Our Story

The concept of a community based non-profit shelter was born over lunch in June 2011. The only condition sought by the initial committee members was that the new shelter would be “no-kill”… meaning we would NOT euthanize animals on the basis of overcrowding, irreparable medical conditions, or behavioral challenges.

With that commitment, experienced rescuers associated with Canine Adoption Rescue League (CARL), Tiny Loving Canines (TLC), Protect and Promote Animals (PAPA), Rock and Rescue, Inc. and other individuals started meeting on a regular basis to formulate the plans which would eventually become SPARC. Every month new issues were raised and addressed by the committee until a proposed contract was finalized and presented to the city council for vote in March 2012. With that vote, Santa Paula became “host” to the first and only no-kill” animal shelter in Ventura County, providing humane care and treatment for the stray and abandoned animals of the city as well as education, spay/neuter, vaccination, microchips and other services. Pet overpopulation is a community problem and SPARC presents a humane, community-based solution.

2023 Intake and Outcome Statistics