Celebrities joined cat and canine lovers at Ventura County Animal Services (VCAS) in Camarillo, California on August 6 as the shelter kicked off a three-month-long adoption drive. It is one of 50 shelters across the country competing for a chance to win a $100,000 grant from the ASPCA in a challenge to place 1,780 pets with loving families by October 31st.

Actress Michelle Forbes from "True Blood" was joined by "That's So Raven's" Orlando Brown, cat behaviorist Jackson Galaxy from the Animal Planet series "My Cat from Hell" and former Playboy Playmate Devin Devasquez to promote VCAS participation in the contest. Animal advocate Kim Sill from D Cups Saving Tea Cups was also in attendance representing the Heigl Foundation.

Prior to the event the stars also recorded a PSA to promote adoption and to help find loving homes for the abandoned pets. Canine celebrity Richochet The Surf Dog also contributed a helping paw.

The launch was a great success and a step toward the prize winning goal, with 55 pets (37 dogs, 8 cats and 10 rabbits) adopted during the day.

The JDHF helped line up the celebrities to support the VCAS challenge and funds the spaying and neutering of animals removed from the shelter by rescue groups during the year.

The animals were transported to the event by H.E.A.L in a bus purchased by the organization with a $25,000 grant from the Heigl Foundation's Compassion Revolution program. Typically the bus transport dogs from Southern California shelters to approved rescues throughout the United States.

The H.E.A.L Bus The H.E.A.L Bus The H.E.A.L Bus The H.E.A.L Bus The H.E.A.L Bus

The bus and other vehicles have been used by H.E.A.L to transport 1,725 dogs from the San Bernardino City Shelter in the last 18 months. We also provide the H.E.A.L. Foundation with approximately $1,200 per month to prepare and transport dogs to approved destination shelters. The funds are used to pay for health certificates, fuel, lodging, vaccines and other necessary items required for interstate transports.

Check out more photographs from the Camarillo adoption drive on our Facebook page.

In addition to the launch festivities, VCAS plans to hold weekly adoption events at the shelter and out in the community. Larger events with vendors and entertainment are also being planned for later this month and early in September.

For more information on the $100K challenge visit: http://challenge.aspcapro.org.