Published: Wednesday, Nov 01, 2023 | 4:15pm

Santa Barbara, Calif., November 1, 2023 – As the cost of living on the Central Coast continues to rise, thousands of families struggle to pay household bills and put food on the table. This includes feeding and caring for their four-legged family members.

To help provide pet food and supplies, as well as veterinary services for community members in need, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties and C.A.R.E.4Paws cohost a donation drive this weekend from 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. at two locations. On Saturday, November 4, supporters can drop off dog and cat food, new or gently used pet supplies and monetary donations at Berkshire Hathaway’s Santa Barbara office at 3868 State Street. On Sunday, November 5, the drive takes place at Santa Barbara County Animal Services’ (SBCAS) shelter in Goleta at 5473 Overpass Road.

The donations raised on Saturday will be distributed directly through C.A.R.E.4Paws’ Companion Pet Assistance program, which has provided more than 1.5 million free pet meals since the start of the pandemic, including weekly food distribution to unsheltered community members at locations such as Santa Barbara’s Alameda Park.

Donations raised on Sunday will support the Pet Resource Centers (PRCs) located at SBCAS’s Goleta, Lompoc and Santa Maria shelter facilities, where families in need can pick up food, supplies and sign up for mobile clinic veterinary services through C.A.R.E.4Paws. The PRCs are co-operated by SBCAS, C.A.R.E.4Paws and Companion Animal Placement Assistance (CAPA) in partnership with Animal Shelter Assistance Program (ASAP), Bunnies Urgently Needing Shelter (BUNS), K-9 PALS and Santa Barbara County Animal Care Foundation.

Community members can also visit C.A.R.E.4Paws’ Amazon Wishlist to purchase items to be delivered. Monetary gifts, which can be donated anytime at care4paws.org/help, will pay for pet food and veterinary services provided in C.A.R.E.4Paws’ mobile clinics, including free and low-cost spays/neuters, medical care and vaccines.

“We are thrilled to partner with C.A.R.E.4Paws so food and other resources can be collected and distributed directly in the community,” says Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties’ realtor Charlotte Cross, who is organizing this weekend’s donation drive.

“When people live in poverty, so do their pets,” says C.A.R.E.4Paws’ cofounder and executive director, Isabelle Gullo. “No one should have to choose between paying household bills and feeding or providing veterinary care for their beloved four-legged family members. We thank Berkshire Hathaway and realtor Charlotte Cross for spearheading this donation drive, which will help keep pets healthy and with the people who love them.”

For more details about how to support the Pet Food Donation Drive, go to care4paws.org/events. For more information about C.A.R.E.4Paws and its services, visit care4paws.org or reach out via info@care4paws.org or 805-968-2273.

About C.A.R.E.4Paws

C.A.R.E.4Paws—short for Community Awareness, Responsibility & 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.

Published September 30, 2023 12:18 pm | Santa Barbara, California

— October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and one local animal rights organization is kicking off the month with their 2nd annual Walk Against Abuse.

C.A.R.E.4Paws is encouraging people to bring their dogs to Sunday’s event as the afternoon will feature several pet friendly activities including a dog parade and painting for dogs.

And though the walk against abuse is a family friendly fundraiser, the issue at hand is a heavy one.

The organization wants people to know that animal cruelty and domestic violence go hand in hand.

“I would hate to leave Shadow. I believe a lot of people probably stay in their situation because of their dogs,” said Brian Keefer, who works at Elings Park.

C.A.R.E.4Paws has seen first hand how hard it is for victims of domestic violence to leave an abusive situation when it means having to leave a pet behind to seek shelter and a fresh start.

“ Statistically, it’s found that people in an abusive relationship—when there is a companion pet involved—they typically will stay in an abusive relationship about eight times longer, or they will unfortunately have to leave their their pets behind. And, you know, pets are oftentimes used as pawns to try and seek revenge. And so it’s really important that when somebody is able to flee, that they are able to take their pets. And previously they weren’t able to enter into a shelter with their pets,” said C.A.R.E. 4 Paws Community Programs Coordinator Wendy Domanski.

That’s where C.A.R.E.4Paws’ Safe Haven program comes in.

The program provides temporary anonymous fostering for the pets of domestic violence victims.

Sunday’s walk against abuse event will raise money for this program, and spread awareness of this ongoing reality.

“People as a community as a whole can come with their pets, with their family to show support. And I know it’s a sad subject, but we’re here to make a difference. And that’s what this event is about, it’s about making a difference, coming together, showing your children that—you know— we do walk against abuse, but that together we can make a difference. The more foster families that we have, the more support that we have for C.A.R.E.4Paws, the more awareness, the more people that we can help,” said Domanski.

Published September 17, 2023 | 4:32 pm | Santa Barbara, California

C.A.R.E.4Paws invites community members to kick off Domestic Violence Awareness Month by Walking Against Abuse, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 1 at Elings Park in Santa Barbara.

The annual event raises funds and awareness for Safe Haven, a C.A.R.E.4Paws program that provides anonymous boarding or foster care for pets of domestic violence survivors.

