Our Howliday Donation Drive-Thru on Saturday, December 3 was a huge success! We raised more than ONE TON of pet food and $25,000 in monetary gifts, including $20,000 toward the purchase of a brand-new mobile clinic from our longtime supporter Lyn Proctor. We have also received many very generous online and mailed-in contributions to support our programs.

We are so grateful to our incredible donors and volunteers who made this event both possible and super successful. Thank you!

With your help, we keep pet families healthy and together!

C.A.R.E.4Paws has had another record year assisting animals and pet families in need. 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. When people cannot provide the care that their animals need, everyone in the family suffers, and pets are at much higher risk of ending up homeless. To keep animals safe, healthy and homebound, C.A.R.E.4Paws now assists more than 20,000 pet families in need annually through our programs.

Here are some of many pawsitive updates from 2022:

• In February this year, we expanded our Mobile Community Medicine & Spay/Neuter Outreach to San Luis Obispo (SLO) County with a program called Snip & Chip SLO in collaboration with SLO nonprofits Animals in Need Fund and Animal Shelter Adoption Partners.

• Due to the tremendous need for help, we now operate both mobile units several days per week, providing a record-number of free and low-cost spays/ neuters, veterinary care and vaccines. We will alter at least 2,200 dogs and cats this year, an increase of 200 surgeries from 2021 and 900 from 2019!

• As demand grows and one of our mobile units has grown too old, we have put a down payment on a brand-new, 37-foot mobile clinic with increased kennel capacity and more types of vital equipment. We only have $100,000 left to raise! Find out who’s contributed so far—and how YOU can too.

• Our Companion Pet Assistance team has distributed more than one million pounds of pet food since the start of the pandemic. Thank you for support our Howliday Donation Drive-Thru on Saturday, December 3, 2023.

• C.A.R.E.4Paws’ first Walk Against Abuse at Elings Park on September 18 supported Safe Haven and pet families exposed to domestic violence. More than 200 people and almost as many dogs joined us to raise funds and foster families for the program.

• Our Paws Up For Pets humane education program and Youth Pet Portrait Project continue to pave the way for a more compassionate future for animals.

• We launched a new website.

We hope you enjoy all of the pawsitive updates. And please know that none of this is possible without YOU: our donors, grantors, sponsors and volunteers.

Thank you for making an impact in our community!

Isabelle Gullö, Executive Director and Cofounder

In 2022, C.A.R.E.4Paws expanded our mobile pet wellness services to San Luis Obispo (SLO) County through Snip & Chip SLO, a community-based program developed alongside SLO nonprofits Animals in Need Fund and Animal Shelter Adoption Partners.

The only initiative of its kind in SLO, Snip & Chip curbs pet overpopulation, prevents pet homelessness and euthanasia of adoptable animals, and improves animal welfare in the county.

Since February, we have altered 300 dogs and cats and provided medical care, vaccines, microchips and other basic services to more than 850 pets. In addition to Animals in Need Fund and Animal Shelter Adoption Partners, we thank Feline Network of the Central Coast, Nipomo Dog & Cat Hospital, Lucky Dog Pet Resort, Elm Street Dog Park, City of Arroyo Grande and Grover Beach, County of SLO, SLO Animal Services and Woods Humane Society for the partnerships!

For more details and ways to contribute, please visit our program page.

The youth at United Boys & Girls Club in Lompoc continue to amaze us with their pet portraits, which they create from photos of beloved pets. Portraits are $50 and the money raised supports C.A.R.E.4Paws’ critical programs.

Order your portrait today, whether it’s of your own four-legged family member, a pet that has crossed the rainbow bridge or a gift for someone you care about.

October 22 and 23 was a big weekend for C.A.R.E.4Paws! For the first time in our 13-year history, our clinic team traveled to Palmdale and Subaru Antelope Valley for a big spay/neuter weekend with Karma Rescue. We altered 54 dogs and cats, making a dent in the area’s pet overpopulation.

We are so grateful to our clinic crew, the awesome Karma team and generous spay/neuter sponsorships from Subaru and the City of Palmdale.

On Sunday, September 18, C.A.R.E.4Paws, Domestic Violence Solutions for Santa Barbara County and Elings Park hosted the inaugural Walk Against Abuse. More than 200 people and almost as many dogs came out to support Safe Haven, a program that assists pet families exposed to domestic violence. Thank you to all of our participants, sponsors, donors, volunteers and staff for making this happen! A very special thanks to our cohosts, Domestic Violence Solutions for Santa Barbara County and Elings Park.

The fun-filled afternoon included a dog walk through the beautiful park grounds, exciting activities, food by El Pastorcito Mobile, great tunes from Music by Bonnie and a presentation about how Safe Haven prevents suffering and saves lives—and ways to support this critical program!

Mark your calendars for our next Walk Against Abuse: Sunday, October 1, 2023!