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.
HSVC recently received a call inquiring about a birthday celebration for a local youth. Megan wanted to see if we would be willing to host a birthday celebration for her daughter Evie. Evie, an animal lover, wanted her friends to visit and donate items to the animals in lieu of presents for her birthday.
2024 is almost here! This is an exciting time of year for humans, but it can be very scary for your pets. Check out these tips from the ASPCA Poison Control Center (APCC) to help you and your furry friends prepare for a fun, and safe, New Year's Eve! Alcohol: New Year's Eve is one of the most popular holidays for pets to get into alcohol. Furry friends who ingest any amount of alcohol can be at risk for depression, unsteady walking, vomiting, and in extreme cases, a drop in blood pressure and temperature. Keep all adult beverages out of reach of your pets to avoid welcoming in the New Year in the vet's office. Marijuana: Curious pets can easily sniff out edible forms of marijuana, such as chocolates or brownies. Ingestion of this drug can cause furry friends to become lethargic, unsteady, and can decrease their heart rate and temperature. In extreme cases, it can even cause seizures or death. If you think your pet has ingested any amount of marijuana, contact your veterinarian or the APCC immediately. Fireworks: The loud sounds and bright lights that accompany fireworks can be very scary to furry friends. Make sure your animals have a safe and quiet space to spend the night and clean up all remnants of explosives, noisemakers, etc. to prevent any potential problems. to avoid panicking pets. Identification: With all the hustle and bustle of New Year's Eve celebrations, it is easy for pets to escape and get lost. Be sure your animals have up-to-date ID tags and consider a microchip. The HSVC offers ID tags for $5 and performs microchipping for $25 including registration. If you are in need of this service, please call the Shelter at 805-646-6505 to schedule an appointment.
Grab your tissues, this story will melt your heart! Kelly and Wences recently stopped by the shelter to make a large donation in memory of their late dog, Angel. The couple took in the sweet senior pup after she was left behind when her previous owners moved away. They quickly noticed Angel had a large mass on her belly that continued to grow. Knowing the pup would likely need surgery, Kelly reached out to the HSVC for financial assistance. We provided her with a $100 Angel Fund Voucher for her first vet appointment. The couple also started a GoFundMe campaign in hopes of getting additional financial support from their community.
We're looking to expand our team in the new year! If you are a hardworking, detail-oriented individual with a passion for animal welfare, we want you to join our Investigations Team! This position will expand your animal welfare knowledge through hands-on experiences with a variety of animals, community partners, and law enforcement agencies, all while making a difference in the lives of animals in need! Please consider applying to join our team today!
Christmas may be over, but our shelter is still receiving gifts! Thank you to all who donated to support our holiday pet food drive! Our shelter received nearly 800 pounds of dry pet food and over 360 cans of wet pet food, and that's not even all of it! Thank you to our many dropoff locations around the county and to all who helped us spread holiday cheer this season!
Staff members from the Humane Society of Ventura County recently visited students at Weathersfield Elementary School in Thousand Oaks. Christy Warner, a teacher at Weathersfield, leads and advises a large group of students who participate in the Kiwanis K-Kids service program. They raised $203 for HSVC and donated pet food and other supplies. It was great to see the students actively giving back to their community. We were really impressed with the leadership team who hosted the presentations!
The Humane Society of Ventura County is proud to share a recent victory from our Investigations Department. On August 13th, 2022, Humane Officers responded to a report of animal cruelty at a rented space within a large-scale animal boarding property. Upon arrival at the scene, they observed one cow, three dogs, nine sheep and goats, four horses, and one pig in corrals within the space. Several animals were emaciated, including one horse that had been deceased for multiple days. One of the horses had an open, untreated laceration near one of its back hooves that caused it to limp. One of the dogs was tethered to a fence by a leash and chain. All the animals were living amidst unsanitary and hazardous conditions and most did not have access to food or clean water.
The holidays are a season filled with festive fun, but it's also a time when our furry friends can get into mischief. Check out these holiday pet safety tips to ensure your pets stay off the naughty list this year!