Together, we make a pawsitive impact!

Wellness clinics for dogs and cats

We also host mobile wellness clinics weekly throughout the Central Coast during which we can assist with vaccines and other basic care. Find a clinic near you!

Pet food distribution

We visit Alameda Park in Santa Barbara (1400 Santa Barbara Street) every Thursday at 4pm to provide pet meals, flea treatment and supplies.

On Tuesdays, from 9am to 12pm, we distribute pet food and basic supplies by the overpass at the Nipomo side of the Santa Maria riverbed. Human health services are also provided by CAPSLO, SLO Bangers Syringe Exchange and Overdose Prevention Program, 5Cities Homeless Coalition and Crestwood Fellowship Church (showers).

Pet Resource Centers

At our many pet resource centers, which we co-operate with other animal groups and human welfare agencies, pet families in need can pick up food and supplies and sign up for critical mobile clinic services.

Lompoc

• Santa Barbara County Animal Services Lompoc shelter, 1501 W. Central Avenue (Tuesdays, 2pm-4pm or call 805-737-7755)​

Santa Barbara

• Santa Barbara Rescue Mission, 535 E. Yanonali Street, (Monday-Sunday, 8am-8pm, 805-966-1316)

Santa Maria

• Santa Barbara County Animal Services Santa Maria shelter, 548 W. Foster Road (Thursdays, 2pm-4pm, 805-934-6119)​

Solvang & Santa Ynez Valley

• Santa Ynez People Helping People, 545 N. Alisal Road (Monday-Thursday, 8am-5:30pm)

Grover Beach

• 5Cities Homeless Coalition, 100 S. 4th Street (Monday-Thurday, 9am-5pm, Fridays, 11am – 5pm, 805-574-1638)

C.A.R.E.4Paws provides free baths and nail trims as well as medical grooming for dogs of the unhoused. Contact us if you are in need of assistance or if you’re helping someone else.

We are looking for more dog groomers to help in Santa Barbara, Lompoc, Santa Maria and in San Luis Obispo County. If you’re a groomer (mobile or storefront), please email outreach@care4paws.org.

The Street Dog Coalition

We are pawsitively happy with our 2023 partnership with The Street Dog Coalition (SDC) to provide pet wellness services to families experiencing homelessness. Dr. Alex Gomes, who is also a C.A.R.E.4Paws Board Member, leads the Central Coast chapter of SDC and all SDC partnership events.

Good Samaritan Shelter and DignityMoves

In the spring of 2024, C.A.R.E.4Paws partnered with Good Samaritan Shelter (“Good Sam”) to assist unsheltered pet families moved into two new, pet-friendly housing facilities by DignityMoves—Hope Village in Santa Maria and La Posada in Goleta—as well as Good Sam’s Lompoc shelter, Bridge House. Since March, we’ve hosted several wellness clinics at the shelter locations and surrounding areas. We also provide dog and staff training as well as assistance with food and supplies. 

Watch KEYT coverage

We are excited to participate as our community moves forward to provide more support for the unhoused and to ensure that pet families can stay intact when they go through critical life transitions.

5Cities Homeless Coalition and CAPSLO

Since August 2024, C.A.R.E.4Paws has done outreach in the Santa Maria riverbed to assist pet families affected by undergoing clearings, which are happening in riverbeds across California. In addition to Good Samaritan Shelter, we collaborate closely with 5Cities Homeless Coalition and Community Action Partnership of San Luis Obispo County (CAPSLO). C.A.R.E.4Paws volunteers and partner agency staff teams have worked tirelessly to locate families to ensure they have the support they need. We distribute pet food, water and supplies and bring our mobile units out regularly to provide spays/neuters, vaccines, microchips and other veterinary care.

Learn more about our riverbed outreach in a cover story in the Santa Maria Sun.