Love Your Pet banquet in its fifth year
By Angela Randazzo Special to the Simi Valley Acorn

Veterinarian Lowell Novy Valley Veterinary Clinic

Caring for pets and helping their owners is a passion shared by veterinarian Lowell Novy, his staff and his volunteers.

For the past five years Novy and his associates at the Valley Veterinary Clinic have put that passion into action in the community, hosting a "Love Your Pet" banquet at the Wood Ranch Country Club. This year's event is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 10.

Monies raised from the annual banquet go to the nonprofit corporation run by clinic staff. That nonprofit provides for low-cost spay and neuter programs as well as the benevolent medical fund, which is used to pay for the emergency care of abandoned pets.

"The finances are used to help us cut down on the overpopulation of pets in the county so that we don't have as many euthanized because they don't have homes," Novy said. "The funds also help us take care of unowned animals hit by cars and such, and assist them with medical attention.

"We've been very successful in dropping the numbers of euthanasias needed," Novy said. "It's been successful because we have so much support from people within the community."

Simi resident Joyce Peters has been organizing the Love Your Pet banquet from its start. The retired banker also volunteers as the financial officer of the clinic's nonprofit: the Valley Veterinary Clinic Charitable Non-Profit Corporation.

"All the money raised (at the banquet) goes to help the animals," Peters said. "One way is by helping lowincome folks spay and neuter their pets. One of the biggest problems has been overbreeding and people not taking care of their animals."

Diane Bentz, a registered veterinary technician at the clinic and vice president of the nonprofit, started the lowcost spay and neuter program with Novy in 1977.

"It was the first of what we call 'spay day.' We offered (it) at one clinic on one Sunday and did 100 cats," Bentz said. "We've evolved now. We organized this nonprofit, and we're offering eastern Ventura County residents this service weekly for their pets."

Abandoned animals have also been cared for using funds raised at the banquet.

"Several times Dr. Novy has found a dog tied to the clinic door," Peters said. "One note attached to a dog read: 'My owners don't want me anymore and they know you wouldn't kill me, so would you find me a home?'"

Last year Peters said someone dropped a blind Maltese dog in traffic on Simi Valley streets. The rescued dog was brought to the clinic for medical care.

The dog was treated, and a home was found for him, Peters said. "The new owners named him Sunny because he likes to sit in the sun."

The clinic also has a program for rescuing feral cats and educating children on pet care. Simi resident Paula Temme and Moorpark resident Deborah Krasner volunteer for the "Correct Pet Care" program. They visit local elementary schools and teach students how best to take care of animals.

"We feel like we're making a difference and these little kids really have a heart," Temme said. "We're hoping they take the message home to their parents."

The Love Your Pet festivities will include dinner, dancing, a silent auction and a raffle. To purchase tickets, which cost $125 each, call (805) 526-2743.