Shiva’s Story

Shiva Berlin Lane (1990-2003) was a Golden Retriever and a long time friend and companion of Shiva’s Center founder, Dr. Trish Lane. Like many very special companion animals, Shiva was witness to her human companion’s experience. She exemplified the unconditional love that we humans typically wish to but rarely embody. Shiva is also credited with the establishment of The California Animal Referral & Emergency (C.A.R.E.) Hospital. It is because of Shiva that the founders of CARE Hospital met, became friends, and ultimately moved back to California.

After Shiva’s death in 2003, a search for a pet loss support group in the Santa Barbara community yielded no available services. As city and county services brought domestic animals and wildlife to the 24-Hour community hospital, it became painfully clear that medical services for injured, sometimes owned animals, were often gravely limited due to lack of funding. Several wonderful services exist in our community committed to wildlife care – yet nights, weekends, and holidays, our wildlife had no resources available for medical care, humane euthanasia or a safe haven until they could be appropriately placed. Loving pet owners would bring their animals for emergency and specialty services only to face the very painful choices of euthanizing their pet or allowing their animal to suffer for lack of the financial means necessary to secure appropriate treatment. And finally, until 2003, there was not a specialty hospital in Santa Barbara County offering 24-Hour, state-of the-art medical care. Locals were forced to drive to neighboring counties for services necessary to assist their animal companion.

Our ongoing commitment to Shiva, and indeed to you, is that you and your family members will receive the same kindness, compassion and love that Shiva had access to. Shiva’s picture is thoughtfully situated throughout the Shiva Center website. In her memory, it is our privilege to bring medicine, technology, kindness & compassion to the animals and citizens of Santa Barbara County, CA.


		Shiva’s Story Shiva Berlin Lane (1990-2003) was a Golden Retriever and a long time friend and companion of Shiva’s Center founder, Dr. Trish Lane. Like many very special companion animals, Shiva was witness to her human companion’s experience. She exemplified the unconditional love that we humans typically wish to but rarely embody. Shiva is also credited with the establishment of The California Animal Referral & Emergency (C.A.R.E.) Hospital. It is because of Shiva that the founders of CARE Hospital met, became friends, and ultimately moved back to California. After Shiva’s death in 2003, a search for a pet loss support group in the Santa Barbara community yielded no available services. As city and county services brought domestic animals and wildlife to the 24-Hour community hospital, it became painfully clear that medical services for injured, sometimes owned animals, were often gravely limited due to lack of funding. Several wonderful services exist in our community committed to wildlife care – yet nights, weekends, and holidays, our wildlife had no resources available for medical care, humane euthanasia or a safe haven until they could be appropriately placed. Loving pet owners would bring their animals for emergency and specialty services only to face the very painful choices of euthanizing their pet or allowing their animal to suffer for lack of the financial means necessary to secure appropriate treatment. And finally, until 2003, there was not a specialty hospital in Santa Barbara County offering 24-Hour, state-of the-art medical care. Locals were forced to drive to neighboring counties for services necessary to assist their animal companion. Our ongoing commitment to Shiva, and indeed to you, is that you and your family members will receive the same kindness, compassion and love that Shiva had access to. Shiva’s picture is thoughtfully situated throughout the Shiva Center website. In her memory, it is our privilege to bring medicine, technology, kindness & compassion to the animals and citizens of Santa Barbara County, CA.


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