10 Reasons to Adopt  a Senior Pet

1. When senior pets are adopted, they seem to understand that they’ve been rescued, and are all the more thankful for it.
2. A senior pet’s personality has already developed, so you’ll know if he or she is a good fit for your family.
3. You can teach an old dog or cat new tricks.  Senior pets have the attention span and impulse control that makes them easier to train than their youthful counterparts.
4. A senior pet may very well already know basic household etiquette like not attacking your feet at night, not scratching your furniture nor jumping all over you when you get home.
5. In particular, senior pets are often already house broken likely to have accidents in the house.
6. A senior dog or cat won’t grow any larger, so you’ll know exactly how much animal you’re getting.
7. Senior pets are often content to just relax in your company, unlike younger pets, who may get into mischief because they’re bored. Not to mention they make great napping buddies
8. Senior cats often know that scratching posts (not furniture) are for scratching and toys (not hands or feet) are for biting. Senior dogs know that chew toys are for chewing, not your favorite shoes. Also, no worries on teaching the new puppy not to play bite all over your hands.
9. Senior pets are some of the hardest to find homes for– so when you adopt a senior pet, you’re truly saving a life. While we here at HSVC are a no kill shelter, many facilities aren’t. So no matter where you adopt from, consider a senior pet.
10. If you do adopt a senior pet from here at HSVC the adoption fee is only $75. Many other agencies will often offer a similar reduced adoption fee as well.

We would also like to thank the companies that helped by donating materials to this project: Jason at B&B Do It Center in Augora Hills, AAA Awnings in Garden Grove, Awnings Plus of Ventura, Home Depot and John and Linda Golden (Alex’s parents).

O Christmas Tree Securely anchor your Christmas tree so it doesn’t tip and fall, causing possible injury to your pet. This will also prevent the tree water—which may contain fertilizers that can cause stomach upset—from spilling. Stagnant tree water is a breeding ground for bacteria and your pet could end up with nausea or diarrhea should he imbibe.

Tinsel-less Town
Kitties love this sparkly, light-catching “toy” that’s easy to bat around and carry in their mouths. But a nibble can lead to a swallow, which can lead to an obstructed digestive tract, severe vomiting, dehydration and possible surgery. It’s best to brighten your boughs with something other than tinsel.

No Feasting for the Furries
By now you know not to feed your pets chocolate and anything sweetened with xylitol, but do you know the lengths to which an enterprising fur kid will go to chomp on something yummy? Make sure to keep your pets away from the table and unattended plates of food, and be sure to secure the lids on garbage cans.

Toy Joy
Looking to stuff your pet’s stockings? Choose gifts that are safe.

• Dogs have been known to tear their toys apart and swallowing the pieces, which can then become lodged in the esophagus, stomach or intestines. Stick with chew toys that are basically indestructible, Kongs that can be stuffed with healthy foods or chew treats that are designed to be safely digestible.
• Long, stringy things are a feline’s dream, but the most risky toys for cats involve ribbon, yarn and loose little parts that can get stuck in the intestines, often necessitating surgery. Surprise kitty with a new ball that’s too big to swallow, a stuffed catnip toy or the interactive cat dancer—and tons of play sessions together.

Forget the Mistletoe & Holly
Holly, when ingested, can cause pets to suffer nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Mistletoe can cause gastrointestinal upset and cardiovascular problems. And many varieties of lilies, can cause kidney failure in cats if ingested. Opt for just-as-jolly artificial plants made from silk or plastic, or choose a pet-safe bouquet.

Leave the Leftovers
Fatty, spicy and no-no human foods, as well as bones, should not be fed to your furry friends. Pets can join the festivities in other fun ways that won’t lead to costly medical bills.

That Holiday Glow
Don’t leave lighted candles unattended. Pets may burn themselves or cause a fire if they knock candles over. Be sure to use appropriate candle holders, placed on a stable surface. And if you leave the room, put the candle out!

Wired Up
Keep wires, batteries and glass or plastic ornaments out of paws’ reach. A wire can deliver a potentially lethal electrical shock and a punctured battery can cause burns to the mouth and esophagus, while shards of breakable ornaments can damage your pet’s mouth.

