C.A.R.E.4Paws has been a staple way for pets in low-income families to receive critical care, but the pandemic caused a service jump with a record 20,000 medical procedures in 2020, a significant uptick from 2019’s 18,500, said Isabelle Gullo, executive director and co-founder of C.A.R.E.4Paws.
“We’ve seen an increase in the number of pet owners who may not necessarily be low-income, but they are desperate to have their pet seen, and we are able to accommodate those clients,” Gullo said.
The main outreach comes through the Mobile Community Medicine and Spay/Neuter Outreach program where the organization drives in vans across Santa Barbara County meeting with pets and their owners, providing medical services ranging from mass removals to vaccinations and microchipping.
“When we started C.A.R.E.4PAWS, we looked at the whole county and pinpointed which areas have the highest need for low-cost services for pets. We analyzed poverty levels in different communities and went directly to these communities that not only were low-income, but lacked transportation or only spoke Spanish,” she said. “We are the only nonprofit on the Central Coast that provides services directly to the pet owners that need a wide range of services the most.”
C.A.R.E.4Paws will continue the mobile clinic in the new year, and will expand its services to San Luis Obispo County in February, Gullo said.
“We are serving an unprecedented number of families, and we don’t see that slowing down any time soon. It’s concerning because we are always worried families will have to decide between paying a bill or feeding their pet. … The good news is that there are many resources available to ensure that pets stay in their home,” she said.
Mobile clinics typically start at 9 a.m. with check-in for surgery and medical clients—who must make an appointment online prior to coming to the mobile units. By 10 a.m., the vaccine clinic is open on a first-come, first-serve basis along with flea treatments, and nail treatments. Owners can also sign up for other services at later dates like mass removal or spay neuter surgeries, Gullo said.
“During these clinics, we partner with Santa Barbara County Animal Services to sell dog licenses, and sponsor microchips for free. You need to license your pet; basically, it’s like a registration for your animal. A lot of people are interested in licensing their dogs but may not be able to make it to the shelter. You may need to alter your pet and get vaccines, but [you] can do it all in one place,” she said.
Everything—except surgeries, which can be sponsored—costs about $10, meaning owners can get all their vaccines, microchipping, and licensing done for about $60, which are discounted rates compared to private practices. All costs circle back into the nonprofit, allowing it to continue its service to the community, and expand its outreach, Gullo added.
“We’re always looking at what the needs are in the community, and seeing how we can fill any voids in terms of services that our community members may need. … Right now, the most important thing is to continue to provide the clinics and assistance with vet care for those having a hard time financially so they can keep their pets, and their pets don’t end up in shelters,” she said.
Visit care4paws.org for clinic dates and locations. For those interested in helping, the nonprofit is always looking for volunteers to help veterinary staff with vaccines and keep pet owners company at the mobile clinics.
Volunteers can visit the nonprofit’s website for an application. People can also donate pet food at the clinic’s site, or contribute financially on the C.A.R.E.4Paws website.
Highlight
• Spend an evening with the whole family at the Santa Maria Philharmonic’s Fly Me to the Moon concert at the Pacific Christian Center—located at 3435 Santa Maria Way—for an introduction to the world of live orchestral music. This hour-long performance on Jan. 23 celebrates science, technology, imagination, and the arts through a free presentation from Maestro Michael Nowak. The concert features works by Tchaikovsky, Beethoven, and Williams, and tells a story about the history of flight—which is brought to life with selections from the orchestra’s repertoire, and projected multimedia images. The show begins at 4 p.m., reservations must be made due to capacity restrictions, and masks are required inside the venue for all concertgoers. Reserve spots at givebutter.com/flymetothemoon.
Taylor O’Connor wrote this week’s Spotlight. You can reach her at toconnor@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Jan 6-13, 2022.
