Due to the pandemic, the demand for C.A.R.E.4Paws' help is greater than ever. To prevent suffering and ensure pets can stay with their families, we distribute four tons of pet food weekly and provide critical wellness services to a record-number of animals in our mobile veterinary clinic. We also offer refuge for pets of domestic violence survivors as well as humane education programs that promote compassion for animals and empathy in our community.
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Together, we make
a pawsitive impact!
WE ARE HERE TO HELP!
Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, C.A.R.E.4Paws has stayed true to our mission to prevent pet homelessness and suffering. We continue to bring life-saving services directly to low-income, senior, disabled and homeless pet owners throughout Santa Barbara County. This includes assistance with affordable medical care and free spay and neuter surgeries in our mobile veterinary clinic and distribution of pet food several times per week in our clinic, during special events and through delivery to seniors in need.
KEEPING PETS WITH THEIR PEOPLE
Our Companion Pet Assistance program continues to provide at least four tons of pet food weekly to pet owners in need. We distribute pet food in our mobile clinic and during events with agencies such as the Foodbank and People Helping People. We deliver food to homebound pet owners and also have several Pet Resource Centers available. Want to help keep animals healthy and in their homes? Donate pet food or funds during our upcoming Pet Food Donation Drive-Thru, April 24-25 at locations countywide.
CRITICAL MOBILE CLINIC CARE
The need for our Mobile Pet Wellness services is greater than ever! In 2020, we performed 2,005 spay/neuter surgeries and provided medical care to 1,823 dogs and cats—compared to 1,300 spays/neuters and 1,170 pets assisted with veterinary care in 2019. We hosted 190 clinic days during 2020, up from 140 in 2019 and 120 in 2018. The provision of 50 percent more clinic services in 2020 reflects the enormous need in our community created by the pandemic.
SUPPORT FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SURVIVORS
With the lockdown orders and heightened emotional and financial stresses caused by COVID-19, domestic violence is more prevalent than ever. Our Safe Haven program ensures domestic violence survivors can find safety for their pets when they leave an abusive situation. Pet owners exposed to domestic violence can seek emergency shelter WITH their companion animals through Domestic Violence Solutions (DVS) and C.A.R.E.4Paws arranges for immediate, anonymous foster care for the pets. Survivors and law enforcement can also contact us directly for support.
A CONGRESSIONAL AWARD!
We are very honored and grateful to receive a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition from Congressman Salud Carbajal for our work in the community since 2009 and our unprecedented efforts during COVID-19. Thank you for the wonderful acknowledgment! You can view all the great media coverage here and click to watch the award ceremony video!
COMMUNITY SUPPORTING COMMUNITY
We love how our community has come together to help those in need with pet food. A huge thanks to Companion Animal Placement & Assistance (CAPA) and Grocery Outlet of Lompoc as well as Santa Barbara County Animal Care Foundation and PetSmart in Santa Maria for two wonderful foodraisers. More heartfelt thanks go to partners such as Foodbank of Santa Barbara County, Lompoc's Home Depot, Rescue Me Coffee Company, Montecito Pet Shop, Plaza Deli, Dioji K-9 Resort & Athletic Club, DAWG & Santa Ynez Valley Humane Society, ResQcats, Advanced Veterinary Specialists, Fedex Ground in Santa Maria and Plaza Deli's Larry Balducci, featured in the photo.
YOUTH PET PORTRAITS
Want to help inspire a future artist while raising funds for C.A.R.E.4Paws' critical work? The awesome youth at United Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Barbara County in Lompoc keep making pet portraits for a donation as part of our Paws Up For Pets program. Portraits are painted on 11x14 canvasses from a photo you send us and cost $50. Click to learn more and order your pet master piece today! Says Lompoc's club director De’Vika Stalling: "This is a Godsent collaboration that has been so therapeutic to our members and has brought them so much joy, while providing an opportunity for them to self-express through their artwork and bring happiness by way of their portraits to all of the gracious donors."
SUPPORT FOR PETS OF THE HOMELESS
Every Thursday since April, 2020, C.A.R.E.4Paws has joined other agencies at Santa Barbara’s Alameda Park to support community members that are struggling more than ever due to the pandemic. Many are homeless, living on the streets or in their cars. Not only does our volunteer crew distribute food, flea treatment and blankets and beds to pets in need, but on the first Thursday of each month, we provide baths for dogs of homeless owners with our friends from A’s Dog Grooming. This service is generously sponsored by one of our loyal donors.
A TEXAS PET RESCUE TEAM EFFORT
On March 6 and 7, our C.A.R.E.4Paws crew transported 22 shelter dogs and one cat from Texas in a collaboration with Santa Barbara County Animal Services (check out the KEYT video!). Winter storms have left Texas shelters beyond overcrowded and these agencies have to make space for more pets in need. The 22 animals that arrived here are being adopted out to great homes by SBCAS. Shadow's Fund and Santa Barbara County Animal Care Foundation were also instrumental in making this happen. Go team!
OUR FIRST PET FOOD DONATION DRIVE-THRU
We hosted a very successful Pet Food Donation Drive-Thru on April 24 and 25, when supporters dropped off pet food and monetary gifts at five different locations countywide as well as at our many year-round drop-off locations. Thanks to so many generous community members, we raised tons of pet food and critical funds to help support pet owners struggling during the pandemic. We are beyond grateful to all of our contributors, volunteers and location hosts for making this event such a huge success.
VOLUNTEER POWER
Without our dedicated volunteers, we could never do our work and support as many pet owners in need, especially not during this pandemic. From packing and delivering pet food to working during our many wellness events to fostering pets for Safe Haven and other critical programs, our volunteers are invaluable. Since the start of COVID-19, we have recruited many new volunteers. Thank you, everyone! Together, we keep animals out of shelters and ensure pets stay happy, healthy and with their owners for life. Want to help out? Send an email to: .
HAPPY TAILS CELEBRATION & FUNDRAIS
On Sunday, June 13, C.A.R.E.4Paws hosts our Happy Tails Celebration & Fundraiser from 5pm to 6pm. Our FREE virtual gala highlights our work in the community and features heartfelt Happy Tails from pet owners whom we've helped. We will host a live auction with exciting packages to bid on, and we hope you’ll consider joining us as a “Happy Tails Patron” to support the critical services C.A.R.E.4Paws provides for community members in need. Click here for all of the details and to RSVP.
FIRST RESPONDER ASSISTANCE
As part of our Pet Emergency Training for First Responders (P.E.T.) program, C.A.R.E.4Paws just donated several harnesses and muzzles to Santa Barbara City Fire Department, Santa Barbara City Fire Station 1, 6 and 7 for pets that need cliffside and other types of rescue. P.E.T. is a Santa Barbara Countywide program provided by C.A.R.E.4Paws, pet emergency and specialty hospital Advanced Veterinary Specialists (AVS) and dog trainer Brian Glen to teach first responders how to care for pets in an emergency situation. Thank you to all of our first responders for keeping us safe!
TWO NEW PET RECOURCE CENTERS
On May 26, we co-launched two new Pet Resource Centers at Santa Barbara County Animal Services' shelters in Lompoc and Santa Barbara together with SBCAS and five other partners. These new locations adds to the center launched in 2020 at SBCAS’ Santa Maria shelter and the 10 centers that we have operated with other agencies since 2019. At all centers, community members in need can pick up pet food and supplies and sign up for critical pet wellness services. A big thanks to Supervisor Gregg Hart, Jenelle Osborne for Mayor of Lompoc and Goleta Mayor Paula Perote for supporting our event.