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    The Sam Simon Foundation

    4.8 (25 reviews)
    Open 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

    Services - The Sam Simon Foundation

    Pet adoption

    Private dog training

    The Sam Simon Foundation Photos

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    Itty Bitty Baby

    I can't say enough good things about this organization. They gave me 5 + years with my little girl when other vets told me nothing can be done for Bitty Baby I was told she was too old and to put her down. I am forever grateful to them.

    Sam Simon Foundation logo
    Joz Joz Joz W.

    I recently wrote a review about Mutts and Moms and gave them 1 star (5 stars for helping save animals' lives, -4 stars for the forceful removal of a dog from the home of Ellen Degeneres' hairdresser). I got accused of "hating the (Mutts and Moms) pet adoption lady." For the record, I think that what M&M does on a day-to-day basis should be commended, I just didn't agree with the way the situation was initially handled with Ellen Degeneres. But the thing to remember is that there are a lot of pet adoption agencies out there; most of them are doing good work everyday and never getting the recognition they deserve. So I'm going to point out a good one for you: The Sam Simon Foundation. They have an Assistance Dogs Program which rescues dogs from animal shelters and humane societies to become Hearing Dogs for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. Along with that, they have a Pet Visitation Program using dogs in training (to become Hearing Dogs) to visit with residents of Assisted Living Homes located in neighboring communities. Dogs that do not complete training are adopted out as "Career Change Dogs" to families who would like a nice companion. The Sam Simon Foundation also has a mobile clinic which provides FREE spay/neuter services to cats and dogs belonging to low-income residents of the City of Los Angeles. Their state-of-the-art hospital on wheels features a surgical suite capable of sterilizing 25-40 cats and dogs a day. My good friend (I can't have pets where I live now) adopted the most adorable, well-behaved dog from Sam Simon and she has nothing but good things to say about the organization and how the adoption was handled. They even have follow up events for owners and their dogs to come back and visit with each other! (My friend is looking for a doggie Halloween costume for their Howl-o-ween party!) The point is, there are a many good pet adoption agencies out there. Three cheers to all of them, but especially The Sam Simon Foundation. 10/27/07: The Howl-o-ween party was the cutest. Props to Sam Simon Foundation!

    Brownie recovery from surgery.
    Diana A.

    I can't believe how amazing and pure this foundation is, that helps low income families find a second option for their furry family members that isn't death. My little brownie is 12 years old now, and over the course of the year grew 2 very large mammary growths on her tummy that were slowly taking away her quality of life. Her vet wanted over $2,000 for the removals and it wasn't something I couldnt afford as a young college student. Sam Simon saved Brownie's life, did the operation in a couple hours, sent her home with medicine and she is on the road to recovery. Everyone was so sweet and pleasant. It was definitely a new experience since it isn't an actual clinic, rather a mobile surgical room, and you may be nervous and scared when you first arrive but I assure you with all my heart, these people care about your pets. Thank you so much Sam Simon Foundation. My heart is forever grateful and I pray God continues to bless this foundation.

    This is Baby, I just wrote about our great experience with you! 5 STARS  meow!

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    Review Highlights - The Sam Simon Foundation

    The mobile clinic is staffed with compassionate and caring human beings.

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    Matan Dog Training

    Matan Dog Training

    4.8
    (122 reviews)

