After completing the portion under the bridge, the county and its partners are shifting to the west, toward this encampment. The resident said she’s scared to enter Good Samaritan or other shelter options because she doesn’t want to be separated from her five cats; she plans to move elsewhere in the riverbed instead. 

“When you’re in a situation like this, and all you really have is your animal for your love, companionship, and support, you know it’s in our best nature to take care of them, to keep them together,” volunteer Sheehy said.

The resident told Sheehy and LaBossiere that she hasn’t received notice for when a cleanup in the area will happen yet, but she’s getting ready just in case. A shopping cart stacked high with her belongings sat nearby, and the black-and-white kitten played with a dangling piece of shredded tarp. 

Sheehy and LaBossiere promised to check in with her in a few days—with an extra carrier in hand to help her move her cats. The three exchanged phone numbers to stay in contact, but she wasn’t sure how long her phone would stay charged. She’s sharing a car battery with a few other folks in the riverbed, but she doesn’t know if they’ll be able to keep it when they move. 

The volunteers strapped their backpacks and carriers in place and departed from the encampment, falling into an easy rhythm with one another. 

“I’m new to it. I’m about a year into it, volunteering. Claire’s been involved a lot longer than me,” LaBossiere said. “We’ve just formed a really good working relationship and friendship and trust each other.” 

“You’re my best sidearm I could have,” LaBossiere told Sheehy. “She’s my partner.” 

The longtime Santa Maria residents and retirees followed their passion for animals by volunteering for C.A.R.E.4Paws. They help families in the Santa Maria Riverbed every Tuesday alongside other organizations that have set up services since the cleanups began.

They’ve now been in the riverbed five or six times together, distributing food, flea treatments, and working to build trust with the folks who have been living there—some as long as 12 years. 

“I think we’re still relationship-building. … It’s going to take time with this particular population to gain that trust,” Sheehy said. “That’s why we need to be down here on a consistent basis, and I think it’s important for them to see two people they recognize, and they may know we’re here for animals. We’re not trying to get them out. We’re not threatening them. We just want to help their animals.”

The C.A.R.E.4Paws mobile veterinary clinic has spayed/neutered about 20 cats and two dogs in its two visits to the riverbed, Executive Director and Co-founder Isabelle Gullo said. She estimates that there might be more than 100 animals in the riverbed. 

“I am glad that we’re able to provide boots-on-the-ground support to pet families in the riverbed because it goes beyond the pets,” Gullo said. “We are able to be there to provide support to families living in the riverbed and building relationships we didn’t have before, getting to know new people, and just seeing how much people love their pets, and we want to help as much as we can.” 

The mobile clinics have one full-time veterinarian and a veterinarian who works on a contract basis with an eight-person veterinary team of vet technicians and assistants. It costs about $5,000 to roll out the clinic each time.  

The nonprofit has hosted two mobile pet health care clinics to provide veterinary and licensing services to residents in the riverbed, with an upcoming clinic on Oct. 11, but they hadn’t yet found a place to park the vans as of Sept. 26. 

The clinics provide spay/neuter surgeries, vaccinations, food, water, flea treatment, and licensing and chipping services. The work in the riverbed has added at least $15,000 of unbudgeted expenses, Gullo said. 

Volunteers or clinicians will often start working with a pet family and suddenly lose connection with that person after a cleanup because they’ve moved, Gullo said. 

Moving through the riverbed after visiting the first resident, C.A.R.E.4Paws volunteers Sheehy and LaBossiere searched for another resident they’ve come to know and his dog, a sweet black-and-white cattle dog mix they’ve cared for in the past. But they couldn’t find the right encampment. 

“See, things change,” Sheehy said. “It’s also another interesting thing. These people are constantly changing along with the riverbed itself—you know, the sand, the soil, the seasons, all of that. So, each time we come down here, it’s different.” 

The two finally found the encampment and learned that the dog recently cut her paw on a piece of glass. The resident said he tried to clean it out as much as possible and cover her foot with a bandage, but the dog shook the covering off. 

