01 Oct 2025
By Humane Society of Ventura County
That's a wrap on this year's Woofs, Hooves, and Whiskers Calendar Contest! We were blown away by the incredible photo entries, and thanks to the amazing support from participants and voters, nearly $17,000 was raised to help the animals in our care. Thank you to everyone who entered and cast their votes!
The pets with the highest number of votes earned first place in their categories, with one lucky animal taking home the grand prize as the overall top-voted winner. While every furry contestant is a star in our eyes, three standout pets earned top honors and will each receive a special prize package, including their very own month in the upcoming 2026 calendar!
Want to know who stole the show? Keep reading to meet our first-place winners, and don’t forget to stay tuned as we reveal the full lineup of 12 pets featured in next year’s calendar!
Grand Prize Winner & First Place, Dog Category: Wrigley
HSVC Alumni Wrigley secured his spot as the Grand Prize Winner and first place in the dog category with a staggering 4,654 votes! He arrived at the HSVC in mid-August 2024 with his mama, Chloe, and three brothers. Just 1-week-old at the time, Chloe and her litter were placed in a loving foster home until the pups were old enough to be adopted. Formerly Aaron, Wrigley was lucky enough to find his home with Taylor! She had this to say about her furry best friend:
"Wrigley was adopted from the HSVC in October 2024 at 8 weeks old! He is a super mutt who loves adventures! When Wrigley is not working on his service dog training, his favorite thing to do is go to the beach. When he’s not at the beach, he loves to find sticks to carry around on his morning walks. His best friend is his feline sister, Rainier. The two of them love to wrestle and cuddle together. Wrigley’s mom is on the board of a cat rescue and has a constant revolving door of cats coming in and out that Wrigley loves to help socialize."
First Place Cat Category: Tabitha
Our first-place winner in the cat category came to us all the way from Guadalajara, Mexico. Tabitha the kitten took home the prize with an impressive 2,500 votes!
"Tabitha was found as a tiny kitten in January of 2025 abandoned in the neighborhood street and rescued by my Aunt Cuca and cousins. The family nurtured her and now she is a beautiful young cat that loves to play and supervise her companion dog, Negro, and canaries. She is loved by all and has a daily ritual of greeting my 90 year old aunt every morning on her bed and watching her get ready for the day. She has been an angel and blessing to the family. A beautiful rescue."
First Place Other Category: Oliver Bird
Many will recognize the face of our first-place winner in the other pets category. It's none other than Oliver Bird! Now retired and living happily in a loving home, the beloved Cockatoo was happy to lend a claw to support his friends at the shelter. He scored an impressive 500 votes to take his place at the top! His caretaker had this to say about him:
"Oliver - 38 and still singing Happy Birthday! Oliver, an Umbrella Cockatoo, also known in the bird world as U2, is one of the most recognizable faces in HSVC history. Having greeted visitors for over three decades with his snow-white feathers, playful dances, and boundless personality, he is a true Ventura County treasure!Earlier this year, Oliver spread his wings and joined my family. His departure from the shelter and into my flock marked the end of an era, but it was the beginning of a life where his comfort and well-being come first!Today, Oliver enjoys the company of his new feathered friends - Bobby, a Blue and Gold Macaw, and Cobi, another Umbrella Cockatoo. His story is a reminder that every animal's needs matter, and that sometimes the best gift we can give is a safe, happy place to call home."
