C.A.R.E.4Paws - Community Awareness . Responsibility . Education in Santa Barbara County

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A special thank you to Trusted Pet Partners for supporting C.A.R.E.4Paws.

Is your pet safe if something happens to you? Get your free Emergency Notification Kit here.

Get exceptional deals at WinWinLiving.com on dining, events, services and more, and help support C.A.R.E.4Paws with each purchase (10% of sales go to your charity of choice).

Get a copy of our new children's book, Pawsitive Thinking.

C.A.R.E.4PAWS' CALENDAR

~ Weekly, Year-Round C.A.R.E.4Paws hosts Fix-a-Pit at DAWG (Dog Adoption & Welfare Group) in Santa Barbara every Thursday, spaying and neutering up to eight pit bull terriers and pit mixes as part of our Project ResponsiBull program. Contact C.A.R.E.4Paws for more details and to sign up.

~ Weekly, Year-Round C.A.R.E.4Paws and Pawsitive Thinking collaborate with Park & Recreations's Fun on the Run, an after-school program for young kids that takes place weekly in Santa Barbara parks.

~ Month of May C.A.R.E.4Paws takes part in the Whole Enchihuahua, a celebration of chihuahuas throughout the month of May alongside County Animal Services' three shelters and the county's three Humane Societies. Chihuahua adoptions are 50% off and all spays/neuters of chihuahuas and chi mixes are FREE.

~ Thursday May 17 C.A.R.E.4Paws brings Pawsitive Thinking to Santa Barbara's Washington School for its annual Science Night.

~ Sunday May 19 C.A.R.E.4Paws takes part in Valley Pets' annual animal festival from 9am to 6pm at 225 McMurray Road in Buellton. The event features adoptable pets, a low-cost vaccine, licensing and microchipping clinic, dog training demos and huge storewide sales.

~ Saturday May 26 C.A.R.E.4Paws host Project ResponsiBull workshops for owners of pit bulls and pit mixes at Santa Barbara Humane Society with trainer John Sorosky from Camp Canine; from 1pm to 3pm. Contact u s to sign up and click here for more info and photos from previous workshops.

~ Sunday June 3 C.A.R.E.4Paws organizes an adoption event at Santa Barbara's State Street Mile and Dog Mile, a run/walk for owners and their dogs as well as dogs for adoption from county shelters and rescue groups.

~ Saturday July 7 C.A.R.E.4Paws takes part in the Pacific Pride Festival at Leadbetter Beach with a booth and shelter dogs for adoption. We are also arranging a costume contest for owned and adotpable dogs.

~ Sunday August 26
C.A.R.E.4Paws' fourth annual Wags n' Whiskers Festival takes place at Girsh Park in Goleta from 11am to 4pm. The event—the largest adoption festival in Santa Barbara County—features adoptable dogs, cats and bunnies from more than 20 animal shelters and rescue groups and showcases a wide range of local pet service providers and animal welfare groups. Plus: fun activities throughout the day! Contact us for more information about participating as well as sponsorships.

THE LATEST SCOOP

C.A.R.E.4Paws Veterinary Intervention Progam in the news
C.A.R.E.4Paws recently launched a brand-new, countywide program to help low-income pet owners who cannot afford vet care for their dogs and cats. On Sunday May 6, the Veterinary Intervention Program was featured in the Santa Barbara News-Press. Read the article >>

Ricky Stratton with Bella, whose hip surgery was sponsored by C.A.R.E.4Paws.

C.A.R.E.4Paws launches its spay-neuter clinic on wheels
On Sunday April 29, C.A.R.E.4Paws launched its Spay Mobile, a veterinary clinic on wheels that will be used throughout Santa Barbara County for free and low-cost spay/neuter surgeries, low-cost vaccines and low-cost microchipping. The goal is to have a strong presence in neighborhoods throughout the county where you find a high number of unaltered animals. On Sunday April 29, the Spay Mobile parked at Santa Barbara's Eastside Neighborhood park, altering nine dogs and administrating low-cost vaccines to more than a dozen pets. The Spay Mobile was purchased with the generous support of private donors and equipped thanks to a substantial donation from the Santa Barbara Humane Society.

The happy spay day team after fixing nine dogs and administering low-cost vaccines to a dozen pups. See more photos from this event >>

C.A.R.E.4Paws hosts two spay days at Angel Vet Hospital
On February 21 and March 31, C.A.R.E.4Paws hosted two Spay Days for low-income pet owners at Angel Veterinary Hospital for a total of 24 dogs. A big thank you Dr. Cindy Engel, techs and staff for making these events so successful!

Above: The Amazing Angel Team on February 21. See more photos from C.A.R.E.4Paws' Spay Days >>

C.A.R.E.4Paws and Pawsitive Thinking at Crane School
On March 23, students from Crane School in Montecito got a VIP Shelter Tour of DAWG and the Santa Barbara County Shelter to learn more about the animals living there, and how we can work together to prevent dogs, cats and bunnies from ending up in shelters in the future.

