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Financial and neutering assistance made available to help pet owners

Two new programs are available for pet owners in Santa Paula
Santa Paula Animal Rescue Center
Two new programs are available for pet owners in Santa Paula

Our four-legged friends are a part of the family, and there’s two new programs to help some Ventura County residents with the costs of pet ownership.

Keeping pets homed with their families is the aim of Santa Paula Animal Rescue Center.

S.P.A.R.C.'s Director & CEO, Lance Hunter says two new programs will directly benefit the residents and pets of Santa Paula.

The Free Spay/Neuter program and Emergency Relief Fund, are essential elements of their "No-Kill" mission, Hunter told KCLU.

"We have to address the over-population problem in our community," he said. "I think this will help dramatically, especially as sometimes the cost of having your dog neutered could be a huge barrier."

Santa Paula Rescue Center (S.P.A.R.C.) received a grant funding to launch the two programs.

The Free spay/neuter program, sponsored by S.P.A.R.C, in partnership with the Simi Valley Non-Profit Spay and Neuter clinic is made possible through a grant from the Ventura County Community Foundation (VCCF.)

“We know we have to address the overpopulation problem in our community,” said Hunter. “More and more unwanted animals are being brought into the shelter every day, and it’s not just here. Dogs and cats are dying every day in shelters all over California and S.P.A.R.C. is dedicated to changing that.”

A mobile spay/neuter unit will offer their services one day per month in the S.P.A.R.C. parking lot.

Santa Paula residents must call (805) 584-3823 to schedule an appointment. Space is limited.

The second program, made possible by a grant from the City of Santa Paula, is an Emergency Relief Fund set up to help community members in need with critical pet expenses that they cannot afford.

The goal is to keep pets happy and healthy in their homes, together with their families. An application is available on S.P.A.R.C.’s website: www.santapaulaarc.org.

“The pandemic has affected everyone, and the suffering has been great. The Emergency Relief Fund was established to help heal our community and keep families together,” said Kaja Gula-Thomas, Grant Writer/Marketing Specialist for S.P.A.R.C.

Caroline joined KCLU in October 2020. She won LA Press Club's Audio Journalist of the Year Award in 2022 and 2023.

Since joining the station she's won 7 Golden Mike Awards, 4 Los Angeles Press Club Awards and 2 National Arts & Entertainment Awards.

She started her broadcasting career in the UK, in both radio and television for BBC News, 95.8 Capital FM and Sky News and was awarded the Prince Philip Medal for her services to radio and journalism in 2007.

She has lived in California for ten years and is both an American and British citizen - and a very proud mom to her daughter, Elsie.