In 2020, individuals all over the state took a leap of faith and adopted furry companions to help them endure the ebb and flow pandemic life.
Colorado State University researchers released a report in November 2020 that found bonding with a pet during the stay-at-home orders reduced feelings of anxiety and depression.
Survey participants were questioned about how their relationship with their dogs affected feelings associated with COVID-19, and nearly 70 percent of respondents reported decreased feelings of loneliness and isolation—60 percent of cat owners had the same response.
According to the report, more than half of the respondents also reported that their canine and feline friends helped ease depression and anxiety and gave purpose to their lives.
The Central Coast also experienced a record number of pet adoptions in shelters in 2020 as locals sought a forever family member and the positive feelings that result. To make the pet-adoption process even easier, Facebook group 805 Available Shelter and Rescue Pets assisted in matchmaking humans with new pets.
Patricia Sly, founder of the Facebook group, works in partnership with shelters in Santa Barbara and SLO counties, group members, and other groups on social media to promote available pets in the area. The group focuses on pets in shelters, senior fur friends, pets that have medical needs, and “rehoming.”
“We really try to highlight the dogs often looked over and get them into loving homes,” she said.
Sly said she doesn’t want to take any of the credit away from the shelters and everyone who’s involved in getting these pets into their forever homes.
She began volunteering with the Santa Maria Animal Shelter on Foster Road when she moved to Orcutt around 2012. Her duties included spreading the word on social media when there were available pets, fostering pets, and transporting pets to their future homes if the owners-to-be were out of the area.
A rare arthritis prevented her from doing physical volunteer work, so in 2017, she created 805 Available Shelter and Rescue Pets to push her promotional pet posts into high gear. It was a way for her to continue her meaningful work.
“This group literally changed my life in so many ways. It started off so small with a couple of my friends, but it grew to other volunteers, rescue and shelter staff, and trainers because we all use Facebook,” Sly said.
Since its formation, the group has grown to more than 2,600 members.
Sly recently went back to work full time, and 805 Available Shelter and Rescue Pets member Brooke Walsher helps post available pets, answer member inquiries for specific breeds of pets, and connects members with shelters.
“By sharing posts from pet rescues all across the area in our group, we help those looking to adopt, find pets outside their neighborhoods,” Walsher said. “In the end, we are helping pets across the Central Coast find new homes and giving animal rescues an opportunity to share more personal details about pets available for adoption.”
Sly said she completely agrees, because the original mission of the group “isn’t about any one person, it’s about getting these animals into a home in a comfy bed as quickly as we can.”
Highlights
• The Santa Maria Recreation and Parks Department is hosting two free drive-in bingo events at the Elwin Mussell Center. The events are designed so participants can play from their cars, and they will feature non-cash prizes for winners. Senior Bingo is on Friday, May 14, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. for community members age 50 and older. Family Bingo will take place on Saturday, May 15, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. and is open to all ages. The Elwin Mussell Center is located at 510 East Park Ave., and registration is required. Call the Recreation and Parks Department at (805) 925-0951, Ext. 2260, for questions and registration.
• The Lompoc Recreation Division is holding free swim instructor training at the Lompoc Aquatic Center on May 21 and 22. “The purpose of the instructor training is to train instructor candidates to teach courses in the Lompoc Aquatic Center swim lessons program,” according to the city. “Training will be presented in a classroom-learning format. Participants will be given an overview of the Lompoc Aquatic Center swim lessons program, skills practice of stroke techniques, and given practice-teaching assignments.” Then participants will have a chance to shadow an instructor during a class on either May 24 or 25. Those who complete the course can apply to become an instructor at the Lompoc Aquatic Center. Register online or at (805) 875-8100.
Staff Writer Karen Garcia wrote this week’s Spotlight. Send tidbits to spotlight@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in May 13-20, 2021.