S.B. Zoo’s newest resident, Beauregard

Foxy Baby: Big brown eyes peer out from the wee pointy face, as Beauregard checks out his new surroundings. Beauregard is a Channel Island fox kit that was found by navy wildlife biologists stationed on San Clemente Island. Abandoned by its mom, the pup was cared for by the navy before being handed over to the S.B. Zoo, which will be the fox’s permanent home, since, according to a zoo press release, the “pup had not learned basic survival skills, he cannot be released back into his habitat.” Beauregard joins Lobo, a fox from Santa Rosa Island. Lobo, Beauregard, and their kin are native to the islands and under federal protection due to their “critical” status on the endangered species list. You can visit Beauregard at the S.B. Zoo (500 Niños Dr.), open daily 10 a.m.-5 p.m. For more information, call (805) 962-5339 or visit sbzoo.org.

Mobile Spay-Neuter Clinic: The proliferation of unwanted doggies is heart-wrenching — especially when it is a problem that can be solved if folks would spay and neuter their pups, a solution that is easier said than done, perhaps, due to the cost of surgery. CARE4Paws to the rescue. The nonprofit recently debuted its new Spay Mobile, a fully equipped veterinary station. “The goal is to have a presence in neighborhoods throughout the county from where a large number of shelter dogs and cats originate,” said CARE4Paws cofounder Isabelle Gullo. The charge is led by Carlos Abitia, CARE4Paws cofounder and Critical Communities Outreach coordinator. “The only way to reduce pet overpopulation is to communicate directly with the families who historically have not been reached with the message about spaying and neutering. By going to their homes and making our services accessible and affordable, we can make real change in a critical neighborhood.” Since the Spay Mobile hit the road in April, 44 dogs have been fixed and more than a dozen vaccinated. To make donations and for more info, visit care4paws.org.

Hay Is for Horses: You might not think so, but dry grass is expensive — at least the kind horses eat. And the nearly 400 ponies at Return to Freedom, the horse sanctuary in Lompoc, go through heaps of hay. “Hay costs continue to rise as hay becomes more and more scarce,” writes founder Neda DeMayo in the nonprofit’s newsletter. “Right now, we are feeding over 1,800 bales of hay each month. Folks can help defray costs by making a monthly $22 donation, the equivalent of one bale of hay. To get your name on the list of monthly donors, visit returntofreedom.org.

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