Submitted by Department of Animal Services, County of Riverside, California
Riverside County Department of Animal Services (RCDAS) is experiencing over 220% capacity across its shelter locations recently, with over 1,000 dogs housed in facilities designed for less than half that number. Animal intake after Memorial Day is historically one of the highest shelter intake periods nationwide, and RCDAS is facing critical overcrowding. Without immediate community support through adoptions, fostering, or reunification of lost pets, the department may be forced to make heartbreaking euthanasia decisions solely due to lack of space.
Overcrowding and long-term kennel confinement can take a significant toll on dogs both physically and behaviorally, with many staying at the shelter for over 100 days and showing signs of kennel stress and deterioration after as little as 14 days.
“Right now, we have zero empty kennels for incoming dogs and there are three, four, or more dogs in nearly every kennel that is designed to safely house just one to two dogs,” says RCDAS Director Mary Martin. “Euthanasia is a last resort strategy that we are desperate to avoid, but it is the reality we are facing right now in order to ensure we are able to provide safe, humane care for every person and pet across our shelter system. With more dogs coming in than are leaving, it is imperative that the public, partners and stakeholders take action to foster, adopt and help rescue dogs who are at-risk of euthanasia because there is not enough space to house them. Rest assured, we are also working urgently on incorporating more lifesaving strategies, but we will also need support from our community to get our population to a healthy and safe level.”
The department recently opened for adoptions, fosters and lost pet reclaims on Sundays, waived adoption fees, waived lost pet reclaim fees and integrated lost/found pets with Petco Love Lost. This is just the beginning of many more lifesaving strategies ahead for RCDAS. Starting today, all adoption fees will be sponsored (fee-waived) until capacity reaches below 150%, meaning adopters can not only help save the life of an amazing RivCo pet, they can also spend what they would have spent on adoption fees getting their new pet settled into their home.
Last week, the Riverside County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution co-written by Supervisors V. Manuel Perez and Yxstian Gutierrez, called RivCo Rise, which expresses the County Supervisors’ commitment to the goal of becoming a “no?kill community,” where 90% of the companion animals that enter RCDAS facilities leave alive. The department emphasizes that public participation is essential to achieving this goal and preventing capacity-related euthanasia during this critical period.
To make fostering and adoption even easier and accessible, the San Jacinto Animal Campus will be open Saturday, May 31 from 10 a.m. -midnight.
“I am hopeful we can rally and overcome this overcrowding crisis, and I have seen firsthand all of the amazing dogs waiting at our shelter for a second chance,” said Supervisor Gutierrez. “We need to rise to the occasion for our pets and work together to get them out of their kennels and into loving homes.”
Community members are encouraged to show up in person to adopt or foster a pet and take them home the same day. Shelter location and hours are as follows:
Coachella Valley Animal Campus: 72-050 Pet Land Place Thousand Palms, CA 92276
San Jacinto Animal Campus: 581 S. Grand Ave. San Jacinto, CA 92582
Riverside West County/City Animal Shelter: 6851 Van Buren Blvd Jurupa Valley, CA 92509
 is experiencing over 220% capacity across its shelter locations.){kind=link}