On March first, the Humane Society of Ventura County welcomed Christina Sisk, DVM to the team as the new Director of Veterinary Services. As Director of Veterinary Services, Dr. Sisk will oversee our spay and neuter clinic as well as the health and wellbeing of all animals in our care. Dr. Sisk will provide leadership for our clinic staff, ensure that quality medicine is delivered, and make sure that regulatory compliance of veterinary medicine is practiced. Besides conducting spay and neuter surgeries for the shelter and public’s animals, Dr. Sisk and her team will also examine each animal in the Shelter’s care, making sure they are properly vaccinated and receive any necessary treatments.

Shelter Director Jolene Hoffman, who has been at the Shelter since 1982, commented, “We are honored to have Dr. Sisk join our team. Our ability to assist the public by increasing our capacity for spay and neuter surgeries is a top priority for the Shelter and its continued growth.” Dr. Curtis Lewis, who has been on the HSVC team for nearly 30 years and has performed an estimated 70,000 alterations, will still be assisting in the clinic and hosting the low-cost shot clinic at the Shelter on the first and third Saturday of each month. “Dr. Lewis has played a crucial role in improving the lives of animals in need throughout our community and we are grateful to have his continued support as we look to the future of the Shelter and its role within the community,” continued Hoffman.   

Dr. Sisk, a native of McHenry, Illinois, completed both her undergraduate degree in Animal Sciences in 2000 and Veterinary School in 2004, from the University of Illinois. Following Veterinary School, Dr. Sisk worked in private practice outside of Chicago for seven years. During this time she started doing relief work for a large shelter doing alterations and shelter medicine and found that she enjoyed working in shelters and wanted to pursue her career in that direction. From 2011 until February of 2019, Dr. Sisk worked at the Santa Barbara Humane Society as Director of Veterinary Services. She enjoyed her time there and is grateful for the relationships she built in the shelter and rescue community.

Dr. Sisk was hired as the Director of Veterinary Services last month to help the Humane Society of Ventura County achieve its goal of reducing the number of animals who enter the shelter system. When asked where Dr. Sisk saw herself and her team a year from now, Dr. Sisk replied, “I have specific goals for myself and the organization that includes increasing our spay and neuter capacity through strong community outreach programs that include serving low-income areas.”

This year the Humane Society of Ventura County is working on raising awareness for our clinic as well as increasing our capacity to perform low-cost surgeries. Research has continuously shown that areas with strong spay and neuter programs, along with community support, have dramatically reduced shelter populations.

If you would like to learn more about our services or to make an appointment with our clinic, please call the Shelter at 805-646-6505 or email [email protected].