A few days ago, Ventura County Animal Services (VCAS) was alerted to a dire situation involving a group of 22 stray dogs. The dogs had been wandering around dangerous oil fields and along busy roads.
“[T]he guys working on those [fields] reported the dogs,”
Jules Hooper, marketing specialist at VCAS, told The Dodo.
The oil field workers initially got in contact with the Oxnard Animal Safety Unit, who then reached out to VCAS for help. When the animal safety unit realized just how many dogs were in need of rescuing, they knew they were going to need additional support. According to Hooper, groups of stray dogs this large are not common in Ventura County, so everyone involved was taken aback.
“It was definitely alarming,” Hooper said.
While the pack of pups was living near an encampment, the dogs did not have a formal owner. Eight out of the 22 dogs were puppies, and many of the adults seemed to be related as well.
“We believe the group started off as a few dogs … and they just multiplied quickly,” Hooper said. “We think a lot of them were born out there.”
VCAS, the Oxnard Animal Safety Unit and Dog Days Search & Rescue worked together to secure all 22 of the dogs and transport them to VCAS’ facility. Although VCAS was already completely full, they found a way to squeeze all of the pups in.
“Our shelter is already at over 130% capacity,” Hooper said.
Many of the dogs rescued from the oil field seemed to have never spent time indoors. Understandably, after everything they’d been through and the sudden shift in their environments, a lot of the pups were nervous.
“They were very scared,” Hooper said. “A lot of them were shaking. They were kind of curled up in a ball.”
Thankfully, though, none of the pups had any major health issues. They’re all available to be adopted or fostered now — even the puppies, who are 8 weeks old.
“We’re hoping that we can find fosters and adopters for them soon, who will give them the time, the patience and the attention that they need to adapt to living indoors and with people,” Hooper said.
Everyone involved in rescuing these dogs wants nothing more than for all of them to find loving homes. They all deserve to feel at peace and loved after the chaotic existence they had to endure.
“I think it would be a really special thing if the community was able to rally around these dogs … It would be life-changing for them,” Hooper said.