    I initially put my youngest, out of control dog, Stormy, into their Board & Train Program, while I…read morewas going out of state. I could not get Stormy to walk on a leash, without choking herself. Because of this, she was under socialized. She was fearful of many things also. They ended up keeping her for 3 weeks. I had a couple "check in" one on one Training with her Trainer, Tiffany. At the first session, Stormy, was walking on leash in a "heel" position. Tiffany had also taught her "place", "stay" and "break" to release her from her "stay". Stormy was so much calmer when I brought her home. Before training, she would come in from the yard and jump over the back of the couch. If I was sitting on the couch, a few times, she landed on my head, on her way to the other side. She also jumped a lot. After coming home, she was calm inside and stopped jumping all over. It was a "joy" to take her on a walk and have her calmly maintain her "heel" position.She was much more enjoyable and was finally able to get out of"in the world"! This was entirely due to Tiffany's training. Tiffany was very good with her, very knowledgeable about dog behavior and cared for Stormy. She was professional, checked in with me to see how I was feeling about Stormy's behavior, gave helpful advice and answered any questions I had. In addition, I received daily photos of Stormy from Heather. That was awesome because I missed her and it was nice to get updates on Stormy's progress. Additionally, the Facility is very clean and everyone working there was very nice. Michael was very nice too. The groomer, Jacob, was nice and professional also. The Board and Train was expensive but after Tiffany gave me back a dog I could fully enjoy, I'd say it was worth it! Matan has a wonderful operation going there and I highly recommend them. My Veterinarian in Camarillo, gave me Matan's Card and said she'd gotten positive feedback on them. I also brought my "dog reactive", Dog, Bon Bon in for 3 week Board and Train. Tiffany, also trained her too! She did an amazing job with Bon Bon also. Bon Bon, was a challenging case for her because, of all things, she told me Bon Bon, could be a bit stubborn! LOL. Even though Bon Bon, was a completely different personality than Stormy, Bon Bon, was wonderful walking on leash when she returned. She's also not as reactive. I was even able to walk both of them together, which was a first and was also my original goal for training! My "pack walk"! Tiffany told me to wait to try to walk them together. There was no way I was getting out the door with just one! They both did remarkably well. At first Bon Bon wanted to walk ahead but I corrected her and she walked in a "heel" on my right side. I was finally able to get them both "heeling" on my left side, with Stormy closest to me. Yay! That's exactly what I wanted when I sent them both to "board and train". Finally, as a bonus, Bon Bon came home with "perfect weight"! It was all the extra work on Dog Pacer. Thank you to everyone at Matan Dog Training! You all made it a great experience for me!

    I'm highly upset and disappointed with this company. If you didn't read my husband's review…read morealready, I want to explain my frustrations. My sweet 1-year-old German Shepherd, Oso, was scheduled for a 2-week board-and-train and came home under horrible circumstances. We've had Oso since he was a baby and taught him the basics ourselves (Sit, Down, Wait, Up, Free, Spin) using positive reinforcement. See Video 1 for an example. Oso has had high reactivity toward other dogs, which we made very clear was something he needed training on. The trainers kept saying that he likes to "pick fights" with other dogs. I understand Oso has a big bark, but he has never once been aggressive toward another dog. We understand aggression can occur, and I'm not a dog trainer, so if that's what you call "picking fights," so be it. (See Video 2 for an example.) In Video 2, you can also see two trainers come together to talk about Oso's dewclaw. They didn't even know what it was called and referred to it as "weird," which I took offense to. Keep this dewclaw in mind, because that story isn't over. Communication overall was poor. For $2,000, I would expect, at minimum, pictures or videos every day. Mind you, when Oso was home, I had a dog walker who walked him for 30 minutes every day and sent me multiple videos along with a map of where they went on their walk. With this company, the pictures we received were mostly just Oso sitting outside on their dirt patches. We received two videos of Oso on the dog treadmill, with no explanation until I asked how long he was on the treadmill for. I felt like I constantly had to ask for information, and if I didn't ask, it wasn't a priority. Oso also came home with what looks like pimples on the inside of his mouth (see image). He did not have these prior to going there, as I am very conscious of everything regarding his health and appearance. The facility may not have noticed this, but I believe they would not take responsibility for it. I'd love to hear the excuse they would give: "These things happen." On the last day of his training (go-home day), we were already struggling to make the appointment because my husband and I are both active-duty military and can't just leave work. My husband received a call that Oso was receiving his bath, and during his blow-dry session, his dewclaw got caught in the grate and RIPPED OUT. I can't imagine the pain he was in. They took him to a local pet hospital, which didn't even see him until SIX hours after his initial arrival. After many attempts to get in touch with them regarding payment, Matan finally called and said he would cover it and that "things like this happen." I would love to see the camera surveillance and a written report of what happened. I can only imagine what the excuse will be as to why I'm not able to receive these from Matan. Oso is home with us now and recovering. We are extremely dissatisfied and honestly can't forgive ourselves for giving this company $2,000 for this treatment. Matan, to make this right, a refund is due--or at least half. We should have known we made a mistake when we paid first and then signed the contract stating refunds are not given. You were so personable and reassuring over the phone before booking, which unfortunately fooled us. Never will Oso or any of us be near this company again. I hope this review helps other responsible dog owners think twice before choosing this company

