RivCo Shelter Dog Overlooked for Adoption Will Soon Have Another Chance in Michigan
April 7, 2025
Riverside, CA A four-year-old shepherd mix named Conway is on his way to finding a new family after multiple attempts of trying to find a local adopter.
Conway came into the Coachella Valley Animal Campus as a stray in December of last year. During his stay at the shelter, he attended free-adoption events at the Riverside County Fair and PetSmart, but no one stepped up to adopt him.
He is one of 27 Riverside County Department of Animal Services (RCDAS) dogs who boarded a cross-country plane thanks to funding from the BISSELL Pet Foundation.
"Addressing the large dog overpopulation in our community is critical, and I'm grateful to Cathy at BISSELL and the whole foundation for their support and willingness to help," said Mary Martin, RCDAS Director. “I’m in awe of the staff’s can-do spirit and commitment to finding solutions for pets in our care.”
Dogs on the flight came from all RivCo shelter locations and included long-stay dogs who were waiting at the shelter for over 100 days. This lifesaving flight also helps the dogs who remain in the shelter system have a better chance of finding permanent homes.
"Thanks to the hard work of our Animal Services staff and the generous support of the BISSELL Pet Foundation, Conway and 26 other dogs can get a fresh start,” said Fifth District Supervisor Yxstian Gutierrez.
In 2024, 6,262 cats and dogs were transferred from RivCo shelters to partners across the U.S. and Canada. These large-scale movements are critical to help reduce overpopulation at the county shelters, where on average an animal enters the doors every seven minutes.
“Every animal in our community has a unique story, and I’m proud the RivCo team makes the effort to get deserving dogs adopted,” said Fourth District Supervisor V. Manuel Perez. “We will continue to prioritize working with trusted rescue partners and the community to help reduce the number of dogs in our kennels.”
Transfer flights are one of many strategies used to address overpopulation and increase lifesaving, and RCDAS is focused on increasing foster, adoption and volunteer opportunities for community members. To learn more about how to help change the lives of shelter pets, visit www.rcdas.org.
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About RCDAS
The Riverside County Department of Animal Services shelters more than 35,000 animals annually across four locations, making it one of the largest sheltering systems in the country. RCDAS provides adoption, lost pet reunification, pet support services, and public safety programs, all aimed at keeping pets with families and increasing animal lifesaving.
