Santa Barbara Welcomes Adoptable Dogs from Texas

Source: Santa Barbara County Animal Services

After Winter Storm Uri wreaked havoc across the State of Texas, Santa Barbara County Animal Services (SBCAS) responded to the call for help from animal shelters directly impacted by the freezing temperatures, ice, and snow. With their owners stranded without power and water, thousands of Texas pets entered shelters during the storm’s aftermath. As a result of this rapid influx of animals into the shelters, dogs and cats that were already there before the storm hit are now at risk of euthanasia due to space limitations and exhausted resources. Through a major collaboration of animal organizations, a goal was set to find safe transport for 1,000 animals or more across state lines to free up critical space in the exhausted Texas shelters.

Making the long journey from El Paso, 22 of these lucky dogs will arrive in Santa Barbara on the evening of Saturday, March 6, 2021. The dogs selected for the journey range from 4 to 70 pounds and are healthy and social. Most importantly, the priority was to transfer dogs that truly don’t have a home or are at risk of euthanasia. According to SBCAS Director, Angela Yates, “As a municipal shelter, it’s unusual for us to transfer in animals from other jurisdictions, but in times of disaster and crisis, our network of animal shelters work together to save as many animals as possible. We are so grateful that we are in a position to offer these 22 dogs a new and loving life in Santa Barbara!”

This transport is made possible through SBCAS’s partnership with C.A.R.E.4Paws, Shadow’s Fund and the Santa Barbara Animal Care Foundation who rallied their support and resources to assist. El Paso Animal Services will be transporting the dogs to Pima Animal Care Center in Tucson who graciously offered to act as a transport hub to give these canine winter refugees a day of rest. SBCAS volunteers will make the grueling 18 hour roundtrip drive to Pima Animal Care Center in Tucson, Arizona, where the 22 dogs will be loaded and on their way to a new life in our Santa Barbara community.

Ramon Herrera, Interim Director of El Paso Animal Services, stated, “Through this collaboration, we are able to provide these shelter pets a greater chance at a loving home and we can’t thank SBCAS enough for being a lifesaving partner.”

A team of staff and volunteers will greet the transport team upon their arrival at the Santa Barbara Shelter, 5473 Overpass Road around 7:00 p.m. On Saturday night, the dogs will be rotated throughout our play yards, to ensure they get the opportunity to stretch their legs and acclimate to their new surroundings. All dogs will receive a vet exam before being placed up for adoption. Many of Texas dogs will be immediately available and a special adoption event is planned for March 9, 2021: Texas Tuesday!

Anyone interested in giving one of these Texas dogs a California home, please visit https://countyofsb.org/phd/animal/texasdogadoption.sbc and fill out an application that is specifically set up for these Texas canines. Adoption appointments will be scheduled on Texas Tuesday and throughout the week until all the dogs find loving homes.