42 Large RivCo Shelter Dogs Board Cross-Country Flight to Find Adopters

Riverside, CA– Riverside County Department of Animal Services (RCDAS) partners with animal shelters and rescues across the country to transport in animals from Riverside County (RivCo), when they have space. The latest transfer was of 42 large dogs who were flown to a rescue in New York where they will be available for adoption.

In 2024, 6,262 cats and dogs were transferred from RivCo shelters to partners across the U.S. and Canada. This plane-full of dogs represents the number of dogs entering the RivCo shelter system each day, and this large-scale movement is critical to help reduce overpopulation at the county shelters.

“Our goal is simple: to save the lives of our furry friends and find them homes with caring families,” said Fifth District Supervisor Yxstian Gutierrez. “By transporting them, we will help ensure every pet has an opportunity to thrive.”

This transport was a department-wide effort that took weeks to prepare for. The RCDAS veterinary team conducted health inspections on every dog, the animal care team coordinated supplies and airline crates to ensure the dogs would be comfortable for their cross-country flight, and the field services team and Riverside Emergency Action Response System (R.E.A.R.S) volunteers helped transfer each of the dogs from the shelter to the airport. 

"With more dogs entering our shelters than our community can adopt, our shelters are facing massive overcrowding as more pets arrive each day, so this transport flight is vital," said Daylin Valencia, RCDAS Programs Manager. "Preparing these dogs for their cross-country journey is a massive operation for all staff involved, but our dedicated team is committed to giving these dogs, and all pets in our care, the loving homes they deserve."

Even with this lifesaving transport, RCDAS is still overcapacity with the number of dogs at the shelters, so fee-waived adoptions have been extended through St. Patrick’s Day (March 17), at all RivCo shelter locations. To learn more about how to help change the lives of shelter pets, visit www.rcdas.org.

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