This summer, nonprofit C.A.R.E.4Paws marks the one-year anniversary of its 37-foot, state-of-the-art mobile veterinary unit, which serves marginalized communities in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties.

The number of pet families turning to the organization for help with affordable wellness services has increased significantly, a reflection of the rising cost of living and pet care on the Central Coast, according to C.A.R.E.4Paws.

“We receive dozens of calls daily from pet families in need of help,” said Isabelle Gullö, C.A.R.E.4Paws’ executive director/cofounder.

“Over the last few years, there’s been a dramatic increase in the number of requests for veterinary assistance as well as pet food and temporary foster homes,” she said. “These are safety-net services that keep pets with their people.”

Lack of affordability is the main barrier to families seeking out or receiving services for their dogs and cats through a regular veterinary clinic.

According to C.A.R.E.4Paws, the cost of veterinary care has increased by more than 20% in some locations.

C.A.R.E.4Paws started its mobile clinic in August 2023 to address the growing demand for affordable care. At that time, the organization’s Mobile Community Medicine & Spay/Neuter Outreach program operated out of two older, 26-foot units, and needed a larger, more reliable vehicle in order to increase the service’s geographical reach and number of pets served.

The mobile clinic unit, made possible thanks to individual donors and foundation grants, comes with a double surgery suite, added equipment and enough kennel space to house animals, including more large dogs.

The organization operates its vehicles four to five days per week and frequently has two veterinary teams performing spays/neuters and other surgeries simultaneously. Outside the units, a third team provides low-cost vaccines, flea treatment, nail trims, and other basic services during a walk-in Pet Wellness Clinic.

In the first seven months of 2024, C.A.R.E.4Paws’ clinic program has helped more than 11,000 cats and dogs with low-cost and free wellness services and spays/neuters.

To compare, the clinic assisted 17,500 pets in 2023, 13,000 in 2022 and 10,000 in 2021. It’s not unusual for the C.A.R.E.4Paws team to serve 100 to 200 dogs and cats during one clinic day.

“What we love about our mobile clinic program is that it allows us to assist pet families in their neighborhoods, removing challenges that prevent animals from receiving care, like financial limitations, language barriers and transportation issues,” said Gullö.

Laura Leon from Oceano in San Luis Obispo County said appreciates the affordability and accessibility of C.A.R.E.4Paws’ clinic program.

In June, she brought her small terrier mix, Rex, to a clinic for vaccines, a microchip and a teeth cleaning. The services were provided for free as part of a Access to Care grant from PetSmart Charities, designated specifically for Oceano pet families.

“Without C.A.R.E.4Paws, it would be extremely difficult for low-income families like mine to afford veterinary care,” Leon said.

August marks C.A.R.E.4Paws’ 15th year as a nonprofit. Beyond mobile clinic services, the organization supports low-income, senior, disabled and unhoused community members with other resources, including help for pet families exposed to domestic violence, assistance with behavioral training and provision of pet food and supplies.

Since 2020, C.A.R.E.4Paws and its key community partners have distributed 4.5 million pet meals to families struggling financially.

To help support C.A.R.E.4Paws’ work, community members are invited to its Donation Drive-Thru & Adoption Event at Deckers Brands alongside Santa Barbara County Animal Services and ASAP Cats, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 24.

The event’s goal is to raise pet food and monetary gifts toward pet wellness services, as well as inspire forever homes for shelter dogs and cats.

Learn more about the event at care4paws.org/drive.

“More than ever, we need the community’s support to keep pet families strong and together and to prevent animals from ending up homeless,” says Gullö.  “Adopting from our shelters make a big pawsitive impact, too.”

For more about C.A.R.E.4Paws and to make a donation, visit care4paws.org. To learn more about C.A.R.E.4Paws’ Mobile Community Medicine & Spay/Neuter Outreach, visit care4paws.org/clinicservices.