Submitted by Riverside County Department of Animal Services
Riverside County Department of Animal Services (RCDAS) partnered with Wings of Rescue and transported 20 dogs and 28 cats to Washington state on Sunday, July 27, 2025. The pets arrived at Seattle Humane and PAWS (Progressive Animal Welfare Society) where they will have a chance at finding their forever homes.
“RivCo pets deserve our best efforts, and we are moving to meet every opportunity to save more lives,” said Riverside County Chairman of the Board and Fourth District Supervisor V. Manuel Perez. “Flying pets to other states is no small effort, and we are committed to moving closer to our goal of becoming a no-kill community every single day.”
Transport flights create space in overcrowded kennels as RCDAS continues to operate in critical overcapacity for dogs across the department. Shelter overcrowding means three to five dogs may share a space designed for only two. To help get pets into homes and reduce overcrowding, adoption and reclaim fees are waived at all shelter locations.
“These lifesaving flights are one of many components to saving more lives, and that includes community-focused solutions to get pets into homes,” said RCDAS Manager Daylin Valencia. “I’m always proud to see staff come together to give these pets a pathway out of the shelter because they are deserving of loving families willing and able to give them a home.”
If community members cannot adopt but want to give a pet a break from the shelter, short-term fosters are also needed for both dogs and cats. RCDAS offers two new programs that give potential foster families options and a clear timeline.
Dog Day Out: An innovative field-trip program that gives shelter dogs a much-needed break from the kennel—and a better chance at finding a forever home! This flexible one-day foster opportunity allows participants to take a dog on a fun day trip in the community. Studies show that just one day out of the shelter makes a dog 5x more likely to be adopted.
Ticket To Ride: A short-term foster program to provide temporary housing and care for a pet designated to be transferred to a shelter or adopter later. The timeframe can be anywhere from two to four weeks and is subject to change based on various factors. Pets available for foster in this program are slated to leave the shelter for another location and are not available for adoption.
“Fostering a pet is a great way to help alleviate the overcrowding in our shelters,” said Fifth District Supervisor Yxstian Gutierrez. “We appreciate all of our foster families giving pets a break from their kennels, and we want to see even more residents give their time to an awesome furry friend.”
For more information on fee-waived adoptions and how to sign-up to foster, visit the Riverside County Department of Animal Services website.