Safe Haven was started in 2020 alongside several animal welfare partners and social welfare agencies, including Domestic Violence Solutions for Santa Barbara County (DVS), to ensure pet owners can leave abusive partners and seek emergency shelter through DVS or a similar agency without fearing for the safety and well-being of their beloved pets.

Walk Against Abuse is a family-friendly event that includes a dog walk through Elings Park; activities for kids and adults; food; music and a presentation about how Safe Haven prevents suffering and saves lives, and how to become a Safe Haven foster family.

Entry is $25 for adults, $10 for children 12 and younger. Sponsor opportunities allow community members and local businesses to support the event as well as Safe Haven expenses, such as pet boarding fees, animal training, pet food, vaccines, spays/neuters, medical care and pet housing deposits.

“Domestic violence is everywhere around us, crossing all social and economic boundaries and education levels,” said Isabelle Gullö, C.A.R.E.4Paws’ cofounder/executive director.

Gullö said there’s a proven link between family violence and animal cruelty. Abuse often starts with a pet to control other family members and, because it’s difficult for survivors to find shelter with their companion animals, many stay in the abusive home to protect their pets.

“Safe Haven provides a much-needed refuge for vulnerable pets, while giving their loving owners a chance to escape the violence. C.A.R.E.4Paws’ Walk Against Abuse allows the community to come together to raise awareness and support for a truly critical cause and program,” she said.

Many Safe Haven pets stay with C.A.R.E.4Paws for several months or sometimes longer than a year, as it is difficult for survivors to rebuild their lives, let alone find pet-friendly housing.

In addition to DVS, other program collaborators include the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office Victim-Witness Assistance Program, and Good Samaritan Shelters, whose advocates are trained to help survivors of abuse. Survivors can also contact C.A.R.E.4Paws directly for help.

To learn more about the event and ticket/sponsor options, visit the Walk Against Abuse event website. For more about C.A.R.E.4Paws’ Safe Haven program, visit care4paws.org/safehaven or contact C.A.R.E.4Paws at info@care4paws.org or 805-968-2273.

Published August 10, 2023 | 2:08pm | Oceano, San Luis Obispo County, California –

C.A.R.E.4Paws received a PetSmart Charity grant of $120,000 to provide more accessible vet care in Oceano.

C.A.R.E.4Paws was one of ten non-profits chosen to receive the grant. If qualified, funds may continue in the next few years. The grant focuses on providing access to historically low-income, excluded and latino communities.

C.A.R.E.4Paws has been raising money for the las three years to roll out their 37 feet mobile vet clinic. On Aug. 6, volunteers were finally able to provide services to the Oceano Community with both their smaller mobile vet clinics and their new truck. The new truck is larger, has a surgery room and more equipment to better serve the pet needs.

C.A.R.E4Paws is dedicated to serving Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo County pet needs at low or no cost at all. The non-profit believes with its new mobile vet clinic, it will be able to help more animals through out the Central Coast. At its soft-opening in Oceano, volunteers assisted 175 families with vaccines, spays, neuters and other services. Of those families, 144 were walk-ins for vaccines and 105 were residents of Oceano. The nonprofit hopes it can expand its needs further North in San Luis Obispo County.

The official ribbon cutting for the mobile vet clinic is Aug. 20, 2023 at The Maker’s Son Restaurant.

Published August 6, 2023 and last updated 12:47pm, Aug 12, 2023 | 9:30 pm | California’s Central Coast –

Today more than 100 pet families brought their pets to the Oceano Wellness Clinic. Having access to veterinary care could not just improve the lives of pets but also their people. On Sunday C.A.R.E.4Paws sought to do just that with the very first Wellness Clinic opening up in Oceano.

Central Coast’s C.A.R.E.4Paws Wellness Clinic provides free low-cost, mobile wellness services and other resources for pets and their families in need. This multi-year program provides free veterinary care to Oceano residents.

“We selected Oceano on the basis of it being relatively low income, not having access to veterinary care, locally, and having a high number of pets,” Chris Harris, C.A.R.E.4Paws President said. As community members expressed their gratitude. On Sunday Silva and family brought puppies to get their first vaccines done. She says at first she did not know what to do when her dog came home with a belly full of puppies. “It is a lot when you have a lot of puppies, especially unexpected,” Silva said.

The clinic offers services such as free spays, neuters, and health exams. “There’s vaccines happening today, there’s surgeries happening today, there’s a lot of conversation happening around the community and what the community needs to help build some of that trust is keeping families from seeking services,” Sarah Ocampo, PetSmart Charities Senior Community Grants Manager, said. Not only are they providing veterinary services for Oceano residents but they partnered with PetSmart charities as part of their funding and to help do surveys.

“We didn’t have to go much out of our way. It was a very big help because we didn’t have financial needs for all of them,” Jessica Silva, Oceano resident, said. “We conduct and complete surveys with community members and are gathering information on what veterinary access looks like in their community, in real life,” Ocampo said. She says there has already been a lot of information shared with them. Ocampo says expressive pet bills and travel are the main concerns. “They’ve had this opportunity to give their point of view and express their opinion because they’re the experts on their community,” Ocampo continues.

If you were not able to make it to the event on Sunday, C.A.R.E.4Paws will have more information on where their next clinic will be on their online calendar care4paws.org.