Santa Barbara Humane has celebrated a successful year for animals countywide because of the loyalty and support of Santa Barbara County residents. This year, donors provided funding that enabled:
● 20,204 animals to be healed through expert medical care at an affordable cost, and completely free for some family pets.
● 761 dogs to successfully complete free or low-cost humane behavior training, including 65 that utilized the new training facility opened in Santa Maria.
● 1,263 animals to be adopted into loving homes, including 827 that were surrendered to the shelter by families who could no longer care for them.
Community support allowed Santa Barbara Humane to say “yes” to animals with more immediate or critical needs. In 2020, Santa Barbara Humane shifted to become an open-admission shelter. This change provided nearly 900 owners with a safe haven to surrender their pets, no matter an animal’s age, health or circumstance.
For Beau, a two-year-old retriever/heeler mix, a “yes” from Santa Barbara Humane made all the difference. Beau arrived unsocialized, having lived in a garage his entire life without human contact or companionship with other dogs. His first days at Santa Barbara Humane were spent hiding in the back of his kennel, shaking and low growling out of fear.
He received weeks of one-on-one time with the certified trainers and shelter staff to gain confidence and trust in humans. He may not have had the same opportunity somewhere else. After six months of dedicated rehabilitation, Beau was adopted into a loving home.
“We are so grateful that the support of our community has allowed us to say ‘yes’ to animals like Beau,” said Kerri Burns, Santa Barbara Humane CEO. “Your generosity ensures we can provide the time,
dedication, and care, both medical and behavioral, to help these animals thrive and eventually find homes.”
In 2021, Santa Barbara Humane achieved a live release rate of 96 percent. The national average is 89 percent, according to a study commissioned by Shelter Animals Count, a neutral, independent nonprofit
created to share and steward the National Database of Sheltered Animals, which provides facts and insights to save lives.
Saving more includes animals like Canela, a seven-month-old German Shepherd that arrived as a transfer from another shelter. Suspecting a possible fracture in her back leg, they reached out to Santa Barbara Humane for help. X-rays revealed a complete fracture of her shin bone, and the best path to a pain-free future would be amputation.
The surgery was a success. The medical team described her as a “total lovebug.” Canela quickly adjusted to life on three legs, and not long after, she was adopted.
Shelter animals weren’t the only ones helped by Santa Barbara Humane in 2021. Support from the community also allowed Santa Barbra Humane to offer affordable medical services to thousands of pets in both the Santa Barbara and Santa Maria veterinary clinics through the TLC Fund. The fund made a difference in the lives of more than 2,300 families, which is up from 1,000 in 2020.
By providing financial assistance for medical services and procedures, more pets are healthy, happy, and safe in their homes with people who love them.
Pets and the people that love them in Santa Barbara County have benefited as well from an expanded training and behavior program. In addition to Refined Rover, Reserved Rover, and Reactive Rover classes, Santa Barbara Humane introduced Puppy Classes as well as breed-specific classes geared toward shepherd and husky owners.
To accommodate this growth, the organization opened a new training center in Santa Maria to allow for larger class sizes. In 2021, more than 700 dogs received free or low-cost behavior training.
Santa Barbara Humane is not affiliated with a regional or national animal welfare organization, so the campuses and programs in Santa Maria and Santa Barbara are locally funded. Donations from
community members and local partners ensure the organization can help even more in 2022 countywide.
To learn more about the services offered, to book an appointment, or to donate to help more, the community, visit sbhumane.org.