The Humane Society of Ventura County is in the process of upgrading the cat-friendly furniture inside our indoor and outdoor Cat and Kitten rooms at the Shelter in Ojai. We have partnered with Kuranda USA in helping outfit the cat areas with their Cat Towers which are heavy duty, stylish and can be disinfected. These will replace all the traditional carpet-based cat trees that were in the lobby and patios which cannot be disinfected when they become soiled.

After 5 months at the Humane Society of Ventura County, Shelly the tortoise has been returned to her owners! Shelly was brought to the Shelter on November 30th after she was evacuated from her home as a result of the Woolsey Fire and subsequent heavy rains that hit Malibu causing a series of mudslides.

On Thursday, May 9th, the Humane Society of Ventura County received notification that Juan Carlos Flores Ortiz had pled guilty to Penal Code 597 - Cruelty to an Animal, for his mistreatment of two horses at a property located in Camarillo, California. Ortiz received 90 days in jail, fined, and cannot own or possess an animal for five years and must also pay restitution fees to the Humane Society of Ventura County to cover the cost of the horses care.

We are so happy for beautiful Dually who was recently adopted by Kiana and family! Dually, was brought to the Humane Society of Ventura County when she was just a couple days old with her mother and two siblings. Dually, who is missing her front two legs, was raised at the Shelter and it was clear from a very young age this brave little girl was determined to experience the world just like her siblings.

Four days a week, rain or shine, you can find Deb at the Humane Society of Ventura County helping to care for the horses. Deb cleans corrals, helps feed them, and is on hand to assist our Equine Specialist with anything she needs. Deb's hard work is not only necessary to keep up with the animals care, but she has also bonded with each horse, taking breaks in between mucking stalls to give them each a good scratch or whisper a kind word into their ear.

Today is World Veterinary Day, and we would like to thank the incredible veterinary staff here at the Humane Society of Ventura County for all they do in looking after the health of animals at the Shelter and throughout our community. World Veterinary Day came about in the early 2000s by the World Veterinary Association to bring attention to the lifesaving and often difficult work that veterinarians, veterinary technicians, and veterinary assistants do to benefit our animal friends.

The Humane Society of Ventura County is very lucky to have volunteers who go above and beyond to help the animals in our care. A few volunteers stand out and want to do even more. We offer these volunteers the opportunity to learn new skills and to get more involved in the shelter. After taking classes from our Humane Officers and meeting additional requirements, these volunteers are can become Animal Ambassadors. We have around 20 Animal Ambassadors in various volunteer positions, from yard checkers to pet therapy.

Between 20 to 40% of dogs can have anxiety, according to the College of Veterinary Medicine. If you have adopted a pet recently and it gets a little anxious either during trips, when entering unfamiliar territory or being left alone in a new home, you may worry about the effect that moving can have. Adaptation is only one piece of the puzzle, of course. Dogs and cats alike can feel anxious during transportation, which can get in the way of the removal process. Follow these tips to enjoy a relaxing, stress-free move; one that your pooch or kitten adapts to almost as quickly as you do.