RivCo Dept of Animal Services flies 39 pets to Seattle
Jesus Reyes
Riverside, Calif. (KESQ) – The Riverside County Department of Animal Services flew 22 dogs and 17 cats to Seattle to find new homes amid the overcrowding crisis at local shelters.
RCDAS partnered with Wings of Rescue to make the move possible.
To encourage lifesaving in the community, RCDAS is extending fee-waived adoptions through October 31st.
“We can all play a part in helping RivCo pets find their way out of the shelter and into loving homes,” said Fourth District Supervisor V. Manuel Perez. “If we can give 39 pets a new chance in Seattle, we can work together to give even more a new beginning here at home.”
The department is operating in critical overcapacity for dogs and is participating in the BISSELL Pet Foundation Empty the Shelters event alongside 300+ shelters across 38 states to help pets find loving homes through fee-waived adoptions, generously sponsored by BISSELL Pet Foundation.
“These lifesaving flights are important and help make space in overcrowded kennels, but we also need help from the community to find homes for the pets waiting behind,” said RCDAS Assistant Director Dr. Kimberly Youngberg. “If you’re not able to adopt, we are always in need of temporary fosters and volunteers that make a huge impact for the pets in our care.”
All fee-waived adoptions include spay/neuter surgery, microchips, vaccinations, and an engraved ID tag. With 1,000 dogs in the shelter there are hundreds of breeds, ages, sizes and personalities to choose from. RCDAS also extended weekday hours Tuesday-Friday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. to make it easier for people to meet shelter pets.
“With extended hours and free adoptions, we can do more for our RivCo pets,” said Fifth District Supervisor Yxstian Gutierrez. “Behind every number is a story to be told and a journey to help continue—it takes one moment to make a lasting connection.”
Since its inception in 2016, Empty the Shelters has helped more than 360,000 pets find loving homes and is now the largest funded adoption event in the country. The program partners with more than 815 animal welfare organizations across 49 states and Canada.
BISSELL Pet Foundation and RCDAS urge families to research the pet they are interested in adopting, as well as adoption requirements. For more information on adopting or donating to “Empty the Shelters,” visit www.bissellpetfoundation.org/empty-the-shelters and www.rcdas.org.