House Rules
If your animal-loving guests would like to give your pets a little extra attention and exercise while you’re busy tending to the party, ask them to feel free to start a nice play or petting session.

Put the Meds Away
Make sure all of your medications are locked behind secure doors, and be sure to tell your guests to keep their meds zipped up and packed away, too.

Careful with Cocktails
If your celebration includes adult holiday beverages, be sure to place your unattended alcoholic drinks where pets cannot get to them. If ingested, your pet could become weak, ill and may even go into a coma, possibly resulting in death from respiratory failure.

A Room of Their Own
Give your pet his own quiet space to retreat to—complete with fresh water and a place to snuggle. Shy pups and cats might want to hide out under a piece of furniture, in their carrying case or in a separate room away from the hubbub.

New Year’s Noise
As you count down to the new year, please keep in mind that strings of thrown confetti can get lodged in a cat’s intestines, if ingested, perhaps necessitating surgery. Noisy poppers can terrify pets and cause possible damage to sensitive ears.

Nestled among the picturesque shade trees in the canyon of Arroyo Verde park, gathered nearly three hundred individuals in support of the animals of Ventura County. It was there where we hosted our 5th annual silent auction, Cats in the Canyon and Hounds in the Hollow. More than 200 items and services were donated from individuals and businesses all over the county and were up for auction. In addition to the wonderful items available to purchase, participants enjoyed music from the Iron Mountain Boys, visits with shelter animals, K-9 agility demonstrations, pet wellness exhibits, a caricature artist met some of our special guest Shelter Animals, and the infamous “Gremlin” a former Shelter Dog turned 3 time national champion in K-9 agility.

Many thanks to all those who came out to support us and especially to everyone who shopped and donated to our awesome auction which raised over $10,000 to support the animals of the HSVC. The evening ended with a meatless meal in celebration of our love of animals, provided by Channel Islands Catering.

Thanks to the City of Ventura, The Fence Factory, The Ojai Lions Club, The Iron Mountain Boys, Channel Islands Catering, Nancy Lewis, Jodi Thurman and all of the agility dogs and handlers, our HSVC store and Pet Therapy teams, all of our great vendors, our caricature artist, ALL of our wonderful volunteers, our event committee, event sponsors, and auction donors. And of course, special thanks to our special guests, the Shelter Dogs.

THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO CAME OUT TO SUPPORT VENTURA COUNTY’S LOCAL HUMANE SOCIETY!  WE COULDN’T DO WHAT WE DO WITHOUT YOU!

Special thanks to our event sponsors- 

And the following generous donors…

Organizing Committee:

Don Buffon

Linda McPherson

Dave Nesbitt

Phil Pausmer

Cynthia Wren-Burke

Joan Blakemore

Carol Blye

Joan Phelps

Paula Chirco-Swanson

Kate Nelson

Lynn Malone

Volunteers:

Adonda Brennan

Ruth Miller

Amy and Celeste Bujold

Ann Vargas

Kathy Miller

Holly and Chloe Bassuk

Dave and Carrie Betti

Sierra Yates

Diana Garcia

Diane and Madison Mackenzie

Erin Deneen

Francine Paul-Perez

Marsha and Geoff Craig

Geri Castron

Sara and Hannah Malco

Jan, Sasha and Max Badger

Joanne Roberts

John and Nancy Tally

Judy Ross

Laurie Adams

Laurie Kearney

Laurie and Tom McNett

Linda and Sierra Conboy

Lisa Luper

Lois Calatrello

Louise Vein

Lynette Malone

Mackenzie Mayberry

Mariah Hanline

Marie Maier

Matthew White

Melanie Gray

Pam and Shanti Rosen

Raluca Razus

Riane Limon

Shaun Baker

Sheryl Pearson

Shirley Delfazio

Summer and Simeon Brady

Tia Andrews

Frank Herbert

Austin Chambers

Anthony Bain

Jeremy Hays

Kevin Priest

Kristy Rain

Rhonda and Juliana Lamia

Melinda and Nicole Noroian

Caryn, Kate, Emily and Will