Thursday, August 11th, 2011
President Cyndy Treutelaar sees her dream of 30 years a reality for the first time!
For years it has been our dream to have a place where adopters and visitors alike could find the necessary supplies for their pets while at the same time helping out pets living in the care of the Humane Society of Ventura County.
Thanks to the bequest left by Mr. Harry Valentine, we are pleased to announce that as of July 30, 2011, that dream is now a reality. The opening of the Harry Valentine Visitors Center marks the opening of the Humane Society Gift Shop.
The beautiful new store is stocked with high quality pet foods, toys, treats, leashes, collars, bowls and a whole host of other supplies. Adopters are able to pick up the necessary (and fun) items needed for their new forever friend while visitors can stop by to pick up gift baskets for the hard-to-shop-for animal lover or check out the latest line of Shelter Pet merchandise by Volunteer Photographer, Ruth Miller.
President Cyndy Treutelaar and Development Director Lynn Malone ring up items in the new store.
Ruth Miller, who in addition to being the volunteer photographer for HSVC is the owner of Nature’s Studio Photography. For the past several years Ruth has made it her mission to find homes for animals by showing their true beauty through photography on our website. In addition to this Ruth began to create a line of Shelter Pets cards featuring the shelter’s animals in a variety of heartwarming images.
With the opening of the new store, Ruth has expanded her Shelter Pets line beyond greeting cards to t-shirts, aprons, hats, tote bags and even her own photo book.
HSVC is a non-profit organization that receives no funding from any government agency or national animal welfare agency. Funding for the shelter is provided by donations and bequests. All proceeds raised from the store will go directly back to the animals in our care and the services that we provide to the animals of Ventura County including our low cost spay and neuter clinic, humane education and investigation of abuse and neglect cases. The gift shop is one of many fantastic additions to our growing shelter and adoption center.
Volunteer Photographer, Ruth Miller makes the first purchase in the new store.
The donation from Mr. Valentine is being used to expand our current spay and neuter clinic into a state of the art clinic that is twice the size of the existing one, shortening the waiting period for clients and making a larger impact on overpopulation throughout the county. In addition to this, we will be able to add additional cat housing and temporary housing for sick animals. The new visitors center is the first phase of a three phase project. Phase two, the expansion and remodel of the clinic, will begin in August.
Funds are still being raised to continue the project to a third phase which would seek to remodel and expand our dog kennels.
Posted in News |
Thursday, August 11th, 2011
It started as a dream. Could one man truly make a difference in the number of companion animals found suffering daily in Ventura County without food or shelter?
Mr. Harry Valentine was one man who gave considerable thought to these questions and decided to leave a legacy that would assure the answer to these questions could be a resounding “yes”, one man CAN make a difference. To be sure that his dream and legacy lived on, Mr. Valentine left his estate in the care of the Ventura County Community Foundation to distribute to the Humane Society of Ventura County for the purpose of increasing spay and neuter services.
HSVC Board President Cyndy Treutelaar cuts the ribbon.
On Saturday, July 30th, we came one step closer to realizing his dream when the ribbon was cut and the Harry Valentine Visitiors Center opened. Over 300 people joined us over two days of celebration of a long time dream realized.
Guests of our Shelter and Adoption Center will now be welcomed in a beautiful new building which houses our administrative staff and adoption center and features a new gift shop which will help raise needed funds for the Shelter. 
Ojai Mayor Carol Smith joins the crowd in thanking Design Builder Johnny Johnston.
The Humane Society of Ventura County (HSVC), who for years has been providing low cost spay and neuter services, shares Mr. Valentine’s dream to make spay and neuter services available to families county-wide at an affordable cost. Each week, all new arrivals at the shelter are spayed and neutered in preparation for adoption. In addition, four days each week, the clinic is a-buzz with responsible families who bring their animals to be spayed or neutered. Now that the original building will no longer be needed for guest and administrative services, phase II of Mr. Valentine’s dream can begin as the building is transformed into a state of the art spay and neuter facility, allowing us to double the number of surgeries performed daily.
The Humane Society of Ventura County has dreamed for years of being able to increase spay and neuter services to curb pet overpopulation. Being a locally funded private nonprofit not supported by government funding, the HSVC operates on a tight budget funded by local resident donations and would likely have continued to only dream of such an expansion of spay and neuter services for years to come. Mr. Valentine’s bequest has made this dream a reality.
Executive Director Sherry Garberich-Brockus and Board members Linda McPherson (left) and Nita Reid Tracy (right)accept a Certificate of Congressional Recognition from Elton Gallegly's office. Board members Linda McPherson (left) and Nita Reid Tracy (right)
The remodel and upgrade of the new spay and neuter clinic will begin in August, and should be complete by the end of 2010. Services will continue throughout most of the construction.
