Located in the heart of Ojai, cats, dogs, and horses alike find refuge and comfort in the Ventura County Humane Society.
The Ventura County Humane Society is an animal shelter that relies 100% on donations and volunteers throughout the county.
Animals seeking temporary hospitality within the gates of Humane Society are greeted with more than the average shelter provides. They are met with an outpour of pats, walks, delicious treats, and love.
However, this wouldn’t be possible without the many volunteers who come in every day to help these pets. The Humane Society’s primary goal is to get people to adopt the animals brought there. In order for Humane Society to be able to achieve its fundamental goal, it is crucial for there to be volunteers to be there for the animals for their well being.
Amanda Volden has been the volunteer coordinator for three years and part of her job is to teach volunteers how to work with the animals to make sure they have a safe and to have an enjoyable work experience.
Volden says that the animals need to be socialized, so they don’t become hostile or stressed around people looking or other dogs or cats. Within three days of an animal being in a shelter, their stress levels can sky rocket if they don’t have any contact with humans. This is where the volunteers come in.
“They are essential in our mission to adopt out as many animals as possible, but in order for them to go to safe and happy homes they have to be socialized,” said Volden. “Volunteers give them that human contact that makes the animals more outgoing and more willing to work with people which gets adopted out easier.”
Though most animals are adopted rather quickly, some stay there for months at a time. For whatever reason, a cat or dog may not be adopted, so the volunteers spend more time with those animals to make sure they work out their issues. If a dog barks at other dogs, for example, volunteers socialize them more with other dogs by walking them by.
While it is difficult for some dogs to leave Humane Society and find a permanent family, they become a huge part of the family there, and when they finally do get adopted out after months of working with them, it is a really emotional moment for everyone there. The bond the volunteers and animals make together is powerful.
“The animals who stay here become a part of the family, and when the animals finally are adopted tears of happiness are shared.” Volden recalled in happiness.
The volunteers tread through day to day challenges, but when crisis knocked on their doors, along with the hands of hundreds of owners seeking a safe haven for their pets during the Thomas Fire, they embraced the challenge and began to work.
In the face of adversity, like the fires, the relationship between the Humane Society and the community grew stronger than ever.
The consistent dedication and support from volunteers and donors was what made it possible.
Hundreds of animals filled up every space available there. From the animals already there to evacuated dogs, cats, chickens, horses, pigs, and goats, Humane Society did not turn down any animal. However, they didn’t do this alone.
Companies and people across Southern California came together and helped out. Jason from Jayce Lab donated meals for the staff and volunteers, while places like The Channel Islands Veterinary Hospital donated a car load of supplies and pet food. Those donations are just a few, but the rooms were stacked to the ceiling with food and supplies, and the pathways were packed with volunteers.
“During the Thomas Fire we had a large outpour of support from the community and our volunteers,” Volden said. “It’s so hard to give words to how much support we got and how much it means to us. The volunteers are amazing and never fail to surprise us with their dedication to the animals.”
The story of the Humane Society’s role in helping during the Thomas Fire inspired Sandy Yadav to become one of the many volunteers to contribute to the organization. Yadav moved from New Jersey to Ojai just a year ago with her own cats. She worked at Humane Society in the past, but, just a few days ago, she began to work locally, where she hopes to spend her free time more often.
She is proud of doing something that seems so small; something as simple as hanging out with the cats, but, in the long run, is so important.
After the Thomas Fire, she admired what the the people there really do every day. She would go there to hang out with the animals, but the workers were there day and night to care for the pets. Because of this, she thought it was right to put effort into this cause.
“I really appreciated the story of the Thomas Fire and how everyone was so heroic here,” Yadav said. “We dont really see the scope of what people here do. I just come here to comfort the cats, but the workers are working hard every day. The people that work here are so dedicated it just inspires me. It makes me believe in the Humane Society, and I strongly think that it’s important to put your energy into something you believe in.”
Humane Society’s sole purpose isn’t just to take care of animals and put them into safe homes, but, also, a number of other jobs that benefit the Ventura County. While they do put animals into safe homes, they have a humane officer who checks on neglected or abused animals and will take animals out of those homes, if necessary. They, also, provide educational services throughout schools in the county to teach students about responsible pet ownership; pet assistant therapy programs, where volunteers go with their personal pets to retirement homes or hospice cares; and pet pantries, where food is provided from Humane Society for people who can’t afford it for their pets.
“There are so many ways the community helps us, and we try to return that help back as best we can.” Volden concluded.