About Four Paws to Love
We work hard to give each adopter and animal the personal touch that is needed to make a lifelong match. We are 100% foster-home based, which allows adopters to visit animals that have been in home environments. We rescue animals from all over Central California, including Santa Cruz, Santa Clara, San Benito, Monterey, and Kings Counties. Read about us below and see our FAQ page for more details.
Our Mission
Four Paws to Love is an all-volunteer non-profit, 501(c)(3) animal rescue group. Our mission is to rescue homeless and at-risk pets from overcrowded shelters, thereby reducing euthanasia. We value the bond between humans and animals, and appreciate the important role that pets play in our everyday lives. Our goal is not only to help animals, but to help people whose lives are greatly enriched by adopting animals in need. Four Paws to Love is run by volunteers who generously give their time, homes and hearts in order to save lives. Through our Foster Care program, animals have a safe, healthy place to be until loving homes can be found for them. We ensure that all of our rescued animals are spayed or neutered, and we provide education to the community about the importance of spaying and neutering in order to reduce the homeless animal population.
Our History
Four Paws to Love was established in January of 2014 by close friends who had been part of several different animal welfare organizations over the years. These friends felt that there was a need for another rescue group that not only focuses on the importance of helping save animals' lives, but also focuses on how the love of a pet in our everyday lives affects each one of us.
Since our establishment in 2014 we have been an adoption partner with PetSmart Charities and had held our adoption events at the local PetSmart store here in Santa Cruz. While we are still an approved rescue with PetSmart Charities, in 2017 we decided to part ways with our local PetSmart store and instead partner with General Feed & Seed to hold our weekly adoption events. General Feed & Seed is a locally owned family business that has been a staple in Santa Cruz for almost 50 years! We are proud to have been accepted into their family and we will call it home as long as they will have us.
Our Volunteer Staff
Christine Kiuchi
Christine is a founding member of Four Paws to Love, is on the Board of Directors and is currently acting as Executive Director. She is at the General Feed & Seed adoption event most Saturdays, aids in our animal transport and is our company outreach liaison.
She can be reached at:
Annette Hogue
Annette is a founding member of Four Paws to Love, President of the Board of Directors and is currently acting as Foster Care Coordinator. She also heads up our adoption fairs at General Feed & Seed.
She can be reached at:
Terry Marino
Terry is a founding member of Four Paws to Love and is currently the Assistant Foster Care Coordinator. She is our representative for south Santa Cruz County.
She can be reached at:
Kitty Woldow
Kitty (yes, that's her real name so it must have been destiny...) is one of our super volunteers and foster parents. You will see her at our General Feed & Seed adoption events showing off her foster kitties. She specializes in adult kitties and adults with special needs.
She can be reached at:
Laura Patton
Laura is our Data Management Specialist. She also transports animals from other shelters and makes sure our foster babies get to their medical appointments on time. You will also see Laura at our adoption events at General Feed & Seed.
She can be reached at: