How to Adopt an Animal

You can’t beat the price of a dog or cat from the Humane Society of Ventura County on Bryant Street in Ojai. Cats are $5 and dogs $10, and its 48 dog kennels and 30 cat kennels are almost always full.

The Humane Society will also give you a voucher good for a free checkup at a veterinarian, worth $25 to $30. And you can get a voucher worth $10 toward the cost of spaying or neutering your new pet.

But not just anyone can take a pet home. Unlike a pet store or county animal control, the Humane Society requires new owners to meet the following conditions:

* If you rent, you must provide proof from your landlord that pets are allowed. “We check,” Humane Society Director Jolene Hoffman said.

* To adopt a dog or puppy, you must have a fenced yard and a shelter. A Humane Society official will inspect the yard before the adoption is approved.

* Someone must be home all day for puppies and kittens.

* All animals must be spayed and neutered at the time of adoption. If you are adopting an animal that is too young, you must leave a deposit toward the alteration.

* You may not adopt an animal as a gift for someone else.

* You may not adopt an animal if you have children under 6 years of age.

* An officer will make a follow-up check to ensure that your new pet is properly cared for and, if applicable, has been spayed or neutered.

* The Humane Society may refuse adoption to anyone.

Pets also can be adopted from the County Department of Animal Regulation, which has an office and shelter at the Camarillo Airport and a satellite shelter at 670 W. Los Angeles Ave., Simi Valley.