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).
Looking to volunteer your time and talents to a great cause? Click here to find out about the many different ways to help C.A.R.E.4Paws.
~ Weekly
Every Thursday, C.A.R.E.4Paws' Fix-a-Pit program, hosted by DAWG (Dog Adoption & Welfare Group), takes place in Santa Barbara. We fix up to eight pit bull terriers and pit mixes each week at DAWG as part of our Project ResponsiBull. For more details, contact C.A.R.E.4Paws.
~ January & February
C.A.R.E.4Paws and Cold Springs School collaborate on a Pawsitive Thinking project with a group of third graders that includes a classroom workshop about pet care; a VIP Shelter Tour where students get an in-depth look at the Santa Barbara County shelter and the animals living there; an assembly with all of the students at Cold Springs School; and a big fundraiser to benefit shelter animals.
~ Saturday February 11
C.A.R.E.4Paws hosts its FurEver Valentine's Friendraiser at Oreana Winery in Santa Barbara from 6pm to 9pm (note the time update). Tickets are $35 and include wonderful wine, great food, chocolate, live music and more. We'll also have a silent auction with fabulous items, plus a book signing with Holli Pfau, author of Pure Gold: Adventures with Six Rescued Golden Retrievers. Click here to download the flyer or go to the event home page.
~ Saturday February 25
C.A.R.E.4Paws hosts a Project ResponsiBull workshop 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 us to sign up and click here for more info and photos from previous workshops.
~ Saturday March 24 & Sunday March 25
C.A.R.E.4Paws hosts its annual Yard Sale. Donations Needed. Start saving your no longer needed treasures, such as furniture, housewares, sporting goods, toys, books, clothing, etc. (No computers or printers, please.) For details, call Mary at 450-1599.
THE LATEST SCOOP
C.A.R.E.4Paws's FurEver Valentines Friendraiser Want to celebrate Valentine’s Day in a pawsitive way?
Join us for a fun-filled event to raise funds and awareness for Santa Barbara County animals in need. Our FurEver Valentines Friendraiser takes place Saturday Feb. 11 from 6pm to 9pm at Oreana Winery. Enjoy wonderful wine, a chocolate tasting, great food, music by local performer Jesse Rhodes and a silent auction (all proceeds go to support C.A.R.E.4Paws’ spay and neuter program and our new Spay Mobile). Plus, Holli Pfau, author of Pure Gold: Adventures with Six Rescued Golden Retrievers, will sell and sign her best-seller at the event. Tickets are $35. Buy your ticket now!
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!
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 included 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 (they 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 hosts another Project ResponsiBull workshop
On Saturday January 28, C.A.R.E.4Paws hosted a successful Project ResponsiBull workshop at the Santa Barbara Humane Society for 10 dogs and their owners. The class was taught by long-time trainer John Sorosky from Camp Canine and a team of C.A.R.E.4Paws volunteers.
C.A.R.E.4Paws hosts a spay day at Angels for 10 dogs
On Monday December 19, C.A.R.E.4Paws organized a spay day at Angel Vet Hospital for 10 dogs. Thank you Dr. Cindy Engel, techs and staff for making this event so successful!
Above: The Amazing Angel Team.
See more photos from our Spay Days >>
C.A.R.E.4Paws at Police Activities League's Safety Fair
On Saturday December 3, C.A.R.E.4Paws participated in a Public Safety Fair with the Santa Barbara Police Activities League (PAL). Here are some photos from our Pawsitive Thinking booth and of our fabulous shelter dogs for adoption.
Dogtoberfest in Solvang spurred many adoption and raised awareness about rescue and shelter pets
On Saturday October 8, Dogtoberfest at Solvang Park turned into a great festival with a least 12 dogs adopted. The event—sponsored by C.A.R.E.4Paws, CAPA, Santa Barbara County Animal Services and Valley Pets—featured adoptable dogs from the county's animal shelters and rescue groups along with various vendors and a low-cost vaccine and microchip clinic with Project PetSafe. Visitors enjoyed door prizes, fun contests, a special tribute to shelter dogs and, of course, great food and beer.See the photos >>
The 2011 Wags n' Whiskers Festival On Sunday August 28, C.A.R.E.4Paws hosted its third annual Wags n' Whiskers Festival at Girsh Park in Goleta. The event—the largest adoption festival in Santa Barbara County—featured adoptable dogs, cats and bunnies from more than 20 animal shelters and rescue groups and showcased a wide range of local pet service providers and animal welfare groups. The festival inspired as many as 27 dog and cat adoptions, with many more in the works. Click here to find more details about the festival. And stay tuned for adoption updates and more photos from the event!
C.A.R.E.4Paws has lost an amazing ambassador On Saturday June 4, C.A.R.E.4Paws sadly and suddenly lost its beloved therapy dog, Lillie. As part of Pawsitive Thinking, sweet Lillie visited schools countywide alongside mom Karen Perkins and inspired everyone in her path. In her lifetime, Lillie faced challenge after challenge, and yet, she always persevered. Lillie, wonderful friend, you are loved by so many. We are all lucky and honored to have known you. Mom Karen, know that we're thinking of you. You and Lillie made a wonderful team!
Lillie, thank you for being such an inspiration to all of us. You are dearly missed!
C.A.R.E.4Paws Releases Children's Book C.A.R.E.4Paws has published a children's book about basic animal care and responsible pet ownership. Called Pawsitive Thinking: How to Be Your Pet's Best Pal, the book is an extension of our classroom education program (with the same name), and is supported in part by the Don & Marilyn Gevirtz Family and the Gevirtz Graduate School of Education at UCSB. The book is sold at Chaucer's, Tecolote Bookshop and at local pet stores, and will also be placed in public and school libraries. Click here to get a copy of the book and here to learn more about our Pawsitive Thinking program. Read about the book in Santa Barbara News-Press>>
The authors, Isabelle Gullo and Carlos Abitia, with Marilyn Gevirtz at book signing at Tecolote.
For Pit's Sake
Pit bulls and pit mixes make up the majority of dogs found in local shelters. And because of the breed's bad rap, it's harder for a pit bull than any other type of dog to find a home. Click here to learn more about the pit bull's history and typical characteristics as well as the myths and misconceptions surrounding this breed. You can also download our educational flyer, available in both English and Spanish.
I'm a sweet, young white pit bull mix who loves kids and other dogs. More >>
ANNOUNCEMENTS & HAPPY TAILS
Amazing Samantha from the Santa Barbara County Shelter waited three years for her forever family. Happy tails to you, Sam!
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 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."
