(CLAIR | Simi Valley, CA) — The Camarillo Animal Shelter is bursting at the seams—138% kennel capacity and counting. That means dogs are doubling up, resources are stretched, and staff are working overtime to make sure every tail still gets a wag and every pup still feels seen. To help ease the pressure and give these animals the second chance they deserve, the shelter is waiving all dog adoption fees through Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 11.
It’s a great time to open your home—and your heart—to a dog in need. This week, two faces stand out.
The first is just eight weeks old, a tiny mix of French Bulldog and Pit Bull Terrier with big brown eyes and a whole lot of curiosity. She was found in Oxnard with five siblings and brought in on Saturday. Right now, she weighs about eight pounds and fits easily in your arms—but give her a little time and love, and she’s going to grow into a loyal companion. She’ll be available for adoption starting Friday, May 9, and she’s waiting in kennel 132.
Then there’s Rosie. At 16, she’s already given the best years of her life to someone—maybe a family, maybe a person living alone—and now she finds herself back at square one. Rosie is an American Staffordshire Terrier, gentle and calm, with soft eyes and a sweet demeanor. She came in on April 25, also found in Oxnard, and she’s been waiting patiently in kennel 102. She’s ready to go home today.
Rosie and the puppy are at opposite ends of life’s arc—one just beginning, the other hoping for comfort and love in her final chapter. But they’ve got the same wish: a safe place to land, someone to love them, and a shot at something better than a concrete kennel.
The Camarillo Animal Shelter is located at 600 Aviation Drive in Camarillo. Adoption hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday, with the last adoption showing at 5:30 p.m. The shelter is closed on Mondays, but open all weekend—including Mother’s Day.
There’s also a satellite location in Simi Valley: the Simi Valley Adoption Center at 670 W. Los Angeles Avenue. While this smaller facility houses fewer animals, it’s worth a visit—and staff can direct visitors to animals at the main Camarillo shelter if needed.
No appointment is necessary to visit, but adoptions are first come, first served. And while the dogs are free to adopt this week, caring for a pet is a long-term commitment—financially, emotionally, and in time. If you’re ready to share your life with a loyal companion, now’s the time to open that kennel door.
