ALL CRITTERS GREAT, SMALL : COUNTY SHELTER HOUSES VARIETY OF WILD THINGS.Byline: Ann-Marie Sanchez Daily News Staff Writer It was a typical day at the Ventura County Animal Shelter "Dog Pound" redirects here. For the rap group, see Tha Dogg Pound. An animal shelter is a facility that houses homeless, lost or abandoned animals; primarily a large variety of dogs and cats. - six cows chewing their cuds, one laid-back potbellied pig potbellied pig n. A small domesticated pig native to Vietnam, often raised as a house pet, having a saddle-shaped back and usually dark coloration. , 15 fighting cocks, two goats, a Russian turtle and one curious ferret. Those who equate animal shelters with dogs and cats are in for a surprise when they visit the Ventura County Animal Regulation Department shelter on Aviation Drive in Camarillo. Wednesday's guests were typical - dozens of critters ranging from pygmy goats A pygmy goat is a small breed of domestic goat; females weigh about 23 to 34 kg (35 to 50 lbs) and males about 27 to 39 kg (40 to 60 lb). Pygmy goats originated in the Cameroon Valley of West Africa. to slithering slith·er v. slith·ered, slith·er·ing, slith·ers v.intr. 1. To glide or slide like a reptile. See Synonyms at slide. 2. To walk with a sliding or shuffling gait. 3. snakes waiting until rescue workers can find them a home. And with more than 200 rescue organizations - ranging from Li'l Orphan Hammie to Horse Aid - animal control agencies have plenty of help when it comes to literally ``saving a life.'' ``They're extremely important to us,'' said Norma Worley, kennel supervisor at the county shelter. ``Of course we could function (without them), but I (think) this would be a lot more dismal place, because we wouldn't be placing as many animals as we do.'' Besides rescue operations for purebred purebred progeny derived from at least several generations of animals of the same breed. purebred herds herds (or flocks) composed of purebred animals. Not necessarily registered animals. Distinct from crossbred herds. dogs and cats, there are more than a dozen rescue volunteers for wildlife or exotic animals including potbellied pigs, livestock, birds of prey, miniature horses Miniature Horses are found all over the world and come in various colors and coat patterns. The designation of miniature horse is determined by the height of the animal, which, depending on the particular registry involved, is usually less than 34-38 inches (82-91 cm) as measured , tortoises, ferrets and reptiles reptiles terrestrial or aquatic vertebrates which breathe air through lungs and have a skin covering of horny scales. They are poikilothermic, oviparous or ovoviviparous, and, if they have legs they are short and constructed solely for crawling. . ``For the most part, when you think of the Humane Society A humane society is a group that aims to stop animal suffering due to cruelty or other reasons. Examples Examples of humane societies include: The Humane Society of the United States, Peninsula Humane Society, American Humane which was founded in 1877 as a network of and animal control, you think of dogs and cats,'' said Dave Friend, who rescues tortoises and turtles with his wife, Marie. ``It's geared more for those animals, so when they get the more exotic ones, they call us.'' Like many animal rescue workers, the Friends' commitments to saving those they call ``God's interesting little creatures'' developed over the years as they learned more from friends and clubs. ``All my life, I've always had an interest in turtles,'' Dave Friend said. ``When I was a kid in the Midwest, I used to collect box turtles box turtle, hard-shelled land turtle of the genus Terrapene, native to North America. Its lower shell, or plastron, has a hinge dividing it into front and rear sections; the animal can raise these sections to meet the upper shell, or carapace, forming a secure as pets.'' So far this year, the five-acre shelter has handled more than 2,000 exotic or wildlife animals brought to the facility by a variety of circumstances, ranging from police raids in Oxnard to pickups by animal control officers from green pastures in the Ojai Valley. ``Usually with dogs or cats, it's complaints because they're doing something wrong,'' said Kathy Jenks, director at the shelter. ``With the non-dog or -cat calls, people are generally calling out of concern because the animal is in a place where it shouldn't be.'' The shelter has been at the Camarillo site since 1985. The entire department has a budget of $2.7 million that pays for 47 workers, including officers who work in the field, and the maintenance of its Camarillo shelter and a small holding facility on West Los Angeles
Along with the farm and exotic animals, the shelter fed, cleaned and vaccinated 8,300 dogs and 6,400 cats last year. Worley said she's seen everything from llamas and bears to bobcats and possums come through the facility, where workers sometimes name them or keep them for educational programs offered to public schools. In some cases, animal rescue workers even adopt the pets they pick up at the shelter. Marty Fast has done that. She works for a potbellied pig rescue organization called Li'l Orphan Hammie in Solvang. Fast said the county's shelter makes saving the animals easier because they don't charge for taking them away. ``Otherwise it might be a one-way trip to the shelter for many of the animals,'' said Fast, who owns a few of her own pigs. ``You have to appreciate a certain type of animal, and the shelter is really great with us.'' CAPTION(S): 2 Photos Photo: (1--color) A curious ferret is one of the inmates doing time in the big house at the Camarillo animal shelter. (2--color in SIMI only) Supervisor Norma Worley checks out one of her homeless charges at the Camarillo animal shelter. Hans Gutknecht/Daily News |
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