Monthly Newsletter
Events & Clinics
It’s hard to believe it’s already February! This year has been a tumultuous one so far, especially with the devastating LA fires. On January 10, C.A.R.E.4Paws and four of our awesome partners stepped in to pull 34 dogs and cats from overcrowded LA shelters.
We share details about our rescue journey and the beautiful lives saved below. And we send a huge thanks to everyone who has helped with donations, foster care and boarding for our LA rescue pups. We could not be more grateful!
Speaking of happy tails….Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are available for our annual Happy Tails Celebration & Fundraiser at Cabrillo Pavilion on May 4.
We invite you to read our February 2025 e-newsletter!
Here’s one from Cliffie and Porter’s mom. “Thank you so much for your help with Cliffie’s vet visit and for vaccinating and neutering Porter too. You guys are truly kind and caring and your service is awesome. I couldn’t afford their care without you.
Due to many factors, including the economy, soaring vet costs and an 11% increase in homelessness in Santa Barbara County, demand for access to affordable pet care has hit an all-time high in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties.
Since 2009, C.A.R.E.4Paws has made a tremendous impact. We tirelessly serve thousands of pet families in marginalized communities by providing access to affordable veterinary care, pet food, dog training, foster care, and other critical resources. In 2024 alone, we provided critical resources to over 30,000 pets, which includes assisting 19,200 cats and dogs with affordable wellness services and thousands more with pet meals and supplies!
The inability to care for a beloved pet—a vital source of comfort and companionship—takes quite a toll on community members, especially those already experiencing hardship.
“We are here to help ensure families have access to pet care and other resources they need,” says C.A.R.E.4Paws’ Cofounder and Executive Director, Isabelle Gullö. “Can you imagine the pain of not being able to feed or provide medical treatment for your cat or dog? Or having to give up your beloved companion to seek shelter from homelessness or domestic violence? Our programs support people experiencing financial hardship and temporary life transitions, and the demand for help is only increasing. With the community’s support, we can continue making an impact and prevent more suffering!”
Check out the heartfelt testimonials from numerous pet families impacted by our programs at Happy Tail Stories. Each story is a powerful tribute to the impact that C.A.R.E.4Paws programs have made.
One inspiring story is that of Hunter and his newly adopted dog, Dixie (in the photo below), who urgently needed a large, malignant mammary tumor removed. C.A.R.E.4Paws, with the help of PetSmart Charities, stepped in to fund Dixie’s surgery, which Dr. Alex Gomes performed at a heavily discounted cost at Main Street Small Animal Hospital in Templeton. Dixie was spayed at the same time. Grateful for the support, Hunter shared, “It’s absolutely amazing. We would never have been able to do this, as it’s a really expensive surgery. This will help her live!”
Mobile Clinic Sponsorships
In 2024 alone, C.A.R.E.4Paws’ Mobile Community Medicine & Spay/Neuter Outreach program provided low-cost and free vaccines, spay/neuter surgeries, and other medical services to 19,200 cats and dogs in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo (SLO) counties surpassing the 17,000 served in 2023 and the 13,000 the year before. Businesses and individual supporters can have their logos and names on the backs of the nonprofit’s two mobile veterinary clinics. Sponsorship opportunities are available at the Gold, Platinum, and Lifetime levels; visit Clinic Sponsorships to learn more.
Monetary Gifts
Financial contributions help fund essential services such as mobile veterinary care and pet food distribution. You can donate directly at this link: Donate.
Foster
Fostering helps pet families exposed to domestic violence. Studies show that many survivors stay an average of two years longer in a violent situation when family pets are involved. C.A.R.E.4Paws’ Safe Haven program provides immediate, anonymous shelter for animals until they can be reunited with their loving owners. Foster requests also come from community members going through a temporary transition, such as hospitalization and homelessness. Find out more at Foster a Pet in Need.
Volunteer
Volunteer support is critical for C.A.R.E.4Paws’ programs and events, including pet wellness clinics, Paws Up For Pets early education and outreach, Community Outreach, and Companion Pet Assistance (delivery of pet food and supplies). Visit this volunteer link to fill out an application and learn more.
Pet Food and Supplies
Since the pandemic, C.A.R.E.4Paws has distributed more than 5 million pet meals. Donation-drive support includes dropping off pet food at a partner location, donating monetary gifts, shopping wish lists or organizing a donation drive. Learn more at our Donation Drive link.
With ongoing community support, C.A.R.E.4Paws can continue bridging the gap for those needing affordable pet care, serving as a vital lifeline for beloved companion animals. Thank you for being part of this incredible effort—together, we’re making a profound impact!
Lucky’s in Malibu
Lucky’s on Coast Village Road went to the Critical Command center for firefighters at Malibu’s Zuma Beach – the main camp for firefighters from all over the state and country – and worked their Lucky’s magic. “We cooked for over 600 firefighters,” says Larry Nobles, Director of Operations at Lucky’s. “It was myself and Lucky’s Malibu Executive Chef Marco Bello, Lucky’s Montecito Executive Chef Rene Gonzalez, and three other guys. We are hoping to be able to cook again this week for the community and for the firefighters in front of Lucky’s Malibu, and to be a place where the community can gather.” Okay … how?!
“It was an idea that Gene Montesano had late Wednesday night that we turned into action Wednesday morning,” Nobles says. “We cleared out the food at our closed Malibu location and brought it to the camp. Tons of logistics, health inspections on our food – and then we got in. No news team, no media, just us and firefighters.”
Sound Bath at the Y
On Friday, January 17, from 6-7 pm, the Montecito YMCA will be hosting a free sound bath for fire evacuees to relax and recharge. Let soothing sounds help reduce stress and promote healing during this challenging time. Sign in at 5:45 pm.
