Caring for Santa Barbara Wildlife

A young deer is treated for injuries after being hit by an automobile.

C.A.R.E. Hospital’s doctors and staff routinely donate our time and expertise to Wildlife Care Network, a well known and respected local organization. Their goal is the rehabilitation and eventual release of the injured California wildlife that is brought to them. Our goal is always to treat and return our wildlife patients to the Wildlife Care Network for additional rehabilitation and/or release.  If injuries are too severe and/or it is determined that an animal would not survive in its natural habitat, the next option is to try to utilize the animal for education and/or conservation efforts.  Unfortunately, sometimes the most loving and kind thing for severely injured animals is to provide humane euthanasia.  Still, we treat wildlife remains with the same respect as domestic animals with families.  They are taken to Guardian Animal Care and once cremated are taken out to sea for burial.

An owl is treated for a broken wing.

At C.A.R.E. Hospital we believe that only through proper education, and a compassion for and understanding of the importance of all creatures, will we thrive. We are all, creatures and people, interconnected. This is consistent with our core value of the human-animal bond and clearly reflects the value of our animal loving community.  Our wildlife care is exclusively funded by Shiva’s Center for the Human-Animal Bond (in turn supported by the kind citizens of Santa Barbara) and the owners of C.A.R.E. Hospital.

And we also enjoy the work! It is truly a pleasure to donate our skills, time, and equipment to such a worthy cause. The variety of critters that we've cared for includes hawks, sea birds, hummingbirds, owls, deer, raccoons, opossums, squirrels, rabbits and many others.  If you’d like to support this very worthy cause, please contact Shiva’s Center for the Human-Animal Bond.  As a local, if you find injured wildlife during the day, please take them to the Wildlife Care Network now located near the OSH store in Goleta.  After hours, weekends, and holidays, please bring the animal to C.A.R.E. Hospital and/or call animal control for assistance.

IMPORTANT NOTE about SEA MAMMALS:  All sea mammals are protected under state and federal laws.  Only agencies authorized to handle and care for these animals should approach, move or re-locate an injured sea mammal.  C.A.R.E. Hospital is not authorized to treat these animals; however, you may call Santa Barbara Animal Control for information on who to call for assistance.