Our Story

The Humane Society of Ventura County (HSVC) was founded in 1932 by a group of dedicated animal lovers. After years of struggling with an overflow of animals in need and not enough space to house them, our beloved benefactor, Sara Bayless, bought and donated the beautiful 4.4-acre property where our Shelter has called home since 1982.

The Harry Valentine Visitors Center opened on July 30, 2011. The new Visitors Center marked the beginning of a three-phase project dedicated to remodeling the Spay and Neuter Clinic. The first stage of the project moved adoption counselors and administrative staff out of the old building and into a new building complete with the Humane Society’s very own gift shop.

Phase two of the project included the remodel of the existing building to create additional cat housing, isolated space for ill animals, and an office for our Humane Officers. This phase also included a state-of-the-art spay and neuter clinic double the size of our original clinic that opened in 1986. With this new space, our Clinic has been responsible for altering over 1,500 animals per year and approximately 70,000 animals total since its founding. The goal of the third phase of our expansion is to remodel our existing kennels. However, it is still in the fundraising stages.

Volunteers have always been at the core of our organization and they continue to provide exercise, socialization, and love to our shelter animals today. Our pet-assisted therapy program has been run by volunteers for over 25 years. Our volunteer-based foster program and Emergency Response Team were founded within the last couple of years and both continue to grow.

Our Humane Education program became a priority in the late 80s. Since its founding, our staff has visited thousands of school classrooms, youth organizations, and clubs to promote the compassionate care of all living beings and our environment. Through social media, community outreach, and word of mouth, our goal is to continue growing and helping more animals in need.