Riverside County Department of Animal Services (RCDAS) needs immediate adopters and fosters to create space at all shelter locations to care for pets impacted during fire season. All adoption fees are waived, and available supplies will be given to foster families, while supplies last.
The department is currently operating at 230% capacity for dogs, with more than 1,000 dogs in the shelter system. While the situation is most critical for dogs, the cat population is now over 300, exceeding capacity for cats for the first time this year at 125%, most notably at the Coachella Valley location.
The Fourth of July holiday marks the busiest time of year for lost dogs entering shelters nationwide—and with wildfires already affecting parts of Riverside County, the situation is even more urgent. As the holiday weekend approaches, we are calling on the community’s support. Without immediate help, we will not have the space to safely and humanely house the expected influx of pets.
“We are ready to support families and pets impacted by the fires, but we desperately need action from the community to prepare for even more pets coming into our shelter seeking safety and care,” said RCDAS Director Mary Martin. “We are at our limit, and we need support from anyone who can help to immediately make space in our overcrowded shelters.”
All shelters will be open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday (excluding Blythe) and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday. All locations will be closed for the holiday on Friday, reopening on Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (excluding Blythe).
Animal Shelter Locations
Western Riverside County/City Animal Shelter
6851 Van Buren Boulevard, Riverside, CA 92509
San Jacinto Valley Animal Campus
581 S. Grand Avenue, San Jacinto, CA 92582
Coachella Valley Animal Campus
72-050 Pet Land Place, Thousand Palms, CA 92276
Blythe Animal Shelter
245 S Carlton, Blythe, CA 92225
