The Humane Society of Ventura County is a compassionate care shelter and non-profit organization dedicated to the protection and adoption of animals in need throughout Ventura County.
We had so much fun at this year's Birthday Bash! This was our second year hosting guests at the shelter for a fundraiser dinner, and we couldn't be more thrilled with the festivities. Thank you to all who joined us in celebrating our 92nd birthday and helping us raise money for shelter animals in need!
Humane Education for Youth (HEY) Summer Camp at HSVC will begin with Animal Art Creations on Wednesday, June 19th. There are still tickets available for the community to sign up for these art classes that run from June 19th - 21st from 10 am - 12:30 pm. These classes are being offered at a reduced price of $20 per day (originally $45 per day) due to a generous in-kind donation from the National Charity League (NCL). The NCL local chapter donated all the art supplies needed to create these animal-themed art pieces planned for these camps. Thank you, NCL! There are limited spaces, and registration is available for purchase online. You can register your child by visiting our website or by clicking the button below. I can’t wait to see what animal art creations campers will create! REGISTER If you have any questions about the summer camp experience, you can contact me, Angie Chupek Sagliani, at [email protected].
HSVC welcomed Mary and Belinda from ASAP Cats to the shelter this past week for a presentation about their Working Cats Program. HSVC is eager to start our own working cat program soon, and our staff was thrilled to learn from experts in the field! A working cat, also known as a barn cat, is a cat that is employed to hunt and control pests in places like barns, farms, warehouses, and other properties. They are often cats unsuitable for traditional adoption programs but can thrive in an outdoor environment where they can work alongside humans. With Mary and Belinda's guidance, our staff learned how to acclimate working cats in their new homes and what to look for when matching a working cat with the right property.
The HSVC was thrilled to welcome Ventura County's Sheriff Jim Fryhoff to the shelter last week! He and his team were given a full tour of our 4.4-acre property in Ojai and interacted with several of our adoptable animals. Sheriff Fryhoff will return to HSVC on Saturday, June 1st, to co-emcee our 92nd Birthday Bash fundraiser dinner with actor Anson Williams. We couldn't be more excited for the paw-ty!
Reminder! HSVC will be closed in observance of Memorial Day on Monday, May 27th. Services will resume Tuesday, May 28th, at 10 am. Whether you are planning on staying at home and barbecuing with a few friends or heading off to go camping this holiday weekend, please consider the following do's and don'ts to keep your pets safe. IDENTIFICATION & COLLAR: Holidays can be a scary time for animals, so make sure your animal is always wearing an ID tag and a secure collar in the event it gets lost. We highly recommend microchipping your pet to help ensure a safe reunion if your furry friend ends up at a shelter or veterinarian’s office. HSVC offers this service for $25, please call us at 805-646-6505 if you need an appointment. We also recommend you have a recent photo of your animal handy in case they do escape to help identify them. FOOD & DRINKS: It may be tempting to share your barbequed food with your pet but keeping your pet on its normal diet is the safest way to prevent any type of food-related illness. Dogs left unsupervised can easily get into potentially hazardous things such as bones, twine, and toothpicks. Foods such as onions, avocados, grapes, and yeast dough can be very dangerous to your animal’s health. Keep alcoholic drinks away from your pets! For a full list of potentially dangerous foods for your pets, visit the ASPCA website. INSECT REPELLANT & SUNSCREEN: Do not apply any insect repellant or sunscreen on your animal that is not specifically made for pets! Animals may lick off these topical lotions and become very sick. Insect repellant with the ingredient DEET can cause neurological problems in your animal. Signs that your pet may have ingested one of these would result in drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, excessive thirst, and lethargy. Products such as Citronella candles and insect coils should be kept away from animals at all times. If ingested, it can affect their nervous system and even result in death. SMALL CHILDREN: The holidays are a time for family to come together, and if your relatives bring small children around a pet that is not used to living with little ones, do not leave them unattended. Children can't help but pull their ears and tails or lay on pets while they are sleeping. Not all dogs or cats are patient enough to tolerate this, so keep everyone safe and happy and supervise children around the animals. Applying these safety precautions throughout the long weekend will help ensure that you and your pets have a fun and safe holiday!
HSVC's revamped Paws for People Pet Therapy Program has officially launched! Our first certified pet therapy pair, Bruce and his handsome Golden Retriever Mellow, visited patients at Neuro Restorative in Oxnard last week and were a huge hit! HSVC staff Arlene MacSween and Judy Robertson accompanied the duo to help spread joy. This will be the first of many visits to local care facilities for Bruce and Mellow, and we are so excited to have them on board!
Lizzie is still looking for her forever family! This independent two-year-old has been at the shelter for 252 days after being brought in through one of our rescue partners. This playful girl enjoys the occasional pet but isn't afraid to set boundaries and let you know when she's had enough. She would prefer to be the center of attention as the only animal in the household. Our chunky girl has a weakness for snacks and will be your best friend if you give her a treat. Her favorite pastime is spending time indoors while looking out the window or sunbathing in her catio. Lizzie is also very playful! While she loves her toy wand the most, she enjoys playing with her toy mice too. Help us find her the purrfect home!
Monday, May 20th, is National Rescue Dog Day! This day is celebrated in the animal welfare world to share all the benefits of adopting a rescue pup. According to the ASPCA, approximately 3.3 million dogs enter animal shelters each year. That's a lot of furry friends in need of families! Each one is as deserving of a loving home as the next, and we're here to advocate for them.