Today we are heading out to the Riverside County Fair for our second annual outreach adoption during "Datefest."
We participated at the fair last year for the first time, offering special-priced adoptions. The response was overwhelmingly positive. We adopted out almost 200 dogs, which blew away our expectations.
Our special adoption fee of $20 certainly made an adoption attractive. But it was also a perfect venue for us. Thousands of visitors -- and lots of families. Plus, we made it easy for fair visitors to adopt. The adopter could pick their favorite pooch, adopt him/her, still enjoy the fair for the duration of their visit, then come back later to pick up their new family member.
The $20 adoption fee includes vaccinations, a microchip and the pet's surgery (note: most of these dogs have already had their spay or neuter surgery prior to their fair excursion -- so they're ready to go home on the same day of adoption).
Please note: if the adopter lives within our coverage area, a $16 dog license will be required -- and is not included in the adoption fee.
We're also doing something new this year, thanks to our friends next door to our Coachella Valley Animal Campus in Thousand Palms: Animal Samaritans.
The nonprofit shelter and clinic agency is providing a generous offer for our team. Each day, during the fair's two-week run, we will have the ability to hold an "opportunity drawing" for Animal Samaritans' "Critter Cash." Animal Samaritans is offering a $100 certificate in "Critter Cash" for every day we're at the fair. The winner of the daily opportunity drawing can come pick up the certificate -- if they're still at the fair -- or, if they have already left the fair, we'll contact the winner by phone.
The Critter Cash can be used by the winner at Animal Samaritans for a spay or neuter surgery, vaccinations, examinations, etc. Please note that the Critter Cash certificate does not have a monetary value, so the recipient cannot receive money back for unused portions of the certificate. But this is a great deal for those pet owners who may have an unaltered dog or cat at home that they've been meaning to get fixed.
Visitors to the Riverside County Animal Services adoption booth can participate in the opportunity drawing at no cost -- and they do not have to adopt a pet to qualify.
Thanks for your interest in this and we hope some of you might swing by our booth at the fair.
By the way, here are some of the dogs we were getting all spruced up this week with baths and grooming so they'd look their best for their trip to the fair ....
