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Riverside County Animal Services to Offer Fee-Waived Adoptions on June 6 During Third Annual California Adopt-a-Pet Day

RCDAS joins shelters across state to help find loving homes for 5,000 pets in a single day

Riverside, CA – June 2, 2026 –On Saturday, June 6, Riverside County Department of Animal Services (RCDAS) will join animal shelters across California in offering fee-waived adoptions as part of the third annual California Adopt-a-Pet Day, hosted by the California Animal Welfare Association (CalAnimals), the San Francisco Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SF SPCA), and the ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®).

“We look forward to making a big impact on Saturday by helping as many pets as possible meet their perfect match,” said RCDAS Director Mary Martin. “Our shelters are full of one-of-a-kind dogs and cats who can add enormous joy to your life just in time for summer fun and adventures.” 

The third annual California Adopt-a-Pet Day builds on two consecutive years of record-breaking results. When the event launched in 2024, 3,609 animals found loving homes in a single day, far exceeding its initial goals. In 2025, 148 animal welfare organizations across 212 event locations helped find homes for 4,979 pets. This year, organizers are aiming to surpass 5,000 adoptions for the first time. To date, the event has placed 8,588 animals in homes over its first two years.

The ASPCA is providing grants to underwrite adoption fees at most participating organizations including RCDAS and shelters across the state. In 2025, 46 percent of California Adopt-a-Pet Day adopters were doing so for the very first time.

Animals of all breeds, ages, sizes, and energy levels are available at participating shelters. Most shelter animals are already spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and microchipped before adoption. Shelter staff will help ensure adopters are matched with an animal who is the right fit for their lifestyle.

“RivCo shelters are full of wonderful pets waiting for their forever homes,” said Fifth District Supervisor Dr. Yxstian Gutierrez. “With over 1,000 animals to choose from there is a pet for everyone who walks through our doors where you can also walk out with your new family member.” 

The event comes as animal shelters across California continue to face capacity pressures. In 2025, 5.8 million dogs and cats entered U.S. animal shelters and rescue organizations nationwide. Only about 30 percent of California households currently adopt their pets from shelters or rescue organizations. California Adopt-a-Pet Day was created in part to address these challenges, removing cost as a barrier to adoption and connecting more animals with loving homes.

WHAT: RCDAS joins animal shelters across California for the third annual California Adopt-a-Pet Day, offering fee-waived adoptions for available animals. 

WHEN: Saturday, June 6, 2026, from 10am-4pm

WHERE: RivCo shelters

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

Western Riverside County/City Animal 

6851 Van Buren Blvd, Jurupa Valley, CA 92509

For more information about the adoption process visit www.rcdas.org/adopt.

The California Adopt-a-Pet Day website features an interactive map to help residents find participating shelters near them. To learn more, visit caadoptapetday.org and follow along using #CAAdoptAPetDay on social media. 

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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.

About CalAnimals

The California Animal Welfare Association (“CalAnimals”) was formed in 2018 through a merger between California’s two statewide animal-welfare associations: the California Animal Control Directors Association (CACDA) and the State Humane Association of California (SHAC). The organization exists to support the success of animal welfare and sheltering organizations in meeting the needs of animals and people in their communities. Programs and activities include trainings, conferences, certifications, disaster response, leadership development, legislative advocacy, and more. For more information, visit calanimals.org.

About the San Francisco SPCA

The San Francisco SPCA is an independent, community-supported, nonprofit animal welfare organization dedicated to saving, protecting, and providing immediate care for cats and dogs who are homeless, ill, or in need of an advocate. The SF SPCA also works long-term to educate the community, reduce the number of unwanted kittens and puppies through spaying and neutering, and improve the quality of life for animals and their human companions. The organization does not receive government funding. For more information, visit sfspca.org.

About the ASPCA®

The ASPCA^® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals^®) believes every animal deserves to live free from suffering. For 160 years, we've been on the frontlines to save, transform and protect millions of lives in the fight against animal cruelty. As the nation’s first and leading animal welfare organization, we assist animals in need through on-the-ground disaster and cruelty interventions, behavioral rehabilitation, animal relocation and placement, legal and legislative advocacy, and the advancement of the sheltering and veterinary communities through research, training and resources. As a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation with more than 2 million supporters nationwide, our commitment to eliminating animal cruelty is unwavering. For more information, visit aspca.org, and follow the ASPCA on Facebook, X, Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok.