BTC #4 – C.A.R.E.4Paws

By BTCken On March 2, 2011

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Isabelle and Carlos are up to something simple, yet profound. They have created a series of programs in Santa Barbara County. Supporting shelters, rescues, individuals, schools, and of course the animals of the County. Listen in as Isabelle takes time out of her schedule to share with us all that is happening.

Our guests this week:
C.A.R.E.4Paws Director Isabelle Gullo located in Santa Barbara.

Isabelle, welcome to the program!

C.A.R.E.4Paws—short for Community Awareness, Responsibility and Education—was created with the mission to help put an end to pet overpopulation in Santa Barbara County, and to inspire a greater sense of accountability, compassion and respect for animals in the process.

A 501(c)3 nonprofit, C.A.R.E.4Paws serves as an umbrella organization for local shelters and rescues. We support and collaborate closely with these groups—as well as the Humane Society and Santa Barbara County Animal Services—to boost pet retention, increase adoptions, lower the number of unwanted pets born and, ultimately, decrease the amount of adoptable animals found in shelters and euthanized each year.

To make our mission a reality, C.A.R.E.4Paws has implemented several programs that in a short period of time have had a significant impact on the community:

Bilingual & Bicultural Community Outreach: Our community awareness campaigns—in collaboration with Santa Barbara County Animal Services and the Santa Barbara and Santa Maria Valley Humane Societies— promote responsible pet ownership, addressing the importance of spaying/neutering, licensing, rabies vaccination and microchipping.

Spay & Neuter Assistance: In partnership with the Santa Barbara Humane Society and the local veterinarian community, C.A.R.E.4Paws arranges Spay Days and spay/neuter appointments to low-income pet owners and rescue groups. The program includes free spays/neuters for pit bulls.

Dog Training Intervention: To increase pet retention, we offer free dog training classes that help owners work and bond with their dogs.

Adoption Events: C.A.R.E.4Paws organizes regular adoption events that join local shelters and rescues in featuring dogs and cats outside the shelter environment.

The Pet Shop Project: C.A.R.E.4Paws works with County pet stores to help end the selling of pets and instead, encourage shops to rescue and adopt out animals from high-kill shelters and local rescues.