History

SBC Animal Care Foundation’s first countywide project was securing additional funding necessary for Santa Barbara County to move forward to build the Santa Maria Animal Center shelter now located at 548 West Foster Road. The project had been approved 12 years prior; however, each year it sat stagnant increasing the overall project cost. In 2002, project costs had increased to almost 1 million dollars. At that time, the North County shelter was a converted home known for its lack of cleanliness and high-kill outcome. The SBC Animal Care Foundation considered a new shelter an important priority to progressive change in our county. By Dec 2002, the needed funding was secured for the project to move forward. The grand opening of the state-of-the-art Santa Maria Animal Center shelter was held in June 2005. This shelter includes a full-functioning veterinary clinic, surgical suite, classroom, indoor kennels, and administrative offices. The SBC Animal Care Foundation later added 4 large play yards, the Rabbit Resort, the small dog play yard, and Caleb’s Corner (a location for volunteers and shelter animals to bond in a homelike setting).

In year two, the SBC Animal Care Foundation board prioritized the importance of medical funding for treatable shelter animals. The Sebastian Medical Fund was established and named to honor the first animal-assisted, cat named Sebastian. This fund provides valuable resources during a critical time. Tens to Hundreds of damaged strays enter the Santa Barbara County shelters annually. These animals include those suffering from illness or injury. They are dependent upon funding resources to save their lives. Many of these animals are not considered adoptable at the time they enter the shelter; however, they are considered treatable. If funding is available, that animal is saved. If funding is not available, that animal is humanely euthanized. With support from the Sebastian Medical Fund, these animals are stabilized and receive diagnostic procedures, medical treatments, and/or surgical intervention. Once treated, they are much more appealing to rescue organizations or adapters. The SBC Animal Care Foundation has assisted thousands of animals since 2003. Without our support at this critical time, these animals would only exist as euthanasia statistics.

While many organizations work within their city, the SBC Animal Care Foundation works on animal issues from a countywide perspective. In partnership with Animal Services, we keep our finger on the pulse of our county’s area of need. Over the past 20 years, the greatest need has been in northern Santa Barbara County. With double the intake of stray animals in the North County shelter, a greater number of animal euthanasia, more animal abuse and neglect cases, and a need for education, the SBC Animal Care Foundation utilizes the majority of its resources in the North County area.

 Collaborations

A saturated community has too many animals and not enough homes. Efforts to slow the number of unwanted litter are imperative. Next, we turned to spay and neuter, by assisting with Animal Services’ sponsored community feral cat spay days and supporting years of low-cost or no-cost public spay and neuter options performed at the Santa Maria Animal Center clinic for those with limited income. SBC Animal Care Foundation is also a member of the RPO Alliance, a collaborative group of local humane societies and animal organizations that work together to hold community spay and neuter events. As a part of this Alliance, in collaboration with the Santa Ynez Valley and Santa Maria Valley Humane Societies, they offered their facility and staff while our foundation paid for all event surgeries performed at their facilities.

As time progressed, more local organizations came forward to provide expanded spay/neuter options to our county, so in 2014, we began to take a step back in this area and focus more on medical funding. We continue to provide limited spay and neuter assistance on a case-by-case basis. This shift of resources was instrumental in the successful increase of Santa Barbara County’s live animal release rate, achieving no-kill status (90% or higher) for adoptable and rehabilitative shelter animals.

In 2006, we discussed how we could make more of an impact in the future. Children are our future leaders and teaching young animal lovers eager to learn could empower untapped voices in our community. It made sense to offer education about local animal issues using innovative learning modes that would encourage problem-solving while creating a positive memory. The Youth H.O.P.E. (Humane Outreach through Progressive Education) Project was formed. In 2008, the first of three week-long Camp H.O.P.E. summer day camp sessions took place in the classroom at the Santa Maria Animal Center. Camp H.O.P.E. employs experiential learning to teach children 9-12 years old about local pet issues and pet responsibility. The week-long camp utilizes a variety of speakers, crafts, services, and hands-on learning with shelter animals. Campers are overseen by camp counselors aged 13-18, who participate in a selection interview and 15 hours of training annually, in advance of the camp. The camp has been a successful and popular summer event in North County ever since. In 2012, the Animal Ambassador program was added. This program is similar to Camp H.O.P.E., but condensed into a 2-day program held on Saturdays. It is specific to Adams School, a North County school where many children experience hardships and stray animals are a challenge. In partnership with the school, a bus transports the children to and from camp, and the school provides free brown bag lunches.

In 2012, SBC Animal Care Foundation became involved in the first annual Santa Barbara County Stand Down event for Veterans. The Foundation continues to participate annually by providing all the vaccines for the veteran’s pets, as well as a variety of other miscellaneous items, as needed for the event.

In 2013, SBC Animal Care Foundation began funding test kits for all of the cats at the Lompoc and Santa Maria shelters to be tested for FIV/FeLV. As a chronic and contagious viral condition, potential adopters need to be aware of whether a cat is positive before adoption. Before this commitment, South County cats were the only ones tested regularly in the county through ASAP.

Annually, SBC Animal Care Foundation partners with Animal Services to invest in durable items to assist the animals during their stay. This has included items such as kennels, beds, harnesses, medical/dental equipment and tools, anesthesia apparatus & tools, and an ultrasound machine.

We are a small working Board with a small but mighty budget. Our Board of Directors meets monthly to review, discuss and vote on requests for medical funding assistance and any additions requests. We monitor the foundation's financial business, and plan, organize, and execute foundation events. Beyond medical assistance, we strive to educate and assist the public about local animal issues and the importance of spaying and neutering animals. It is our mission to promote animal welfare and to better the quality of life for animals in Santa Barbara County through education, outreach, collaboration, and promotion of the humane ethic and responsible treatment of all animals. Each donation or investment in the SBC Animal Care Foundation has a powerful impact on the animals. History allows us experience, resources allow us to foster current change, and education allows us to assist to shift the present and invest in the future.