Animal Groups Put On Dogs to Make Point

It was a dog day afternoon Thursday at the Ventura County Government Center as seven agencies held a dog adoption day on the main lawn of the complex.

“A lot of people don’t know how to adopt dogs,” said Patrick Musone, educational advisor with the county’s Animal Regulation Department.

Adoptions weren’t taking place Thursday. Instead, it was a day of educating prospective dog owners. “We want to make sure that someone who’s going to adopt a dog knows all that’s involved in that,” Musone said.

That means the prospective owner knows to spay or neuter the dog, buys the proper license and knows how much a dog can change life at home, said Mary Saputo, 54, a volunteer with the Ventura-based Humane League.

Saputo spent a portion of the day rubbing the belly of Scarlet, a 6-month-old shepherd mix who needs a home after the divorce of her former owners.

“You need to interact when you’re considering taking a dog on,” said Saputo, as Scarlet began to nod off.

The biggest mistake made by people who adopt pets, she said, is that they rush into it.

“A lot of people are impulsive,” Saputo said. “They don’t realize the responsibility of taking on a pet.”

Micaela Kocik and her brother, Sean, of Simi Valley are no strangers to caring for homeless dogs. Their mother, Chris, works with Animal Rescue Volunteers, and 11-year-old Micaela said it is not unusual for them to provide foster care for three dogs at a time while trying to place them in permanent homes.

“It’s tough to give them up, but it’s nice knowing we’ve saved a dog,” Micaela said.

Added Sean: “Otherwise, they’d go to the pound and end up dead.”

The nonprofit organization started in 1993 after local flooding. Each week, it finds homes for 20 dogs.

Animal Rescue Volunteers also provides shelter for horses that are displaced by fires, flooding and other disasters, President Jenny Abshire said.

“In the recent fires, we saved . . . horses in L.A. and Ventura counties,” Abshire said.

While felines had their share of representation Thursday, the event was clearly intended for dog lovers, and that is why Lois Sartori, who works for the county assessor’s office, spent her break wandering the cages filled with dogs.

A 5-year-old black-and-white mix named Picassa caught her eye.

“I just came out to wish them well, and I hope they get a good home,” Sartori said.