LaBossiere asked if they could bring his pet to a vet to look at her paw, but he said no, fearing that she would be taken away from him. LaBossiere promised that he would be with his dog the whole time, but he still declined the offer because he was scared that his stuff would be gone if he left the riverbed. 

In the meantime, LaBossiere helped him clean the wound with hydrogen peroxide and left him with the bottle—instructing him to reapply it every few days. 

When the volunteers and the resident parted ways, the dog followed close to him, limping with her injured paw in the air as she walked.

“It will probably be never-ending,” Sheehy said about their work. “But we do what we can.”

Select “Support pet families in the riverbed” from the “Where do you want your donation go?” dropdown menu.

That’s a 14% increase in animals helped since last year.

The mobile clinic cares for 100-200 pets a day inside a 37-foot RV with two prep tables, one surgical suite, 16 kennels, and 5-7 staff members.

In addition to medical care, the organization provides support for those experiencing domestic violence by offering fostering services.

“Victims who may need to go into a shelter and may not be able to take their pets with them, we have the fostering, so that doesn’t have to become a decision whether to leave an abusive situation or give up their pets,” Harris added.

C.A.R.E. 4Paws has been around for 15 years serving Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties. The mobile clinic just celebrated one year of service.

To schedule an appointment or donate, visit care4paws.org.

The 37-foot, state-of-the-art mobile veterinary unit, which serves marginalized communities in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties.

Today, they will host pet-care services at the Santa Barbara County Animal Services’ Santa Maria shelter.

Vet teams will perform surgeries in the mobile units and in the shelter from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.. They are also hosting a walk-in vaccine clinic from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m..

Crews hope to help many families with their furry pets as pet costs rise along with other living essentials across the Country due to inflation.

“We receive dozens of calls daily from pet families in need of help,” says Isabelle Gullö, C.A.R.E.4Paws’ executive director and cofounder. “Over the last few years, there’s been a dramatic increase in the number of requests for veterinary assistance as well as pet food and temporary foster homes. These are safety-net services that keep pets with their people.”

Lack of affordability is the main barrier to families seeking out or receiving services for their dogs and cats through a regular veterinary clinic. Recently, the cost of vet care has increased by more than 20% in some locations. C.A.R.E.4Paws, whose mission is to reduce pet overpopulation and improve pet family welfare, launched its new mobile clinic in August 2023 to address the growing demand for affordable care. At that time, the organization’s Mobile Community Medicine & Spay/Neuter Outreach program operated out of two older, 26-foot units and needed a larger, more reliable vehicle in order to increase C.A.R.E.4Paws’ geographical reach and the number of pets served.

The 37-foot clinic, an acquisition made possible thanks to generous individual donors and foundation grants, comes with a double surgery suite, added equipment and ample kennel space to house animals, including more large dogs. The organization operates its vehicles four to five days per week and frequently has two veterinary teams performing spays/neuters and other surgeries simultaneously. At the same time, outside the units, a third team provides low-cost vaccines, flea treatment, nail trims and other basic services during a walk-in Pet Wellness Clinic.

In the first seven months of 2024, C.A.R.E.4Paws’ clinic program has already helped more than 11,000 cats and dogs with low-cost and free wellness services and spays/neuters. To compare, the clinic team assisted 17,500 pets in 2023, 13,000 pets in 2022 and 10,000 in 2021. It’s not unusual for the C.A.R.E.4Paws team to serve 100 to 200 dogs and cats during one clinic day.

“What we love about our mobile clinic program is that it allows us to assist pet families in their neighborhoods, removing challenges that prevent animals from receiving care, like financial limitations, language barriers and transportation issues,” says Gullö.

Laura Leon from SLO County’s city of Oceano is one of many community members who appreciates the affordability and accessibility of C.A.R.E.4Paws’ clinic program. In June, she brought her small terrier mix, Rex, to a clinic for vaccines, a microchip and a teeth cleaning. These services were provided free of charge as part of a generous Access to Care grant from PetSmart Charities, designated specifically for Oceano pet families. “Without C.A.R.E.4Paws, it would be extremely difficult for low-income families like mine to afford veterinary care,” Leon says.

