Shelter reports increase in pet adoptions

The Humane Society of Ventura County announces an increase in pet adoptions in 2008 from the previous year.

The private, nonprofit Ojai animal shelter reported overseeing 699 pet adoptions last year, up from 591 adoptions in 2007. While the majority of the adoptions were for dogs and cats, the Humane Society also found homes for animals such as pigs, rabbits, ducks, horses, birds, turtles and guinea pigs.

The shelter also reported an increase in the number of pets spayed or neutered in 2008— 1,944 pets, up from 1,862 in 2007. Cyndy Treutelaar, president of the society's board of directors, attributes the increase to the society's public awareness campaign.

The Humane Society returned 129 lost pets to their homes in 2008.