    Bark Busters Ventura County

    Bark Busters Ventura County

    4.3
    (29 reviews)

    We've only had two visits with Michael so far, and the difference in my dog is absolutely…read moreincredible. My boxer was anxious and very reactive, but now he's noticeably calmer and much less reactive. It honestly feels like we have a new dog. Michael is truly the best. He's patient, knowledgeable, and always happy to walk us through any situation or question that comes up. You can tell he genuinely cares about both the dogs and their owners. I can't thank Michael enough! He's made a huge impact on our lives and completely changed the future for my dog. I'm so excited to see the progress we continue to make!

    I want to start by saying the trainer we had Michael is a kind and responsive person. You can tell…read morehe really cares about dogs and takes his work seriously, which I truly respect! We spent over $1,000 hoping to improve our dogs' reactivity issues. We followed the homework that was given to us, stayed consistent, and while there was some minor progress, we eventually hit a wall. The BAH method is the foundation of their training approach, and while it might work for others, it just didn't lead to the results we needed unfortunately. What made it more disappointing for us is that even though the company offers lifetime support, it didn't feel like there was anything drastically new or helpful to move us forward after a certain point. Again, I commend for the trainer for trying his best and truly caring, but we hit a wall. We were basically told we were doing everything right, but the problem still wasn't getting better. This review isn't meant to discredit the trainer or the business. I'm sure he's helped many other clients successfully. Unfortunately, in our case, it didn't live up to expectations given the cost and the goals we had. Sidenote: I'm not looking for a debate or follow-up--just sharing my personal experience in case it helps someone else make an informed decision.

    Breaking Bad Habits

    Breaking Bad Habits

    5.0
    (120 reviews)

    I'm so grateful I found Sydney. First, she's a good human - I think we all strive to work with good…read morepeople. Second - she knows what she is doing. She knows what she is doing! My two rescues have their own set of issues. Teddy has been the dog of the house for years and Lilith, my COVID rescue, is a LARGE change in pace for our lives. Teddy, my 15lb doggo who has been king of the house for 5.5 years. Lilith, a 120lb, 9mo Great Dane and a jealous puppy. There's a lot going on in their relationship and our relationship as a pack. Sydney came in and was able to assess our dynamics so quickly. Understanding the dog to dog dynamics and my individual relationship with each. She is so patient with both my pups and has done an amazing job of training them and then me. We meet with her every couple of weeks to address behavior issues and she addresses each issue head on. Giving most of her time to the dogs and then to us as a family. I've enjoyed working with Sydney so much I actually recommended her to my parents as they adopted a high-energy, herding breed in a similar way to my rescuing a Great Dane. We all fell in love with our pups without knowing wholly what we were getting into and Sydney has been a life saver!!!!

    We searched everywhere for someone to train our now almost 2-year-old corgi, Theo, with behaviors…read moreinvolving reactiveness and we stumbled upon breaking bad habits and Sydney's practice From the moment we were introduced to Sydney, and our first training session with her Theo developed a bond with her as a trainer that made it easier for us to correct the initial issues we had not addressed when we were first training Theo as a pup. Sydney is very responsive, empathetic to her clients and pups, and provides above and beyond resources on how to continue the lessons she provides during her training sessions to ensure that your pup will come out a grade A student! Would I recommend Sydney to other fur baby owners? Absolutely and I wish her the best in her continuing practice! 10/10 would recommend! PS Theo misses his training sessions dearly with Sydney! (-:

    The Doggo

    The Doggo

    4.8
    (69 reviews)

    We waited a few weeks before writing this review so we could see how Soba adjusted after coming…read morehome from training. She's settled back into our household beautifully, and her training has been going incredibly well. We practice her commands every day, and she's noticeably calmer, more responsive, and an absolute joy to take on walks. Overall, the time she spent away was well worth it. She came home with a solid foundation, and we've gained the knowledge and tools to continue reinforcing her training. We'll definitely be sending her back for boarding and refresher training while we're abroad later this year because we couldn't trust Juan and his team more. Juan has also been excellent with communication, always taking the time to answer our questions and provide guidance. We highly recommend him and his team to anyone looking for quality dog training.

