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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.

Latest News
07 Aug 2023

Help HSVC Clear the Shelter with Matched Donations!

By Humane Society of Ventura County

Clear the Shelters is in full swing at HSVC! The Clear the Shelters Fundraiser, brought to you by our friends at Greater Good Charities, NBCUniversal Local, a division of NBCUniversal, and Hill’s Pet Nutrition, is running from August 1 – August 31, 2023. We are offering a variety of adoption fee specials all month long for our shelter cats and dogs. There's no better time to rescue a furry friend in need! This year, Hill's Pet Nutrition is making the deal even sweeter by matching donations given to support Clear the Shelters campaigns across the country. They will be matching donations dollar for dollar, up to $25,000 total, to help maximize rescue efforts. Click the button below to donate now and have your donation make double the impact! Donate Now Please note that matching will cease once a total of $25,000 is donated to all shelters participating in Clear the Shelters, so don't wait to donate!

Latest News
01 Aug 2023

Help HSVC Clear the Shelter this August!

By Humane Society of Ventura County

   HSVC is proud to be participating in Clear the Shelters this August to help find deserving shelter animals loving homes. Whether you're looking to adopt a friendly companion pup or a cuddly lap cat, there's no better time to make a difference in the life of an animal in need!

Latest News
29 Jul 2023

Humane Officers Educate Students at Nordhoff High School

By Humane Society of Ventura County

   HSVC's Investigations Department paid a visit to a couple of Nordhoff High Schools summer classes this week. Humane Investigations Director Kendra King, along with Senior Humane Officer Jenna Utter and Officers in training Ray Gonzalez and Astrid Derringer, talked to Mr. Pete Deneen's College and Career Foundations class about the services Humane Officers offer in Ventura County and how they started their career paths.

Latest News
28 Jul 2023

Summer Feline Adoption Special Extended!

By Humane Society of Ventura County

   The HSVC is overflowing with feline friends! To help them all find homes quicker, we are extending our feline adoption special! Kitty lovers can enjoy discounted cat and kitten adoptions all Summer long. Adult cats under 6-months of age are now just $50 and kittens under 6-months of age are two for one at just $150. There's no better time to bring home a furry friend!

Latest News
26 Jul 2023

Heat Advisory Issued for Southern California

By Humane Society of Ventura County

Maya has the right idea to beat this heat! A heat advisory has been issued for most of SoCal with temperatures in the valleys and lower mountains reaching up to 105 degrees. Temperatures will continue to soar throughout the week, so please be sure to keep yourselves and your furry friends cool! Keeps pets inside as much as possible and make sure they have access to plenty of water and shade when outdoors. DO NOT leave your animals unattended in a vehicle under any circumstances. Be sure to take active pets for walks early in the morning or later in the evening to avoid burning their paws on the hot ground. Stay cool friends!  

Latest News
18 Jul 2023

Tips to Beat the Heat this Summer

By Humane Society of Ventura County

Pet owners! As the weather gets warmer, it's important to know the risk heat proposes to our furry friends. Excessive time in hot weather can spell danger for your animals. Check out these tips from our friends at the ASPCA to prevent your pet from overheating this season. Give your pet plenty of water: Pets can get dehydrated quickly, so be sure to give them plenty of fresh, clean water when the weather gets warmer. Additionally, do not over-exercise your animal in the heat, and make sure they have a shady place to rest when outdoors. Know the symptoms of overheating: Excessive panting, difficulty breathing, increased heart rate, drooling, and mild weakness are all signs your pet has become overheated. Animals with flat faces like Pugs and Persian cats, elderly animals, and overweight pets are more susceptible to heat stroke. Be sure to keep these types of animals in a cool air-conditioned room as much as possible. Never leave your pet unsupervised: Leaving a pet alone in a parked car in the heat can lead to extreme heat stroke or even death. Do not leave your pet unsupervised around a pool, as not all dogs are good swimmers, and ingestion of chlorine and other chemicals can cause health problems. Open unscreened windows can pose a danger to pets as they can fall or jump out of them if unsupervised. Do not let your pet linger too long on hot asphalt, as their bodies and paws can heat up quicker being lower to the ground. Do not shave your pet: Feel free to trim longer hair, but never fully shave your pet. The layers of a dog’s coat protect them from overheating and sunburn. Cats should be brushed more often than usual to prevent heat-related health problems. Visit the vet for a Summer checkup: Be sure to get your animal tested for heartworm if they are not already on year-round preventative medication. For more tips on how to keep your pet safe during the heat, please visit the ASPCA website.  

Latest News
16 Jul 2023

Help Us Find Hambone A Home!

By Humane Society of Ventura County

Meet Ham Bone! This sweet hunk spent most of his life outdoors before getting trapped for TNR and brought to our shelter a few weeks ago. He loves attention, will chirp at you to say hello, and loves to hang out with people. He is FIV positive but has successfully lived with non-FIV cats in the past. He recently got over an upper respiratory infection (a kitty cold) and is now looking to find a foster home or a family to call his own! If you are interested in meeting handsome Ham Bone, stop by the shelter to visit him! He will be residing in the outdoor catio at the shelter until he finds his forever home. The shelter is open to visitors Monday - Saturday from 10 am - 5 pm and we are located at 402 Bryant St. in Ojai, CA. Reminder! The HSVC is running an adoption special all July long for cats and kittens. Hambone is available to take home for just $50!  For those who are unfamiliar, FIV stands for feline immunodeficiency virus. It’s a virus that lives in the blood and saliva of cats and is not contagious to humans. It does not require medication. In fact, cats who are FIV positive can live long, happy lives. To learn more about FIV, please click the button below.  Learn More    

Latest News
16 Jul 2023

Understanding the 3-3-3 Rule

By Humane Society of Ventura County

Transitioning a shelter dog from life in the shelter into its new home can be both exciting and unpredictable. For some dogs, this transition is seamless and they are thrilled to begin their new life with you. For others, this transition can be very stressful. During this transitional time, we refer adopters to the 3-3-3 rule. This rule acts as a general guideline for the phases your shelter dog may experience after they are brought to their new home. Check out these tips from our friends at RescueDogs101 for what you can expect when adopting a rescue pup.  1. Three Days: In the first three days, your new family member will likely feel very overwhelmed by their new surroundings. It is very common that they act timid around you or do not want to eat or drink. Some animals may be so stressed out that they want to hide completely. This is normal, so try not to get discouraged! 2. Three Weeks: This phase is when your new pet starts to become more comfortable with you and their new surroundings. They begin to build trust with you and let their guard down more. This is also the time when your four-legged friends begin adjusting to your routine. However, this is also the time when you may begin to see behavior issues show up. This is when you have to be a strong owner and help your animal learn right from wrong.  3. Three Months: At three months, your pet's true personality will finally shine through. They should be completely comfortable in their new home, and they should completely trust you as an owner. They have adjusted to your routine and adapted it as their own. They're part of your family now! Remember, shelter animals often have a backstory that we humans are unaware of. We don't know what kind of trauma they have been through, and we don't always know what they want. It is your responsibility as a new pet parent to be patient and allow your new friend to adjust in their own time. We promise it'll be worth it in the end! For more information and resources, please visit the RescueDogs101 website.