County supervisors accept grant to help people keep their pets

This article was originally published by the Ventura County Sun/Ojai Valley News.

Some families suffering financial hardships now have a better chance to keep their beloved pets at home, rather than surrender them, thanks to a grant.

Ventura County supervisors voted to accept the grant, offered in partnership with the Humane Society of the United States and the Ventura County Community Foundation. It supports and expands the Pets for Life program, an initiative through Ventura County Animals Services.

A key goal of the Pets for Life program is to reduce the number of pets entering shelters by addressing the underlying challenges that lead to pet relinquishment.

Thanks to proactive efforts, the program has been able to provide more than 100 free microchips to help reunite lost pets with their families, repair fences, build dog runs to improve pet safety, and offer financial and emotional support to pet owners in crisis. By preventing surrenders before they happen, these services help keep pets with their families while also easing the strain on local animal shelters.

“Programs like Pets for Life are essential in ensuring that no family has to make the heartbreaking decision to surrender a pet due to financial hardship,” said 4th District Supervisor Janice Parvin, Chair of the Board of Supervisors. “By investing in solutions that provide direct support to pet owners, we are not only keeping animals out of shelters but also strengthening the well-being of families throughout Ventura County.”

The Pets for Life program has already made a significant impact in the community, ensuring that families facing economic challenges can still care for their pets. In 2023, the program assisted 111 families and their 215 pets, providing food, veterinary care, and essential pet supplies.

In 2024, VCAS continued expansion of its outreach by hosting a community event in the La Colonia area of Oxnard, where families received free pet food and supplies to help keep their pets well-fed and at home. The overwhelming response highlighted the continued need for support programs like Pets for Life.

“We are incredibly proud of the success of our Pets for Life program,” stated Esteban Rodriguez, Director of Ventura County Animal Services. “Going door-to-door in underserved areas of our county is exactly the level of grassroots support our residents and their animals need.”

The approval of this grant underscores the County’s commitment to long-term and proactive solutions that support both pets and their owners.

The Pets for Life program goes beyond emergency assistance—it builds a compassionate, sustainable network that empowers families to provide lifelong care for their animals.