If you've decided to open your heart and home to an animal in need, the dedicated staff of Ventura County Animal Regulation is here to assist you. When you think that you are Ready To Adopt there are a few helpful hints that may help solidify your decision.
You can peruse our shelter inventory lists of dogs, cats, and other animals but the real magic happens when you walk through our kennels. It is there that soul reaches out to soul in hopes of forming a timeless bond.
After those languid eyes or precious paws have reeled you in, here are the things you'll need to know about adopting a companion from our shelter:
Not all of the animals at the shelter become available for adoption at the same time. Each animal rotates through a specified holding period. Owner relinquished animals will become available sooner than strays that must be held for possible reclaim. Some animals are merely being held for safekeeping or quarantine and will be returned to their owners at the end of their holding period without ever becoming available for adoption. Animals cannot be shown out of their enclosures until they become the property of Ventura County Animal Regulation.
Placards on the cages engraved with the letter A indicate that an animal is currently available. A GREEN A means the animal is already spayed/neutered and can go home immediately. A RED A means the animal is available for adoption, but must stay to be surgically altered. A YELLOW A means that there are special requirements that must be met in order to adopt the animal. A BLUE S says, "SORRY! I found a new home and I'm going home right after my surgery!" If there is no placard on an animal's cage, the projected adoption date will be listed on the cage card on the front of each cage or you can inquire about its availability date by asking front counter personnel.
If you are interested in an animal that is not yet available, please let the counter staff know of your intention to return to adopt the animal. We do not allow anyone to "reserve" a specific animal but if we know that someone is interested, we may be able to hold it awhile longer depending on a number of variables. If there is more than one person interested in a specific available animal, a drawing will be held.
In an effort to make the best possible human/animal match, we need to verify the following information:
If you have not found the companion you've been looking for on our shelter inventory, or in our kennels, consider visiting the websites linked here.