Animal Shelters Offer Assistance

Ventura County Humane Society and county Animal Regulation Department officials said Tuesday that they will clear space in their kennels for stray Los Angeles-area dogs and cats found during the confusion of the Northridge earthquake.

Kathy Jenks, director of the county’s Animal Regulation Department, said that because Los Angeles city animal shelters have been overwhelmed by stray dogs and cats found after the quake, she will make room for the animals at the department’s facility in Camarillo.

“They are having to place three and four dogs in a cage built for two animals down there,” Jenks said. “It’s a really bad situation.”

Likewise, Ventura County Humane Society shelter director Jolene Hoffman said her Ojai-based facility will clear space for pets picked up by Los Angeles officials.

“We’re happy to help,” Hoffman said. “But this really points out the need for pet owners to get tags on their animals. Often during an earthquake, animals will just take off running. They’re often totally freaked.”

A spokeswoman for the Los Angeles City Animal Shelter said shelter officials would meet today to decide whether to take up the Ventura County shelters’ offers of space.

Jenks and Hoffman said their shelters helped reunite several dozen Ventura County pet owners with their animals after the quake, and only a few animals in each facility still remain to be claimed.