About Our Group
Promote and Protect Animals - PAPA
A cooperative effort by rescue organizations, volunteers, veterinarians, groomers, breeders, trainers, pet stores, kennel and pet owners to ensure that every healthy or treatable animal presented to Ventura County Department of Animal Regulation shall be guaranteed a safe and healthy home.
PAPA has been organized to accomplish one thing…the transition of the Ventura County Department of Animal Regulation (VCAR) to “no kill” status.
The 9 Parts of the No Kill Equation are:
1. Feral Cat Trap/Neuter/Release (Barn Cat)
2. High Volume Spay and Neuter Program
3. Rescue Groups
4. Foster Care
5. Comprehensive Adoption Programs
6. Pet Retention
7. Medical and Behavior Rehabilitation
8. Public Relations/Community Involvement
9. Volunteer Coordination
Ventura County, with an approximate population last year of 836,080 and covering 1,873 square miles, gives VCAR a formidable task to overcome - finding an adoptive home for the 10,000+ companion animals they take in each year.
Twenty years ago, an average 71% of companion animals (dogs and cats) that arrived at the Ventura County shelter did not leave alive.
Although this statistic has been reduced by 27% in the past twenty years ~~ in 2008/2009 alone 44% of the 10,273 dogs and cats were destroyed.... or at least 12 per day on the average statistically (one companion animal every two hours round the clock in our county's community). (source)
While the sheer numbers of animals arriving at the shelter in the past twenty years has decreased by about 50% due to the rescue and humane groups who have formed and take in unwanted companion animals, we as a humane county still have a very long way to go:
- [[[[ Three out of every ten dogs that arrive at the shelter will die for various reasons.
[[[[ Seven out of every ten cats that arrive at the shelter will die for various reasons.
It takes a community to save a companion animal.
WE are that community and NOW is the time.
For more information, please contact Diane at vcpapa@yahoo.com