August marks the organization’s one-year anniversary of working in Oceano. It also marks C.A.R.E.4Paws’ 15th year as a nonprofit. Since its founding in 2009, C.A.R.E.4Paws’ goal has been to keep pets healthy, out of shelters and with the people who love them. Beyond mobile clinic services, the organization supports low-income, senior, disabled and unhoused community members with other resources, including help for pet families exposed to domestic violence, assistance with behavioral training and provision of pet food and supplies—a significant amount of it! Since 2020, C.A.R.E.4Paws and its key community partners have distributed 4.5 million pet meals to families struggling financially.

Speaking of pet meals, C.A.R.E.4Paws invites the public to its Donation Drive-Thru & Adoption Event at Deckers Brands alongside Santa Barbara County Animal Services and ASAP Cats on Saturday, August 24, 11am to 2pm. The goal is to raise pet food and monetary gifts toward pet wellness services as well as to inspire forever homes for shelter dogs and cats.

“More than ever, we need the community’s support to keep pet families strong and together and to prevent animals from ending up homeless,” says Gullö. “Adopting from our shelters make a big pawsitive impact too!”

For more information about C.A.R.E.4Paws and to make a donation, visit care4paws.org. To learn more about C.A.R.E.4Paws’ Mobile Community Medicine & Spay/Neuter Outreach, visit care4paws.org/clinicservices. For August 24 donation drive event details, go to care4paws.org/drive.

About C.A.R.E.4Paws

C.A.R.E.4Paws—short for Community Awareness, Resources & Education—works to reduce pet overpopulation, keep animals out of shelters and improve quality of life for pet families in need. Its critical services include free and low-cost spays/neuters, veterinary care and vaccine events in C.A.R.E.4Paws’ own mobile veterinary clinics; distribution of pet food and supplies; support for pet families exposed to domestic violence through Safe Haven; Paws Up For Pets humane education; and Pet Emergency Training (P.E.T.) for First Responders. C.A.R.E.4Paws has worked in Santa Barbara County since 2009 and, in 2022, the nonprofit expanded its mobile clinic services to San Luis Obispo County. To learn more or to make a contribution, visit care4paws.org.

C.A.R.E.4Paws

Question: What is the name of your business or practice?

Answer: C.A.R.E.4Paws.

Q: What is the mission behind your business?

A: C.A.R.E.4Paws is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with the mission to reduce pet overpopulation and improve pet family welfare.

Q: What types of animals does your business cater to?

A: Dogs and cats.

Q: Can you describe the services or products your business offers?

A: Since 2009, C.A.R.E.4Paws has supported pet families in need on the Central Coast, ensuring that dogs and cats stay healthy and with the people who love them.

We know that without access to care, including affordable veterinary services and pet food, many families are forced to make the difficult decision to relinquish their pets to a shelter. Without the availability of free spays/neuters, many family pets produce unwanted litters, adding to our pet overpopulation problem.

The outcome? Overburdened shelters, animal suffering and heartbroken families.

C.A.R.E.4Paws intervenes in this cycle by providing a range of resources.

Our Mobile Community Medicine & Spay/Neuter Outreach program, C.A.R.E.4Paws’ largest service component, provides low-cost and free spays/neuters, medical care and vaccine clinics for pets in two mobile units, including our one-year-old, 37-foot mobile clinic launched in August 2023. Our team is on the road four to five times per week throughout Santa Barbara County and southern San Luis Obispo (SLO) County, assisting pet families directly in the communities where they live.

Our mobile clinic program ensures that financial challenges, language barriers and lack of transportation don’t prevent dogs and cats from receiving the care that they need.

C.A.R.E.4Paws’ Companion Pet Assistance (CPA) program supports families with pet food, supplies, grooming, foster care and dog training, as resources allow. Through CPA, we co-operate several Pet Resource Centers in Santa Barbara County, where families in need can go to access free pet food and supplies and inquire about wellness services for their pets. Jointly operated with key community partners, our resources centers provide a much-needed lifeline for many pet families. For example, it’s not unlikely to see 100 pet owners waiting in line to receive pet food on Tuesdays at our center in Lompoc, which we co-operate with Santa Barbara County Animal Services and Companion Animal Placement & Assistance.