For more info: (805) 969-4871; mo.info@ciymca.org
Folded Hills Coast Village Road – Donations for Evacuees
This week Kim and Andy Busch, owners of Folded Hills on CVR, organized a drop-off for donations of the most needed items to the Dream Center Los Angeles and pet supplies to the Santa Ynez Valley Humane Society.
C.A.R.E.4Paws Takes In L.A. Fire Pets
Isabelle Gullö, Co-Founder and Executive Director of C.A.R.E.4Paws announced they are partnering with Cold Noses Warm Hearts, Meade Canine Rescue, ASAP Cats, and Santa Ynez Valley Humane Society to urgently assist in animal rescue efforts during the Los Angeles fires. Together, these organizations are working to transfer cats and dogs from three Los Angeles shelters, with the potential to expand their efforts even further.
Pets will be transported using C.A.R.E.4Paws’ mobile vet clinics, the Santa Ynez Valley Humane Society’s van, and Diaz Paws Transportation. The rescued animals will be adopted out through the collaborating organizations, ensuring they find loving homes.
Currently, 15 cats from Baldwin Park Shelter are being transported to ASAP Cats in Santa Barbara. C.A.R.E.4Paws is deeply grateful for the outpouring of community support and the foster applications we are receiving. Together, we can make a difference for these animals in need.
Bonding Sessions for Fostered Dogs
Local dog whisperer Jaclyn Sicilia (who will be featured next week in the MJ) is offering at least one bonding and connecting session to each family or person who fosters or adopts a dog from any of the animal shelters in L.A. that have taken in dogs during the fires. Understandably, fostered or adopted dogs may be shaken up from the events and struggling to connect with their new surroundings. She adds, “These sessions help people understand their pooches better and how they can better meet their needs, which, by meeting the needs of our pooches, helps us to better connect with them and strengthens our bonds with them.” Each session lasts between an hour-and-a-half and three hours with the first session 100% discounted and any subsequent sessions at a discounted rate.
411: Instagram: @palmtrees_n_pooches; Email: jcsicilia923@gmail.com
Human-Canine Partners Doing Heartbreaking, Necessary Work
Denise Sanders, Senior Director of Communications & Search Team Operations, confirms the Search Dog Foundation’s immaculately trained teams are working the ravaged neighborhoods down south. “We currently have five SDF-trained canine search teams deployed for the Los Angeles fires,” Sanders says. These human-canine teams are doing extremely difficult work in the immediate wake of a heartbreaking human cataclysm.
SDF-trained human remains detection (HRD) team Jon Munguia &CliffordofLos Angeles County Fire Department – and live-find SDF-trained teams Josh Davis & Bosco and Garreth Miller & Reva of California Task Force 3 (CA-TF3), and Patrick Easton &Linus and Eric Lieuwen &Ridge of California Task Force 7 (CA-TF7) – have deployed to the Los Angeles fires along with their SDF teammates to assist in the aftermath of the blazes that have devastated the region in recent days.
A First Responder from the MJ Ranks
Montecito Journal’s Renaissance Woman, Office Manager, and Front Desk Polymath – the unflappable Kassidy Craner – informs us that her father, Battalion Chief Richard Ames of Santa Barbara City Station #1, has been doing battle down south since the ferocious conflagration roared to life. He and 22 brave crew members gathered from around the state are firefighting in truly hellish conditions – with no real end in sight at this writing. “The job is open-ended until further notice,” Kassidy says. “…but I will keep you updated…”
Pets are being transported using C.A.R.E4Paws’ mobile vet clinics, the Santa Ynez Valley Humane Society’s van, and Diaz Paws transportation, Cook said.
The rescued animals will be adopted out via collaborating organizations, ensuring they find loving homes.
“C.A.R.E4Paws is deeply grateful for the outpouring of community support and the foster applications we are receiving. Together, we can make a difference for these animals in need,” the agency said.
To participate in the nonprofit’s $5,000 donation-match fundraiser to help offset transportation and other rescue costs, visit care4paws.org/donate
For foster inquiries, go to form.jotform.com/Care4Paws/LAfires
On January 12, C.A.R.E.4Paws collaborated on a transport of 34 cats and dogs from three LA shelters alongside Santa Ynez Valley Humane Society & DAWG, ASAP Cats, Meade Canine Rescue and Cold Noses, Warm hearts.
LA shelters are filled with amazing animals looking for homes, and especially large dogs. Our goal was to free up kennel space for all of the pets that are entering shelters due to the devastating LA fires.
Several of the dogs we planned to pull were at risk of being put down for lack of space or medical issues. Many of the 11 cats, all rescued by ASAP Cats, needed extensive medical attention.
Our teams signed the paperwork and carefully loaded all the animals. The shelter staff we met were so excited to see the cats and dogs leave, especially the long-timers and the pets at risk for being put to sleep.
Late on Sunday evening, the transport vehicles pulled up to ASAP Cats and SYVHS/DAWG to drop off pets and also to meet up with foster families taking in some of the C.A.R.E.4Paws dogs.
All 34 pets are safe and many are receiving medical care and lots of love from the rescue staff and volunteers and their foster families.
C.A.R.E.4Paws is not a rescue, but we decided to pull 10 at-risk dogs to help save more lives. Nine of these dogs are now in foster and need to find forever homes.
To support our partner rescues, visit their individual webpages and view adoptable pets.
Big sweet pups Moony and Dougie in the photos above are among nine dogs adoptable through C.A.R.E.4Paws. The kitty is available at ASAP Cats.
Please also consider adopting or fostering from an LA shelter, as so many of the dogs, especially, are being put to sleep due to lack of space.
Thank you for making a pawsitive impact and saving lives!
