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 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.

When people cannot provide the care their animals need, everyone in the family suffers, and pets are at much higher risk of ending up homeless. The demand for help is greater than ever as thousands of community members still struggle to make ends meet in the aftermath of COVID-19—in addition to the countless pet families already living in poverty prior to March 2020. This is why C.A.R.E.4Paws hosts a Howliday Donation Drive-Thru on Saturday, December 3, at Earl Warren Showgrounds in Santa Barbara.

The event, which runs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., raises resources for pet families in need to keep pets safe, healthy and homebound. Supporters can drive through and drop off dog and cat food and monetary donations with the C.A.R.E.4Paws team to support the organization’s intervention services.

“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. This includes free and low-cost veterinary care, spays and neuters and vaccine clinics in the organization’s two mobile clinics, support for pet families exposed to domestic violence, and assistance with pet food and supplies. In fact, 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, compared to 4,000 pounds total in 2019.

Most of the food is provided through Pet Resource Centers co-operated with several animal and human welfare partners. These resource centers are located at Santa Barbara County Animal Services’ (SBCAS) shelters in Lompoc, Santa Maria and Santa Barbara as well as at People Helping People in Solvang, Good Samaritan Shelters, Unity Shoppe and the Santa Barbara Rescue Mission.

Some food is also provided during community events. For example, during weekly visits to Santa Barbara’s Alameda Park, volunteers provide food for pets of the unsheltered along with blankets and flea treatment. Once a month, C.A.R.E.4Paws brings A’s Mobile Grooming to the park to bathe dogs of the unhoused for free, a service also provided monthly in Santa Maria with Doggie Parlour.

In addition to the December 3 donation drive, pet food and monetary donations can be dropped off year-round, countywide with several of C.A.R.E.4Paws’ business and animal welfare partners, including Dioji K-9 Resort & Athletic Clubs, ASAP (Animal Shelter Assistance Program) in Goleta, Montecito Pet Shop, La Cumbre Feed, Advanced Veterinary Specialists, Plaza Deli, George’s Pet Shop, SYVHS/DAWG in Santa Ynez, and at the Pet Resource Centers at Barbara County Animal Services’ three shelters. All locations are listed at care4paws.org/drive, where supporters can also donate funds and contribute food through C.A.R.E.4Paws’ Amazon Wish List.

To learn more and support C.A.R.E.4Paws’ Howliday Donation Drive-Thru, go to care4paws.org/drive. 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.