Our Safe Haven program supports pet families exposed to domestic violence by providing temporary foster care or boarding for pets. We launched Safe Haven in 2020 in partnership with Domestic Violence Solutions for Santa Barbara County as we realized that so many domestic violence survivors either stay in an abusive relationship because of a beloved family pet, or they are forced to leave their pets behind, which leads to more suffering for the animals. Our program allows survivors to seek safety from abuse without having to fear for the well-being of their four-legged family members.

We also offer innovative humane education through Paws Up For Pets, showing youth how to be great pet caretakers and promoting kindness to all living beings from an early age.

Q: How long have you been in this industry?

A: 15 years.

Q: What makes your business or practice unique?

A: C.A.R.E.4Paws is the only animal organization on the Central Coast that works directly in the community to provide critical wellness services to the pet families that need it the most. For example, we know that having access to veterinary care improves the lives of pets and their people. Yet, for so many, gaining that access is difficult unless pet wellness services are brought directly to a family’s neighborhood. This is exactly what our Mobile Community Medicine & Spay/Neuter Outreach program does in Santa Barbara and SLO counties.

Since 2019, we have increased the number of mobile pet wellness services provided annually by 150%. In 2023 alone, we assisted 17,500 dogs and cats with services such as vaccines, flea treatment, spays/neuters, medical exams, bloodwork, mass removals, dental care, and treatment of skin, ear and eye problems. We will exceed that number in 2024.

Overall, C.A.R.E.4Paws keeps evolving to make sure we’re meeting the community’s needs. For instance, when the pandemic started, we began distributing several tons of pet food weekly, compared to two tons distributed total in a typical pre-pandemic year. Between the start of the pandemic through the summer of 2024, we have provided more than 4 million free pet meals.

With the dramatic increase in the number of pet families experiencing homelessness since the pandemic, we partnered with Street Dog Coalition in 2023 to provide free veterinary care for dogs and cats of the unhoused. In March 2024, we formed a partnership with Good Samaritan Shelter and DignityMoves, through which C.A.R.E.4Paws provides veterinary care and other services for pet families that reside in three transitional housing complexes—La Posada in Santa Barbara and Hope Village in Santa Maria were launched by DignityMoves this spring, while Bridge House in Lompoc has existed for years.

The fact that C.A.R.E.4Paws collaborates with so many other nonprofits and agencies—human- or pet-family related—also makes us unique. We rely heavily on partnerships to expand our reach into communities that lack access to care.

The human-animal bond is so powerful, and we want to do all that we can to help preserve that bond. Thanks to C.A.R.E.4Paws’ boots-on-the-ground approach, we have a steady presence in the community, assisting pet families right where they live.

Q: What training, education and experience do you and your staff have? Do you hold any professional certifications?

A: We have a highly trained veterinary team that runs our Mobile Community Medicine & Spay/Neuter Outreach operations, including a veterinarian who’s worked in the field for more than 40 years. Overall, having operated C.A.R.E.4Paws for 15 years, our team has gained tremendous experience in the animal welfare industry and when it comes to working with pet families in need. Still, we are adamant about always evolving our practices and protocols to better serve the community, and we encourage and pay for continued education for our staff.

Q: What is your level of expertise regarding pet health and behavior?

A: Our team has worked in the community since 2009 to help thousands of animals with a variety of services, including vaccine clinics, spaying and neutering, medical care, distribution of pet food, behavioral training and general support that keeps pet families strong and together through life’s challenges.

Q: How do you manage behavioral problems?

A: As part of our Companion Pet Assistance program, we offer free or low-cost dog behavioral training for low-income pet families to make sure dogs don’t end up in a shelter due to behavioral issues that owners cannot manage on their own.

Q: Are you currently accepting new clients?

