Topics on this page:
- Wild Fires
- Flooding
- Emergency Evacuation
- Large Animal Evacuation Preparedness
- Emergency Volunteer Rescue Team (EVRT)
In the event a mandatory evacuation order is issued, Ventura County Animal Services may open and staff offsite locations to which owned animals may be brought for safekeeping. Historically the Ventura County Fairgrounds has been such a location. However, during rain events and flooding, the Ventura County Fairgrounds will not be used to house large animals (i.e. horses) as that area sits in a flood plane. All information pertaining to animal evacuation locations will be posted at the top of this website.
WILD FIRE
With the increasing risk of wildfires in Southern California, it is imperative that pet owners be prepared to evacuate should the order be given. For those with small domestic animals, ensure you have the following items in a “to go” bag:
- Pet medication
- Vaccination records
- Microcip information
- Photograph of each pet
- Pet license (copy)
- Veterinarian contact information
- Two (2) collapsible bowls
- Extra leash and collar
- Favorit toys
- Litter box and litter (for cats)
- Blankets
Ventura County Animal Services has responded to numerous calls for assistance during wildfires throughout the years. The most difficult aspects of evacuations are working with individuals who were not prepared and required our assistance transporting their animals to safety. Please ensure you are fully prepared to evacuate should the order be given.
Previous fires Ventura County Animal Services has responded to:
- 1985 Wheeler Fire
- 1993 Green Meadows Fire
- 1997 Hopper Fire
- 1998 Piru Fire
- 1999 Ranch Fire
- 2003 Simi Fire
- 2005 Topanga Fire
- 2006 Day Fire
- 2006 Esperanza Fire
- 2007 Zaca Fire
- 2009 Guiberson Fire
- 2013 Spring Fire
- 2017/18 Thomas Fire
- 2018 Hill Fire
- 2018 Woolsey Fire
- 2019 Maria Fire
- 2019 Easy Fire
FLOODING
As California faces increased rounds of severe rainfall and flooding, the University of California-Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine (UCD-SVM) has provided four (4) reference materials. Each document supplies specific information for livestock owners who are preparing for, responding to, and recovering from flooding:
Mutual Aid
In addition to providing emergency animal rescue and response within the County of Ventura, VCAS has provided mutual aid to neighboring communities during declared disasters. Veteran Animal Control Officers, Fernando Serratos and Tony Ochoa, were deployed 460 miles north to El Dorado County to provide mutual aid animal rescue support during the Caldor Fire area which burned 221,775 acres from August 14 – October 21, 2021.
Officers Serratos and Ochoa spent sixteen (16) days driving across hundreds of acres in an effort to care for and rescue animals in need. Conditions within the evacuation zone were harsh. But despite the difficult conditions, Officers Ochoa and Serratos pushed through to rescue and care for hundreds of animals during their relief effort.
Sign-Up to Help Rescue Animals!
Visit www.vcas.us/EVRT if you are interested in joining our Emergency Volunteer Rescue Team who are deployed by VCAS during declared disasters to assist in the evacuation and care of animals.