Fundraising has begun for the third phase of the HSVC “home remodel”, upgrade and expansion of the dog kennels in order to meet the increasing need for shelter of homeless animals and to place more spayed and neutered pets with families throughout Ventura County. To help with this effort, engraved paver stones leading to the new Harry Valentine Visitors Center are being sold to anyone who would like to share Mr. Valentine’s dream and leave a legacy of their own. Fax or mail the form below to reserve yours! Or give us a call and we’ll take your order. 805 646-6505.
Posted in News |
Tuesday, August 9th, 2011
A GREAT BIG THANK YOU to all of our friends on the Hogs for Hounds FUNdriders committee!On September 24th, 30 motorcycle enthusiasts, and a team of animal loving women set out to help the animals of the Humane Society of Ventura County. Their motorcycle ride and vendor faire at the Ventura Fairgrounds was a great day for all, and a HUGE success for their first time fundraiser. We sincerely thank them for all thier hard work, and the animals thank them too. We received five applications for adoption of dogs who joined us at the event, so of course they were VERY happy!
Hogs for Hounds Fundriders is an independent group of animal lovers and motorcycle enthusiasts who want to make a difference in the lives of shelter animals. Every dollar donated will help to enhance the quality of these special lives. All proceeds from this event will go directly to the Humane Society of Ventura County.
If you are interested in participating in the motorcycle ride, call 805 383-7515 for more information.
Posted in News |
Tuesday, July 5th, 2011
On July 2nd Ben Bynder and his family brought in many supplies and donations to help the animals at HSVC as part of Ben’s Bar Mitzvah. He collected donations of blankets, towels, toys, food, bowls and rakes for the animals from friends and family. He also collected monetary donations to go towards the care of all of our animals here at the shelter.
Bar Mitzvah is a coming of age ceremony in the Jewith faith. According to Jewish law when children reach 13 years of age they become responsible for their actions. Part of this coming of age ceremony is a community service project. Ben chose to help gather much needed supplies for the shelter for his Bar Mitzvah.
Ben has proven himself to be a very responsible and caring young man for the animals here at the shelter. Through both his donations and his volunteering he was able to make dreams come true for many animals! Thank you Ben Bynder and Mazal Tov on your becoming a Bar Mitzvah!
Posted in News |
Thursday, June 30th, 2011
As many of you know we recently lost our beloved volunteer, Norby Bielschmidt. Friends and family of Norby gathered to create a garden in his memory in a place he was recently sprucing up for us, as he always did. Oaks to Ocean Laser Group was approached to help create a memorial plaque for Norby in the garden that was planted. Jerry Slavin and Deborah Clark of Oaks to Ocean Laser Group (pictured above in Norby’s Garden) came in with a beautiful black marble plaque with an etched image of Norby to adorn the garden. Upon hearing the story of Norby and all the work he did for the Humane Society, Jerry and Deborah decided to donate the plaque free of charge. We are all so grateful for their contribution to help keep this wonderful man’s legacy alive.
You can reach Oaks to Ocean Laser Group at 805-272-5546.
Thursday, June 30th, 2011
7 year old Emma Holmstrom has been collecting money in “Franny,” the Humane Society of Ventura County piggy bank, for several months. She collects spare change for the animals, and has even put some hard earned money that she recieved for doing chores into Franny. On July 30th her pig came back to the shelter. She left the money she collected and took her piggy bank home to continue saving for the animals.
Do you still have a piggy bank? Would you like to have a piggy bank?
How they work: You fill them up, just like Amy did, and bring them back in to the shelter. Your spare change provides housing for needy animals, low cost spays and neuters, humane education to classrooms, pet therapy and investigation of abuse and neglect cases.
My name is Rafiki and I came to the Humane Society in June of 2011. I am an 11 year young blue point Showshoe. I am one of the most affectionate cats you will ever meet. I love to cuddle in your lap and lounge in the sun in the outside cat enclosure in Cat Haven. To live a long, happy and healthy life I would like to go to a home where I could be an indoor only cat.
My name is Fu Manchu and I came to the shelter back in February of 2011. I am a smooth coated Chihuahua mix. My family at the shelter doesn’t understand why I am still here. I am sweet, housebroken and love to be around all different types of people. I enjoy going for walks with the volunteers and playing with my other Chihuahua friends. I would make a great companion dog!
Hello, my name is Magoo and I am a 7 year old Pomeranian. My family at the shelter say that I am very loving fun to be around. I like other animals, children and adults alike. I am housebroken and like to curl up on your lap. However, I do like to chase cats so a home with cats might not be the best fit.
Hi, my name is Harvey and I am a 7 year young Chihuahua/Rat Terrier mix. I am very playful, loving, housebroken and full of spunk. I would do great in a house with other animals or with someone who could spend some time with me.
My name is Kitty and I am an 11 year young Maine Coon. I love spending my days basking in the sun at the Humane society and snuggling up in the blankets on colder days. I am an aloof kitty that seeks out attention when the world around me is quite. I would do great in household with seniors and my adoption fee is only $75.
