Riverside Animal Services Joins BISSELL Pet Foundation’s Empty the Shelters® Adoption Event September 18–30

Riverside County Animal Services Joins BISSELL Pet Foundation’s Empty the Shelters® Adoption Event September 18–30th 

Shelters nationwide reduce adoption fees and find loving homes for pets

Riverside, CA – September 18, 2026 –BISSELL Pet Foundation, a national animal welfare organization dedicated to ending pet homelessness, will host its fall Empty the Shelters adoption event September 18-30, 2026.

Riverside County Department of Animal Services (RCDAS) is proud to participate in this nationwide effort, joining animal welfare organizations across the country to help more pets find loving homes. During the event, BISSELL Pet Foundation will sponsor reduced adoption fees of $70 or less for cats and dogs, making it more affordable to welcome a new pet into the family. All pets are spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and microchipped.

Shelters across the country continue to face capacity challenges as pets enter shelters faster than they are leaving. Empty the Shelters provides critical support to participating organizations by encouraging adoption, helping pets find families and creating much-needed space for other pets in need. 

“We want to help as many pets as possible to find loving homes, and we hope the community can open their hearts to a deserving pet,” said RCDAS Assistant Director Dr. Kimberly Youngberg. “While adoptions continue to increase across our department, we are still battling significant overcrowding and behind the numbers are the faces of animals who need action to continue their journey.”

Fee-waived adoptions available from September 18-30^th at the following times and RCDAS shelter locations:

Saturday - Sunday: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Tuesday – Friday: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

• Coachella Valley Animal Campus: 72-050 Pet Land Place Thousand Palms, CA 92276
• San Jacinto Valley Animal Campus: 581 S. Grand Ave. San Jacinto, CA 92582
• Western Riverside County/City Animal Shelter: 6851 Van Buren Blvd Jurupa Valley, CA 92509

Monday – Friday: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

• Blythe Animal Shelter: 245 S Carlton Ave. Blythe, CA 92225

"This month, I visited several shelters and the number of incredible dogs and cats I saw was absolutely heartbreaking," said Cathy Bissell, Founder of BISSELL Pet Foundation. "They are loving, resilient and deserving of so much more. We work every day to prevent future pet homelessness, but we cannot forget the pets waiting right now. I hope you'll visit your local shelter during our September Empty the Shelters event. There is a pet waiting for you to change their life, and I promise, they will change yours."

RCDAS shelters continue to operate in critical overcapacity, and with over 1,000 pets available for adoption across the shelter system, there are many breeds, ages, and sizes to choose from.

“I’m proud of the work we are doing, and I’m grateful to every person who gives a shelter pet a new home,” said Fourth District Supervisor V. Manuel Perez. “We must work together across Riverside County to support the animals who live here, and what better way to change your life than by saving another.” 

“There is no better time to adopt your new best friend, and we’re grateful to BISSELL Pet Foundation for their continued support,” said Fifth District Supervisor Dr. Yxstian Gutierrez. “Come find your new companion and help make space for pets in need.”

To view adoptable pets, visit www.rcdas.org/adopt RCDAS also offers short-term foster opportunities for anyone who would like to help give a pet a break from staying in the shelter while they wait to find a permanent home. For those who would like to help but cannot adopt a pet, they can sign up to foster at www.rcdas.org/foster

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About Riverside County Department of Animal Services

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.

About BISSELL Pet Foundation: BISSELL Pet Foundation is a charitable 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a mission to help reduce the number of animals in shelters through pet adoption, spay/neuter, vaccinations, microchipping, and emergency support. Founded in 2011 by Cathy Bissell, BPF is an extension of her long-standing love for animals and commitment to their welfare. BPF has since partnered with more than 6,025 shelters and rescues across the U.S. and Canada to help pets find loving homes. The foundation is supported by generous donors and BISSELL Inc. where every purchase saves pets. To learn more, visit www.bissellpetfoundation.org. 

Empty the Shelters is the nation’s largest funded adoption event and has helped more than 431,000 pets find homes across the U.S. and Canada since its inception in 2016. Sponsored by BISSELL Pet Foundation, the program works with hundreds of animal welfare organizations to reduce adoption fees and make pet adoption accessible to more families. All pets available through participating shelters are spayed/neutered, vaccinated, and microchipped. Each shelter determines its own adoption process—prospective adopters are encouraged to contact shelters directly for details.