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| Ventura County Animal Shelters Need Help
Ventura County Animal Services needs your help: 286 stray animals have arrived at County shelters in September, and kennels are full. To ease crowding, adoption fees are waived for pets at both shelter locations. The shelters are open daily from 1 to 6 p.m., with the greatest need for adopters of medium and large dogs.
You can also foster a dog, help reunite a lost pet with its family or reclaim your own pet. If cost or transportation is a barrier to reclaiming your pet, ask shelter staff about possible assistance. View adoptable pets.
Shelter staff meet with prospective adopters to help find a good match. A $25 licensing fee may apply for Ventura County residents. |
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| Get a Fresh Start with Record Relief Services
A past arrest or conviction can continue to affect someone long after a case is closed, including when they apply for jobs or housing. The Ventura County Public Defender’s Fresh Start Unit helps eligible residents explore options such as expungements, arrest record sealing, return of property, sex offender registration relief and early termination of probation.
Eligibility depends on the person’s circumstances, and the unit can help determine which services may apply.
Scan the QR code in the graphic to apply online, call 805-654-2201 or email PDFreshStart@ventura.org to learn more. |
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| 5 Questions with Gregg Strakaluse, Director of the Ventura County Public Works Agency
Preparing for winter weather starts long before the first storm reaches Ventura County. In this edition of 5 Questions With., we sit down with Public Works Agency Director Greg Strakaluse for a look at the work happening behind the scenes, from preparing critical infrastructure and monitoring potential trouble spots to the crews and systems that help keep communities moving when heavy rain arrives.
Plus, he shares what residents can do now to prepare before the weather changes. Read the full interview at County Close-Up page. |
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| Homeowners: Earn $500 for Joining an Energy Study
How does your home use energy, and what could make it more comfortable? The 3C-BEACH research project is looking for eligible homeowners in Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo counties to help answer those questions. Participants will receive $500 for taking part in a study of home energy use and indoor air quality.
The project will also explore opportunities to switch from gas to electric appliances.
The California-funded study aims to learn how these changes may affect comfort, air quality and energy use in Central Coast homes. |
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| Channel Islands Harbor Parade of Frights
Registration is open for the 5th Annual Channel Islands Harbor Parade of Frights! Decorate your boat, dress up and join the Halloween fun on the water Saturday, October 24, 2026. The parade begins at 7 p.m., and one boat will take home the Black Pearl Trophy for the best Halloween decorations.
Participating boaters must attend the mandatory skippers meeting at 3 p.m. at the Ventura County Harbor Patrol Offices, 3900 Pelican Way in Oxnard.
Learn more and register at channelislandsharbor.org. |
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| Don’t delay, build a go bag today!
Fall is a good time to prepare for emergencies Ventura County may face, from wildfires to a potentially wetter winter. If you need to leave home quickly, a packed Go Bag can save valuable time.
Include water and nonperishable food, along with medications, glasses and any medical supplies you rely on. Pack copies of important documents, a flashlight, a phone charger, a change of clothes and basic first aid supplies. Add items for children and pets, such as diapers, formula, pet food or a leash, as needed.
Keep your bag somewhere you can grab it quickly, and check it regularly to replace expired items.
Find more preparedness tips at ready.venturacounty.gov/prepare. |
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| Stay Informed with VC Alert
As we head into fall, signing up for VC Alert is another step you can take to prepare for wildfires, severe weather and other emergencies. The County’s emergency notification system can send evacuation notices, shelter-in-place instructions and other public safety updates for areas that matter to you.
When you sign up, add your Ventura County address and choose whether to receive alerts by phone, text or email. You can add more than one address, such as your home and workplace, so you receive alerts when an emergency affects either area.
Take a few minutes to sign up at ready.venturacounty.gov. |
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| SERVICE SPOTLIGHT – Ventura County Healthcare Agency’s Backpack Medicine Program
Ventura County’s Backpack Medicine Program brings health care and supportive services directly to people experiencing homelessness, meeting individuals where they are, including encampments, river bottoms, parks and other locations throughout the county.
The multidisciplinary outreach program connects individuals with medical care, behavioral health and substance use services, as well as longer-term resources and support. By taking services into the field, Backpack Medicine works to address barriers that can make accessing traditional health care difficult for people living without shelter.
The effort brings together County departments and community partners, including the Ventura County Health Care Agency, Ventura County Behavioral Health, Ventura County Sheriff’s Office and other agencies and service providers.
Together, these partners work to connect some of the county’s most vulnerable residents with care and services that can support their health, stability and path toward housing. |
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