Riverside, CA – In the days before and after the 4^th of July holiday (July 1-14) over 1200 dogs and cats arrived at Riverside County Department of Animal Services (RCDAS). The overwhelming majority are dogs, where just over 20% were returned to an owner.

The department recently reached over 240% capacity for dogs as more continue to enter the shelter than are leaving through adoption, lost pet reunification, foster, or transfer. With more than 1,000 dogs in the shelter system, drastic change is needed to make space in severely overcrowded kennels.

Shelter overcrowding means some animals are at-risk of euthanasia simply due to lack of space and the inability to properly care for that number of animals. Animals immediately at-risk of euthanasia that need rescue can be seen on the department’s at-risk web page.

“Shelters across the country are at a breaking point, and Riverside County is no exception. This crisis isn’t just about numbers, it’s about lives, and the limits of a system stretched too thin,” said Mary Martin, RCDAS Director. “We’re doing more so the community can help--waiving fees, increasing transparency and expanding support. Still, we can’t do it alone, and we need more people willing to open their homes today.”

To make fostering and adoption even more easy and accessible, the Western Riverside County/City Animal Shelter will be open Saturday, July 19th from 10 a.m. to midnight.

“It’s going to take all of us working together to help Riverside County homeless pets,” said Fifth District Supervisor Yxstian Gutierrez. “We saw a great turn out from the midnight event at the San Jacinto shelter so I’m looking forward to seeing more pets find their forever homes this weekend.”

To help increase lifesaving, RCDAS is:

• Offering waived reclaim fees for ALL lost pets to help remove the financial barrier for families to reclaim their lost pet, as well as offering free microchips, vaccines, and spay/neuter services to pets who are reclaimed.
• Participating in the national BISSELL Pet Foundation’s Empty the Shelters event, running through July19, offering FREE adoptions for cats and dogs at all locations. All adoptions include spay/neuter surgery, microchip, vaccinations, and ID tag. Choose from hundreds of incredible dogs of all sizes, ages, and breeds.
• Providing $50 gift cards for pet supplies for adopters who adopt a dog 40+ lbs from the San Jacinto Valley Animal Campus, while supplies last.
• Providing available resources for all fostered pets to include medical care until they are adopted. All adoption fees are waived for fosters who choose to adopt.
• Transparently listing all pets in immediate risk of euthanasia on the website by location:
• San Jacinto
• Riverside
• Coachella Valley

Community members are encouraged to show up in person to adopt or foster a pet and take them home the same day. Shelter location and hours are as follows:

Shelter hours for adoption and lost pet reclaims:

Tuesday-Sunday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Wednesday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Closed Mondays

Shelter locations: 

Western Riverside County/City Animal Shelter 6851 Van Buren Blvd. Riverside, CA 92509

San Jacinto Valley Animal Campus 581 S. Grand Ave. San Jacinto, CA 92582

Coachella Valley Animal Campus 72-050 Pet Land Place. Thousand Palms, CA 92276

Blythe Animal Shelter (Open Monday-Friday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.) 245 S Carlton. Blythe, CA 92225