    Let me start by saying I would give Juan and his team a 100/10, and here's why:…read more When I was looking for training for my 4-month-old Cavapoo, I did a lot of research before making a decision. From day one, Juan provided exceptional customer service. He was never pushy, took the time to explain the training process, answered all of my questions thoroughly, and was always easy to reach whenever I needed him. I ultimately chose the 5-week off-leash obedience program. As difficult as it was to leave my puppy for that long, it was absolutely worth it. My dog came home calmer, more confident, and with a much better understanding of commands such as stay, down, place, come, yes, and no. She listens significantly better and is clearly more focused and well-mannered. Oh and let me not forgot to mention she is now crate trained and potty trained. She now sleeps comfortably in her crate and understands that potty time happens outside. The facility itself is beautiful, private, and extremely clean. I also want to give a special shoutout to Dom for the incredible care and dedication he showed my dog during her stay. If you're considering professional training for your dog, I highly recommend reaching out to Juan and his team. The investment was one of the best decisions I've made for my dog. and I'm so grateful for the foundation they've helped build for her future.

    Kelev K-9

    Kelev K-9

    5.0
    (37 reviews)

    When I get lucky...I get LUCKY! I found this amazing group…read moreof people off of Yelp, and the 5 Star rating is 100% deserved. I have two pups: Archie and Charlie. I want the best for my puppies, so I asked so many different people where and how they trained their dogs. I received a few suggestions, but decided to do my own search...and I'm glad I did. Leo (Owner) and his amazing team of trainers TRULY care about the pups they train. Leo came to my home and wanted to meet me and my pups before I had to decide on making any decisions. After sitting down with him for about half an hour, I knew I found what I was looking for: Someone who wants me to have healthy and happy dogs. I signed up for the in-home training at first which is Leo coming to the house and training me on how to train my puppies (Archie and Charlie just turned 6 months and started with Leo and his team when they were 4.5). Very quickly, I realized I could not handle training both these puppies the way they needed to be trained. I discussed with Leo and decided to do a Board & Train. I like the schedule because I get to take the puppies on the weekends to spend time with me. Don't get me wrong, you NEED to train your pups on the weekends, but it's worth it and FUN. Archie has become the Puppy King (no offense to other puppies or their owners )). Charlie has a lot more energy, but has improved immensely! Leo's trainers are so caring. I feel my dogs get love with their training when they're not with me, and I couldn't ask for more. I see their excitement whenever I visit about improvements and milestones that Archie and Charlie achieved. They gleam with as much pride as I do. I honestly don't know where my pups OR I would be without the help of this AMAZING Team! If I could give 10 stars out of 5 stars, I would!

    A week after we brought our adopted pitbull puppy home, we felt completely helpless when she…read morestarted peeing in the house, biting everything, crying in the crate nonstop, etc. We reached out to a few dog trainers on Yelp and Kelev K9 replied right away. A few minutes later Leo called us and asked questions about the situation. Some basic tips he gave us over the phone saved our sanity until he came to our house a few days later for a free consultation. The consultation made it clear how experienced and passionate Leo is about dog training, so we decided to sign with him that same day. After one session we felt much more confident in training our dog and saw the "light at the end of the tunnel". Over the past 5 months and four training sessions, we have seen day and night improvement in her behavior. If you feel lost and out of control with how to train your dog or want to continue their training, Kelev K9 should be your first call. Leo is always ready to help out with any questions or concerns we have by text or phone call. Pricing is also extremely fair and was a worthwhile investment for us because we have our sanity back and have bonded so deeply with our dog through training. Thank you so much Leo, Breanna, and the whole team at Kelev K-9!

    The Sam Simon Foundation - petadoption - Updated August 2026

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