Sylvie Belmond 
Adoption fees waived again as Ventura County shelters struggle with recurring overcrowding
(CLAIR | Simi Valley, CA) — Free dog adoptions may sound too good to be true, but it’s real — and urgent. Ventura County Animal Services says its shelters are once again overflowing, with more than 200 dogs currently housed between Camarillo and Simi Valley. In September alone, 172 strays arrived. To ease the crowding, VCAS is waiving adoption fees for all dogs through Sunday, Oct. 5.
One of those dogs is Ratchet, a 4-year-old pit bull terrier mix with a grin so wide it could make anyone’s day brighter. Known on social media as “Ratchie-saurus Rex,” he’s become the face of VCAS’s playful “Jurassic Bark” campaign.
“Have you EVER seen a bigger smile?” shelter staff wrote on Instagram, where Ratchet’s videos show him lounging on hay bales, riding calmly in the car, and flashing his trademark grin for the camera.
More than a smile
Ratchet isn’t just photogenic. Volunteers say he thrives on adventure, whether it’s a walk around the neighborhood, fetch in the yard, or a quick trip to the outlet mall. He’s eager to learn and equally happy to relax by your side — proof that shelter dogs aren’t just waiting; they’re ready.
“We have a challenge for you: be as happy as Ratchet!” VCAS wrote. “Hint: adopting him will make this task much easier.”
You can even see his big grin for yourself — watch Ratchet’s video here.
A cycle of crowding
Fee-waiver events have become a recurring necessity at many animal shelters in Southern California and across the United States. On Aug. 23, VCAS joined the nationwide Clear the Shelters event, waiving fees for dogs, cats, bunnies and more. Earlier in the summer, adoptions were free for weeks at a time just to create space.
Why does it keep happening? VCAS and other Southern California shelters point to several causes. July 4 brings a flood of lost pets, and the strays don’t stop coming once fireworks fade.
Some animals arrive from surrounding counties, where shelters are just as full. Los Angeles Animal Services said this spring it was caring for more than 900 dogs in kennels built for about 775. LA County Animal Care & Control warns that overcrowding heightens stress, spreads illness and makes even routine care harder. OC Animal Care notes that as open-admission shelters, they simply cannot turn animals away.
The result is a heartbreaking cycle — kennels filled beyond capacity, adoption fees waived again and again, and animals like Ratchet waiting for someone to see them as more than a statistic.
What the community is saying
The “Jurassic Bark” post featuring Ratchet on the VCAS Facebook page drew passionate reactions.
“So many incredible dogs!!!” one commenter wrote.
“Please adopt, rescue, foster!!!!” said one animal lover, while another worried: “Free dogs sounds scary. I hope they will be extra careful placing these dogs.”
Others took the opportunity to highlight the bigger picture: “How do we stop the breeding cycle?”
For all the mixed emotions, one thing stands out: people want the best for dogs like Ratchet.
Adoption details
VCAS stresses that the full adoption process still applies, even during the free event, to ensure every dog is placed with the right family. All adopted pets go home spayed or neutered, vaccinated, microchipped and registered. County residents pay only a $25 licensing fee.
Ratchet is waiting at the Camarillo Animal Shelter, kennel 083. His adoption profile is online at vcas.us/viewan-2/?ida=A845522.
“Ratchet is always down for a good time,” VCAS says. “We’ve seen what a difference time away makes for him, and we want that life for him forever.”
