mutual clients: people who may not have a roof over their heads but certainly have a home in their hearts for their four-legged companions.”

In 2023, C.A.R.E.4Paws and SDC will cohost events one Saturday per month, alternating between high-need locations in Santa Barbara and SLO Counties. For SLO County clinics, Central Coast Partnership for Animal Welfare (CCPAW) is also a critical collaborator and will help with promotion and pet food distribution. Clinics will be led by Dr. Alex Gomes, who heads SDC’s Central Coast chapter and also performs surgeries for C.A.R.E.4Paws’ Mobile Community Medicine & Spay/Neuter Outreach program. Pet clients who need medical care beyond what is provided during the once-per-month events will be referred to C.A.R.E.4Paws’ mobile clinics or a local veterinary clinic partner.

On April 15, pet food and supplies will be distributed by C.A.R.E.4Paws and CCPAW. For the humans, SLO County’s Shower the People will provide mobile-shower services.

To learn more and support C.A.R.E.4Paws’ services for unsheltered pet families, go to care4paws.org/unhoused-pet-families. For more information about other C.A.R.E.4Paws programs, visit care4paws.org or reach out via info@care4paws.org or 805-968-2273. To learn more about The Street Dog Coalition, visit thestreetdogcoalition.org.

 

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.

C.A.R.E.4Paws is fundraising to expand care for pet owners in need

C.A.R.E.4Paws is fundraising to expand care for pet owners in need

Published December 22, 2022
 

Forget making a trip to the veterinarian’s office—animal care organization C.A.R.E.4Paws is fundraising for a larger mobile vet clinic that’ll come to you.

The organization provides affordable veterinary services to low-income, senior, disabled, and homeless pet owners in Santa Barbara County. However, its recent expansion of services to SLO County in February 2022 and the number of residents seeking affordable veterinary care since the pandemic have put a significant strain on C.A.R.E.4Paws, which is why the organization is looking to raise money for a larger, brand new mobile vet clinic.

“We used to help about 7,000 pet families every year before the pandemic, and now we’re helping more than 20,000. And that’s just in Santa Barbara County alone,” said Isabelle Gullo, C.A.R.E.4Paws executive director and co-founder.

The larger, 37-foot mobile vet clinic would help with handling C.A.R.E.4Paws’ newest program, Snip & Chip SLO, which was developed in partnership with nonprofits such as the Animals in Need Fund and Animal Shelter Adoption Partners.

“One thing we’re struggling with right now is that there’s a huge demand for spaying and neutering and other services for large dogs, but we can only accommodate so many per clinic day because of our current setup,” Gullo said.

So far, the organization has raised $252,000 but needs $100,000 more to meet the fundraising goal.

“Our goal is to reach $350,000 by March because we were picking the unit up in April,” Gullo said.

The two current mobile clinics that C.A.R.E.4Paws uses are 26 feet long, but they’re as capable of providing similar services as a stationary vet clinic.

“You’d be surprised how many people we can fit in there,” Gullo said.

However, the current mobile clinics lack the space to provide certain services like X-rays, so C.A.R.E.4Paws has partnered with several local veterinarians and animal clinics for those services that the nonprofit can’t provide inside its mobile clinics.

“We always work with the clients and figure out what they can do, and if we can get discounts from the vet clinics that we work with, [to] pitch in a little bit of money,” Gullo said.

Aside from their mobile vet clinic services, C.A.R.E.4Paws offers a variety of programs, such as the Companion Pet Assistance program, where pet owners can pick up emergency food and supplies and sign up for critical mobile clinic services. For those facing domestic violence situations, C.A.R.E.4Paws has a program dedicated to providing a safe haven for pets so their owners can leave an abusive partner without fearing for the well-being of their pet.

In addition to monetary donations toward the fundraising goal, community members can also drop off dry and canned pet food at various locations throughout Santa Barbara County. Want to contribute with a hands-on approach? C.A.R.E.4Paws offers multiple volunteer opportunities to those looking to lend a helping hand.

“For me, it’s just really wonderful to see how the organization is able to grow, and that’s just because of the community support,” Gullo said. “We have a really wonderful team that I would say, no pun intended, really goes the extra mile to help families in need.”

To find out more ways to help or for a comprehensive schedule of upcoming pet wellness clinics, visit the C.A.R.E.4Paws’ website at care4paws.org.

C.A.R.E.4Paws ‘Howliday’ Donation Drive-Thru

C.A.R.E.4Paws ‘Howliday’ Donation Drive-Thru

Published December 2, 2022

C.A.R.E.4Paws is hosting a ‘Howliday’ Donation Drive-Thru at Earl Warren Showgrounds in Santa Barbara on Sunday, Dec. 3, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The drive-thru raises resources so families in need can keep their pets safe, healthy and homebound.

Supporters can drive through and drop off dog and cat food or monetary donations.

“Times are hard for so many community members, and families should not have to choose between caring for their animals and putting food on the table,” says executive director Isabelle Gullö. “C.A.R.E.4Paws does everything we can to ensure pets stay healthy and with the people who love them, and we cannot do this without our wonderful partners and donations from the community.”

Over the last 13 years, C.A.R.E.4Paws has worked to help families keep their pets by providing access to critical resources for low-income, senior, disabled and unhoused community members.

Since the pandemic started, C.A.R.E.4Paws’ Companion Pet Assistance program has distributed one million pounds of pet food throughout Santa Barbara County.

Most of the pet food is provided through Pet Resource Centers co-operated with several animal and human welfare partners.

Some donations are also provided during community events, including weekly visits to Santa Barbara’s Alameda Park.

In addition to the December 3 donation drive, pet food and monetary donations can be dropped off year-round.

Click here to find a drop-off location near you.