A: C.A.R.E.4Paws is always here for pet families in need and continuously assist community members through all of our programs. Through our Mobile Community Medicine & Spay/Neuter Outreach program, we host regular walk-in Pet Wellness Clinics that are open to anyone in need of assistance of vaccines, flea treatment and other basic pet care. When it comes to spays/neuters and medical care, which are reserved for families in need and by appointment, we get dozens of calls and emails every day so our schedule fills up fast. Still, we try our best to get pets booked as quickly as possible.

Our Pet Resource Centers are always open for those needing assistance with pet food and supplies. It’s important to note that C.A.R.E.4Paws isn’t designed to be someone’s regular or permanent veterinarian or pet-care provider. Our goal is to support pet families going through a tough time. With that said, we do know that tough times can last for years and we absolutely do not want an animal to suffer if we can help the pet family through one of our programs.

Q: Can you name a few common reasons animals end up in the shelter?

A: Many pets end up homeless due to lack of resources to provide proper pet care, because of behavioral issues that are hard to manage, or due to pet overpopulation, issues that C.A.R.E.4Paws addresses with our free and low-cost services. Lack of pet-friendly housing is another, huge problem that contributes to animals ending up in shelters. After COVID, we’ve also seen an influx of animals from other counties, and some of these animals are being relinquished to our shelters.

Sometimes pet families need help temporarily as they are going through a transition, whether it’s hospitalization, a move or rehab, for example. C.A.R.E.4Paws tries to assist whenever possible, but we need more funding and foster families to be able to help on a greater scale. It is too large of an issue for one organization to tackle, especially as we don’t have a space to house animals. Our community as a whole needs to work together to come up with solutions that keep more pets out of shelters and with the people who love them.

Q: How do you help make your client feel at ease leaving their pet in your care?

A: We have a very kind and compassionate staff and volunteer team, and that goes a long way when it comes to making clients feel comfortable leaving their pets with us. It’s also important to let people know what to expect through the process and from the services they receive.

Q: Are you a nonprofit? Do you accept donations?

A: C.A.R.E.4Paws is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and we do accept donations.

Q: How do you keep the public informed about your business or service(s)?

A: We have an informative website and very active Facebook and Instagram pages. We also partner with dozens of other agencies and local business that help spread the word to those in need. For special events, we place ads, post flyers and send press releases to the media.

Q: What is the typical cost of your service(s) or product(s)? Do you offer any payment plans or discounts?

A: Our mobile clinic services are offered at very low-cost for low-income pet families. We also provide free clinic services for those who cannot afford to pay anything. Services through our other programs (care4paws.org/programs) are typically offered for free.

Q: What are your hours of operation?

A: Since we don’t have a brick-and-mortar facility with regular opening hours, our organization operates a bit differently. In terms of our mobile clinic services, our mobile units are in service four to five times per week throughout Santa Barbara County and three times a month in San Luis Obispo County. Our clinic schedule is listed at care4paws.org/events/category/pet-wellness-clinics.

Pet families in need of help with clinic services can contact us through our clinic services page (care4paws.org/clinicservices). Community members with inquiries about other pet-care can email info@care4paws.org or call 805-968-2273.

Q: What is one fun fact about your business?

A: Our founders are all former shelter volunteers, but C.A.R.E.4Paws is not a shelter or rescue group. We are here to prevent animals from ending up homeless by providing critical resources to pet families in need in the community. Our goal is to keep pets healthy and with the people who love them.

Q: Is there anything you would like to tell our readers that was not mentioned above?

A: In January 2024, a key partner in SLO County and the Santa Maria Valley, Animals in Need Fund (AINF), was absorbed under C.A.R.E.4Paws’ community umbrella, giving us increased access to the pet families AINF traditionally served and helping us build relationships with the individuals, businesses and veterinary practices that have supported AINF over the years.

Also new in 2024, we have a four-year funding commitment from PetSmart Charities to improve access to veterinary care in Oceano. The grant allows us to provide free services to the pets of Oceano residents, who have chronically been without access to veterinary care of any kind. This long-term commitment also allows us to provide free pet food through our partnership with SLO Food Bank and to begin to examine ways to offer deeply discounted prices to low-income community members in neighboring towns.

Click here to learn more about C.A.R.E.4Paws or check out their YouTube Channel!

