HSVC

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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.

01 Nov 2024

Long-Term Resident Pad Thai Finds His Home!

By Humane Society of Ventura County

Pad Thai's story is a special one that is near and dear to our hearts. His journey with HSVC began when he and his friend, Banh Mi, were found tied to two trees in an orchard. They were given little water and had severe cases of fly strike, a condition that occurs when flies bite a dog’s ears excessively. Our Humane Officers investigated and deemed the pair of Husky mix pups abandoned. They were brought to the shelter and remained under our care for over a year before finding their homes. On a crisp October day, Pam and a friend visited the HSVC looking for a fluffy companion to keep Pam company on long walks and lazy afternoons. She originally came in looking for a female husky and had an interest in meeting long-term resident Nebula. Pam and HSVC's Animal Care Manager, Grace, walked around the kennels looking for the right match for Pam. As they walked through the rows of eager faces and wagging tails, Grace led Pam to the Pad Thai's kennel, where he had been patiently waiting for the right person to come along. Pam's heart instantly melted at the sight of the gorgeous Husky mix, and she immediately knew she wanted to meet him. According to Pam, Pad Thai looked exactly like the dogs she'd owned in the past, making her even more drawn to him. Grace escorted Pam and Pad Thai to a play yard so they could get to know each other better. She spoke of Pad Thai's joyful spirit and playful energy and shared he would be the ultimate adventure buddy. Five-year-old Pad Thai was usually hesitant when meeting new people, but he immediately approached Pam, giving her kisses and wanting pets. Pam's heart soured, and she knew she had found her forever fluffy friend. After learning about his story and how far he'd come, Pam was determined to give Pad Thai the home he deserved. As Pam finalized the adoption, Pad Thai said bye to all of his human friends at the shelter, giving them kisses and expressing his gratitude for the love and care they gave to him. Pam then knelt down to Pad Thai's level and told him, "Let's go home, buddy." He gave her a big kiss and trotted right beside her, ready for life ahead. Pad Thai's resilient heart has finally found a place to rest, and Pam's life is filled with the warmth of her new best furry friend. Together, they found exactly what they were looking for: a true forever home. Thank you, Pam, for taking a chance on our beautiful boy, Pad Thai! Congrats and happy tails to you both!

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30 Oct 2024

All Fun and No Fright! Keep Your Pet Safe this Halloween

By Humane Society of Ventura County

Ghosts, goblins, and ghouls—Halloween is a time for spooky decorations, fun costumes, and sweet treats, but for our pets, it can also be filled with hazards and stress. As pet owners, it's essential to plan ahead and make sure our little pumpkins stay safe, comfortable, and relaxed amid the festivities. Check out these tips to set your pet up for a positive, safe holiday. Happy Halloween! Candy: The scariest goblin of them all! Trick-or-treating is for humans, not pets. Many human treats are harmful to cats and dogs, so be sure to keep them out of reach of your animals. Educate children about the dangers of feeding candy to animals. Symptoms of chocolate poisoning include vomiting, diarrhea, rapid breathing, and seizures. Avoid sugar-free candies with xylitol, which can be fatal for pets. If you suspect your animal got into the candy bowl, contact your veterinarian immediately. Candles, wires, and cords: Keep your animals away from all candles as they can easily get burned or knock them over and start a fire. Wires and electrical cords can also be quite hazardous. If your pet chews on wires they could get a life-threatening electrical shock! Try using glow sticks or LED candles instead of open flames. Decorations and human costumes: Keep decorations out of reach of your pets, and avoid using plants like pumpkins and corn, which can cause gastrointestinal issues if eaten in large quantities. Remember that unusual costumes and large inflatable decorations can be stressful for your pet. To ensure a smooth trick-or-treating experience, introduce your costume and decorations gradually. Try on your costume beforehand to help your animal get used to your spooky outfit, using treats to create a positive association. Allow your pet to explore the decorations by sniffing them to become familiar with these new objects. Costumes: Canine couture or not? Dressing up pets can be fun, but their comfort should come first. Not all pets enjoy costumes, so if you decide to dress your pet for Halloween, keep it simple. Ensure the costume allows for normal movement and doesn't obstruct sight or breathing. Watch for loose parts that could irritate or pose a choking hazard. A festive bandana might be more than enough! Keep your pets safe indoors: Do not leave your pets in the yard on Halloween! Pranksters have been known to tease animals, leading to injury or worse. To reduce a cauldron of stress from strangers and unfamiliar spooky sounds, create a cozy, secure room for your pet away from the festivities. This safe space can help prevent overwhelming situations and keep your pet calmer during the night. It might just be the best treat you could offer them! Take extra precautions with your animals, especially black cats: Black cats are especially at risk of injury and abuse during Halloween. We recommend, as a safety precaution, to make sure your cats and dogs are brought indoors several days before and after Halloween. Ding-dong! Front door dog manners: Halloween is an exciting night when your doorbell will ring often with eager trick-or-treaters. If you insist that your dog join in on the festivities, it’s important to practice beforehand. Have a friend approach your front door so your dog can get accustomed to visitors. The goal is to help your dog remain calm when the parade of ghosts and goblins arrives on that spooky night. Keep some dog treats handy to reward calm behavior.