See more photos from this event >>

C.A.R.E.4Paws hosts monthly Project ResponsiBull classes
One Saturday a month, C.A.R.E.4Paws hosts Project ResponsiBull workshops at the Santa Barbara Humane Society for up to 10 pit bulls (or pit mixes) and their owners. The classes are taught by long-time trainer John Sorosky from Camp Canine and a team of C.A.R.E.4Paws volunteers. Sign up today for the next session or click on the link below to photos from previous classes.

See more images from this and other Project ResponsiBull events >>

Fresh from the printer!

C.A.R.E.4Paws' new For Pit's Sake flyer is here. If you want to help combat the myths and misconceptions about the pit bull and restore its family-dog image, download your own copy in English and Spanish. You'll learn about the pit's history and characteristics, and what to expect from this amazing breed, including the dos and don'ts of pit bull ownership. Contact us if you'd like to have printed copies sent to you or download the files yourself in high or would like the high-resolution versions to print on your own.

C.A.R.E.4Paws and Pawsitive Thinking at Cold Springs School
Throughout December and January, C.A.R.E.4Paws and Cold Springs School have collaborated on a Pawsitive Thinking project with a wonderful group of third graders. The project includes a classroom workshop about pet care; a VIP Shelter Tour where students got an in-depth look at the Santa Barbara County shelter and the animals living there (students are now writing a book with stories about the "project animals" they took under their wings); and an assembly presentation with all of the students at Cold Springs School, where our third-graders made the introduction (watch the video). Next up: a big fundraiser to benefit shelter animals and C.A.R.E.4Paws. Below are photos from the student workshop and assembly.

See more photos from this event and click here to watch a short video of Cold Springs' third-graders introducing C.A.R.E.4Paws to their fellow students.

C.A.R.E.4Paws' FurEver Valentines Friendraiser
On Saturday February 11, C.A.R.E.4Paws hosted its first FurEver Valentines Friendraiser at Oreana Winery. Guests enjoyed wonderful wine, great food and chocolate, music by local performer Jesse Rhodes and a silent auction. All proceeds from the event go to support C.A.R.E.4Paws’ spay and neuter program, including our new Spay Mobile (read more about this in the Santa Barbara News-Press).

Click here to see our list of sponsors and contributors >>

C.A.R.E.4Paws at the Santa Barbara Film Festival
On Saturday January 28, C.A.R.E.4Paws took part in a Santa Barbara Film Festival event: the showing of "Red Dog." Katy from the Santa Barbara County Shelter was our C.A.R.E.4Paws dog of the day. As you can tell, she had a great time!

See images from other events >>

C.A.R.E.4Paws chosen Local Heroes in 2011 by the Santa Barbara Independent!

Read the story >> For more recent press coverage, click here >>

CLICK HERE FOR MORE NEWS, STORIES & PHOTOS >>

TOP DOGS, COOL CATS & BRILLIANT BUNNIES

Meet Smokey, adoptable through Santa Barbara County Animal Services.

I'm a 3-year-old pit brindle mix who loves to play, run and just have fun. More >>

Meet Lulu, adoptable through DAWG.

I'm a cute, sweet and smart girl looking for a forever home with you. More >>

Meet Troy, adoptable through CAPA.

I'm a big boy who's as nice as can be. I love to play, run and hike. More >>

Meet Donatella & Pipkin, adoptable through Santa Maria Animal Center.

We may be the cutest couple you've ever seen. More >>

Meet Kit Kat, adoptable through ASAP.

I'm cuddly and playful and ready to be yours! More >>

Meet Leia, adoptable through Shadow's Fund.

I'm a sweet, young white pit bull mix who loves kids and other dogs. More >>

ANNOUNCEMENTS & HAPPY TAILS

Wonderful Coca from the SB Humane Society waited four long years for this day to come. A warm bed and lots of love are in store for this lady. Happy tails to you, Coca!

Sweet Fancy from SBHS is now living in her long-awaited forever home. Happy tails to you, Fancy!

Thank you Marilyn Gevirtz and the Gevirtz Graduate School of Education at UCSB for your support of our children's book, Pawsitive Thinking: How to Be Your Pet's Best Pal.

Thank you Pawsitive Alliance in Washington State for providing us with so much inspiration, especially for Project ResponsiBull.

Thank you C.A.R.E.4Paws volunteers for your hard work and belief in this organization.

NOTE FROM THE FOUNDERS

Times are hard for companion animals. In the U.S. alone, millions of unwanted cats and dogs are euthanized each year simply because there are not enough homes for them. Naturally, the economic crisis makes the situation worse. Pets are being surrendered at shelters in record numbers, and most organizations cannot handle the volume of animals entering their doors. In fact, local governments pay more than $2 billion a year for the killing of 8-10 million cats and dogs.

Reality is grim, BUT together we can make a difference in the lives of our furry friends. C.A.R.E.4Paws' educational programs and adoptions events coupled with public spay and neuter assistance and training workshops can help halt shelter overpopulation and the killing of adoptable dogs and cats in Santa Barbara County. Check in with us often to learn about new programs, upcoming events and other news.

As Mahatma Gandhi famously said:

“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated."

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