The human-animal bond is so powerful, and our C.A.R.E.4Paws team does all that we can to help preserve that bond.

During the program, Executive Director Isabelle Gullö explained that C.A.R.E.4Paws’ mission is to prevent pet homelessness by providing spay and neuter procedures and by providing a safety net for pet families in need. “We are bad at saying no,” she mused, in regard to the range of services they provide, always wanting to find a solution so people can keep pets in their homes.

In an interview, Gullö related how in the past few years, pet owners have been faced with general economic strain and higher veterinary fees, causing an increase in the number of pet owners unable to afford vet care.

Cost isn’t the only issue driving an increase in demand for its services. There is a shortage of veterinarians and vet technicians in the county, which has led to demand from pet owners who can afford vet care, but can’t get timely appointments. CARE4Paws’ priority, Gullö related, remains serving low-income pet families, but the nonprofit tries to assist as many pets in need of urgent care as it can, regardless of income level.

Every day, C.A.R.E.4Paws receives multiple requests for critical care. When it is unable to meet a pet’s needs because of geographic, time, or scope of service factors, it funds care at its partner vet clinics and emergency care facilities that provide discounted rates. A special CARE4Paws’ donor fund, the Albus Fund, enables this, but demand is rising and funds are limited.

The assistance C.A.R.E.4Paws provides significantly helps local shelters inundated with animals. “As many families struggle to keep their households afloat, a vet bill or other pet-care costs can be the reason a pet ends up relinquished to a shelter,” Gullö shared. “CARE4Paws intervenes in this crisis by providing safety nets that keep pets in their homes and with the people who love them.”

C.A.R.E.4Paws is also a critical resource for the homeless population. Many unsheltered individuals refuse even temporary housing if they cannot bring their companion animals with them, Gullö related. Fortunately, two new shelters, Hope Village in Santa Maria and La Posada in Santa Barbara, will allow pets, and C.A.R.E.4Paws has entered into a partnership agreement to provide free veterinary services and grooming services to residents. In addition, for dog owners, C.A.R.E.4Paws will offer animal behavior assessments and dog training as well as training sessions for staff and residents on how to interact with pets.

Also, BridgeHouse Emergency Shelter in Lompoc, which allows registered emotional support dogs and service dogs, is partnering with C.A.R.E.4Paws to provide training for resident owners and other residents. According to Director of Homeless Services Brian Halterman, this hopefully opens the door to allowing other dogs in the future. In reflecting on these opportunities for homeless individuals to attain shelter with their pet, Gullö remarked, “We are excited about this beautiful shift in our community.”

Every Thursday, C.A.R.E.4Paws continues its distribution of pet food and supplies to homeless pet owners in Alameda Park and hosts special events to serve homeless pet owners.

Last year, C.A.R.E.4Paws’ mobile clinics provided care to 17,500 dogs and cats. It performed 2,700 spay/neuter procedures, a range of other medical care, vaccines, microchips and more. CARE4Paws also distributes pet food to low-income and homeless individuals year-round. Since the start of the pandemic, it has provided more than three million pet meals. The nonprofit is incredibly efficient, according to Board Chair (and CPA) Chris Harris, operating leanly with no brick-and-mortar facilities. About 85 percent of its $2 million budget goes to clinic operations.

The event launched C.A.R.E.4Paws planned giving program, the Pawsitive Legacy Club. Major donor Lee Heller shared that legacy gifts are important in helping give nonprofits the certainty that they can continue into the future. She related how shelters outside our county are killing hundreds of healthy animals, but in Santa Barbara, C.A.R.E.4Paws is preventing this through its spay and neuter services and through the assistance it provides to help people keep their pets.

C.A.R.E.4Paws’ annual fundraiser, Happy Tails, will be held on May 18 at the Music Academy.

C.A.R.E.4Paws continues to rely on the community to fund the critical services it provides. It also relies on volunteers and especially needs foster homes for its Safe Haven Domestic Violence Assistance Program, which arranges for immediate, anonymous foster care for pets of domestic violence victims. For more info or to make an online donation, go to http://care4paws.org.