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29 Oct 2024

Eek! HSVC Enjoys Howl-O-Ween at Old Creek Ranch & Winery

By Humane Society of Ventura County

We had so much fun at Saturday's Howl-O-Ween event! Dog owners and their decked-out pooches enjoyed a beautiful, sunshine-filled day at Old Creek Ranch & Winery. It was a true paw-ty seeing all the pups in their spooktacular costumes, plus we received lots of donations for our pet pantry! Thank you to our friends at Old Creek for hosting us, and thank you to all who came out to support the shelter!

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24 Oct 2024

HSVC Partners with ReciteMe for Website Accessibility

By Humane Society of Ventura County

The Humane Society of Ventura County believes that every person deserves the opportunity to connect with and care for animals, regardless of their abilities. Our commitment to inclusivity and accessibility extends throughout our facilities, programs, and services. To fulfill this mission, we now provide Recite Me assistive technology on our website, which enables our visitors to customize their experience in a way that best suits their individual needs. This page provides important information about the accessibility features we have in place to ensure that everyone can enjoy a welcoming experience while visiting our shelter or engaging with us online.

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23 Oct 2024

Fun at the Shelter with Ariana the Horse!

By Humane Society of Ventura County

The Humane Society of Ventura County recently welcomed friends from Glen Park Senior Living for a morning of animal interactions and activities! They were joined by Programs Director Arlene MacSween and Administrative Assistant Judy Robertson for bingo, snacks, and information about all things HSVC. The group received a visit from Tetley the Corgi and his owner, HSVC's Office Manager, Karen, on their last visit. This time, the collection of animal lovers was graced with a visit from our Equine Manager, Christina Malleck, and an adoptable shelter horse named Ariana. Under Christina's guidance, Ariana was able to greet each guest individually and hug them gently with her face. Our friends loved every second of the afternoon visit, and they were especially sad when Ariana had to go back to her stall to eat lunch. Thank you to the members of Glen Park for stopping by for a visit, and shout out to their Activities Director, Hollyn Heron, for helping coordinate the fun!

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22 Oct 2024

HSVC Had a Blast at Ojai Day!

By Humane Society of Ventura County

Ojai Day was a huge success! We were honored to represent Ojai's best with many other fantastic organizations and talented vendors over the weekend. Our staff was thrilled to interact with the public, answer pet-related questions, offer resources, and more. We were even graced with the presence of Fenix the happy dog (pictured above, far right), and his parents, Dr. Zoë and Eric!

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18 Oct 2024

Happy Tails for Clyde!

By Humane Society of Ventura County

Our boy Clyde has found his forever home after 441 days in the shelter! He's living happily ever after thanks to our rescue partners at Woods Humane Society in San Luis Obispo (SLO). Clyde first came to HSVC as a stray with his friend, Bonita, after a good samaritan found them in a field. The pair of German Shepherd pups were placed on stray hold and made available for adoption once it was completed. Over a year passed with little adoption interest for sweet Clyde. After remembering the success of Ophelia's dog swap, HSVC's animal care staff connected with our friends at Woods in mid-September to arrange another swap. The Woods team drove to Ojai to bring one of their long-term residents, Bubba, to us and took good boy Clyde back to SLO with them. Our staff gave them a quick tour of the shelter before the pair went on their way back to Woods to find Clyde his forever home. We are thrilled to report that Clyde found his family within days of arriving at Woods! He got the happily ever after he deserved! Above, right: Clyde loaded up and ready for his adventure to meet his future family at Woods. According to their staff, Clyde's goofy personality made his transition very easy and he quickly made many new friends. It's no surprise he got adopted only about a week later upon arriving!

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14 Oct 2024

Celebrate National Vet Tech Week with HSVC!

By Humane Society of Ventura County

Animal welfare organizations nationwide are celebrating National Vet Tech Appreciation Week this week! HSVC is no exception, as we have a team of talented vet techs assisting our Veterinarians in the Clinic daily. This special week allows us the space to shine a spotlight on the hard work and dedication of our Clinic staff. Our vet techs are essential to ensuring the health and wellness of all animals, including our shelter population and the public's pets. We believe our staff should be showered with gratitude year-round, but we encourage all our supporters to please join us in celebrating these amazing professionals during this dedicated week!

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